| Procedure: |
Restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged facial skin, using a chemical solution to peel away skin's top layers. Works best on fair, thin skin with superficial wrinkles. |
| Length: |
1 to 2 hours for full face.
|
| Anesthesia: |
None; sedation & EKG monitoring may be used.
|
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. Full-face phenol peel may require admission for 1 to
2 days.
|
| Side Effects: |
Both: Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness; acute sensitivity to sun. Phenol: Permanent lightening of treated skin; permanent loss of ability to tan.
|
| Risks: |
Both: Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, and cold sores. Phenol: Abnormal color changes (permanent); heart irregularities (rare). |
| Recovery: |
Phenol: Formation of new skin: 7 to 21 days. Normal activities: 2 to 4 weeks. Full healing and fading of redness: 3 to 6 months TCA: New skin within 5 to 10 days. |
