I am considering a chemical peel to improve the appearance of wrinkles under my eyes and larger pores on the rest of my face. What type of recovery will this entail, and how long to I need to stay home from work?

There are different types of chemical peels available. The VI Peel is a superficial peel that we offer in our office. This peel addresses complexion issues as well as pigmentation. The peel is relatively painless and does not require any anesthetic prior to the peel. The skin does peel for approximately 5 days after the procedure.

Another type of peel is the combination of Jessner’s solution and 35% TCA. This is a deeper peel than the VI Peel. There is more discomfort associated with this peel; therefore, topical anesthetic cream, local anesthesia, and/or sedation may be needed prior to the peel. This is an excellent option for addressing sun-damaged skin, complexion issues, and fine lines/wrinkles.

For lines of the lower lid, I prefer an 88% phenol peel.

If there is significant lines/wrinkles, I may recommend a laser resurfacing instead of a chemical peel.