CLOSE

HOME
Non-Surgical Procedures

Non-Surgical Procedures

CHEMICAL PEELS

CHEMICAL PEELS

Chemical peels improve the appearance and texture of the skin. Chemical peels are safe, reliable and effective skin treatments aimed at improving skin texture, skin discolouration, hyperpigmentation, acne and scarring.

Procedure

Chemical peels restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged facial skin, using a chemical solution to peel away the skin's top layers. A chemical peel involves the controlled application of a low pH solution to the skin, which penetrates and lifts the upper layers of dead or damaged skin cells. This stimulates the production of collagen and elastin which work to create a fresh, rejuvenated skin surface. This procedure works best on fair, thin skin with superficial wrinkles. Different types of chemical peels exist, distinguished by their strength and the depth to which they penetrate (superficial, medium or deep).

The procedure takes approximately one hour for regional areas and two hours for the full face.


Topical anaesthetic or sedation combined with local anaesthesia may be used. When sedation is given frequently, EKG monitoring is used.


Usually, this is an outpatient procedure. A full-face phenol peel may require hospital admission for a short period.


  • Phenol and TCA peels:
    These chemical peels can cause temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness and acute sensitivity to the sun.
  • Phenol peel:
    These chemical peels may cause permanent lightening of treated skin and permanent loss of the ability to tan.

  • Phenol and TCA peels:
    Tiny whiteheads (temporary), infection, scarring, a flare-up of skin allergies and cold sores, excessive temporary skin pigmentation.
  • Phenol peel:
    Abnormal colour changes (which may be permanent) and heart irregularities (these are extremely rare and occur during the procedure).

  • Phenol chemical peels:
    The formation of new skin takes seven to twenty-one days. The patient may resume normal activities in two to four weeks. Full healing and fading of redness may take three to six months.
  • TCA peels:
    New skin forms within five to ten days. The redness will fade over several weeks.

  • Phenol peels:
    These chemical peels are permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages.
  • TCA peels:
    Results after TCA chemical peels vary, and the effect is temporary.

WHEN YOU CHOOSE A DOCTOR WHO IS A MEMBER OF APRASSA, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT YOUR SURGEON IS QUALIFIED IN ALL ASPECTS OF COSMETIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.

Find a Surgeon

The Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons of Southern Africa was formed in 1956. All our members are fully qualified Plastic surgeons that have been approved for APRASSA membership and will endeavour to provide you with excellent care throughout your plastic surgery journey.









bottom banner