Are Chemical Peels painful?

Although the name “chemical peel” may be intimidating, the treatments are not painful or uncomfortable. Most patients experience a warming or tingling sensation during the chemical peel treatment but are comfortable through the process. For further comfort, we recommend a topic cooling gel to be applied before the chemical peel.

How many appointments will I need?

Most people need a single appointment per chemical peel. With good skincare and routine use of sunscreen, the results of your chemical peel at Prosilience Studio can last for several months or longer. However, this treatment does not stop the natural aging process, so we may recommend that you have chemical peel treatments every one to two months.

How long until I see results?

Most chemical peels show results after one week after the skin stops flaking, and the underlying new skin glows with radiance.

Can I combine a Chemical Peel with other procedures?

Yes, you can! It is often encouraged to get a facial and a chemical peel together. For instance, it’s very common to combine Chemical Peels with Dermal Fillers . Getting these two treatments together will typically produce more significant results for your aesthetic concerns. For patients who have moderate to severe pigmentation concerns, the combination of these two gentle exfoliation treatments can be highly effective.

What are the risks associated with a Chemical Peel?

Although rare, there are some noted side effects of Chemical Peels. You can minimize the risk of unwanted side effects by entrusting your treatments to Dr. Crawford at Prosilience Studio. We also encourage you to discuss any unwanted side effects of your previous cosmetic treatments, as well as any medical conditions, skin care products, and medications. Side effects of Chemical Peels may include: Dryness Redness and inflammation Blisters Itching Allergic reactions Discoloration Burning sensation Discomfort Scarring While most of these effects are temporary, if you experience any long-lasting or unexpected reaction, please contact us immediately.

Arlington

Chemical Peels

Introduction

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a non-invasive procedure used to control blemishes, reduce irregular pigmentation, and fade fine lines caused by sun damage, age, or other uncontrollable factors. They can also improve whiteheads and blackheads that are seen with acne or excessively oily skin. When you consider a Chemical Peel in the Boston area with Dr. Catharine Crawford at Prosilience Studio, you can rest assured that your treatment will leave your skin looking fresh and renewed!

Further, chemical peels are a relatively affordable option with a minimum amount of downtime required for recovery. Specific downtimes vary on the depth of the peel, but usually, side effects are very mild and don’t interfere with your normal day-to-day activities.

What is a Chemical Peel?

A Chemical Peel is a facial treatment that is similar to a facial at a traditional spa. With a medical skin peel, a customized chemical formula is applied to the skin to exfoliate the outermost layers. When performed by a qualified professional, chemical peels are perfectly safe. Under the close supervision of Dr. Crawford, the chemical peel will only exfoliate as many layers of the skin as necessary to produce your desired results. This is a controlled technique that strategically exfoliates damaged skin to improve skin health. There are varying depths of chemical peels available. Please read below for the different treatments:

Light Chemical Peel

A light chemical peel might be the right choice if you have uneven pigmentation, dryness, acne, or fine wrinkling. This kind of peel removes just the outer layer of skin in a light exfoliation for a glow. Common agents used in light peels will be milder choices than those used for deeper peels. You can repeat these treatments at regular intervals to achieve your desired results.

Medium Chemical Peel

Acne scars, deeper wrinkles, and uneven skin color can all be treated with a medium chemical peel. The chemicals used for this type of peel will remove skin cells from both the outer layer of skin or the epidermis and the upper part of your middle layer of skin or the dermis.

Deep Chemical Peel

If you have deeper facial wrinkles, skin that’s damaged by the sun, scars, areas that appear blotchy, or even pre-cancerous growths, deep facial chemical peels might be the right choice for you.

Your physician will use the strongest chemical called phenol to penetrate down to the lower dermal layer of your skin. For this type of peel, you may need a local anesthetic and a sedative to manage any discomfort. A deep chemical peel usually involves some sort of pretreatment for up to eight weeks. This will prepare your skin for the peel and speed up the healing process.

Pretreatment may include the use of a retinoic acid cream or gel – a prescription medication that’s derived from vitamin A. This works to thin out the skin’s surface layer, allowing the chemical solution to penetrate more evenly and deeply.

Chemical Peels Results

Enter Gallery

What are the Benefits of a Chemical Peel?

A Boston Chemical Peel can be extremely beneficial for skin health and appearance for all skin types and tones. By eliminating damaged or aged skin, patients can reduce wrinkles, age spots, sun spots, uneven skin texture, hyperpigmentation, and more. Chemical peels can also improve the efficacy of topical skincare products as there is more penetration in the skin after a peel.

Who are the Best Candidates for a Chemical Peel Treatment?

Chemical Peel treatments are an excellent choice for all skin types and tones. Peels are also ideal options for those suffering from unwanted skin conditions such as wrinkles, lines, acne, scars, dark spots, sun spots, hyperpigmentation, and premature skin aging from the sun. Deeper peels can even address more serious skin conditions such as melasma, rosacea, and precancerous growths.

If you are interested in Chemical Peels in the Boston area but are still trying to decide if you are a good candidate, here are some guidelines to help you decide:

Are not immuno-suppressed
Do not have major underlying medical conditions
Have a weathered and nonuniform complexion
Have acne, scars, or oily skin
Have moderate to severe fine lines and wrinkles
Maintain realistic expectations from the procedure
Not currently pregnant or nursing

Prosilience

First Steps

What’s the First Step?

The first step to getting Chemical Peels in the Boston area is to schedule an in-person visit to Prosilience Studio for a consultation with one of our certified providers. While Chemical Peels are safe for most skin types and tones, they may not be the perfect option for all clients. We recommend that you schedule a consultation at Prosilience Studio with Dr. Crawford. The appointment includes an evaluation of your skin and a discussion about your cosmetic goals. If undergoing a Chemical Peel is right for you, she will explain the procedure and the expected outcome.

At the end of the consultation, we aim to arrive at a mutually agreed upon treatment plan, after which, you can either receive your Chemical Peel immediately following your consultation, or if you’d prefer, you can then schedule your appointment for a convenient time.

Studio

What to Expect on the Day of a Chemical Peel Treatment

On the day of your Chemical Peel, the target area will first be cleansed before the treatment. Depending on the level of the peel, you’ll be given a topical anesthetic to ease the process should there be any discomfort. The provider will then apply a chemical solution to the area for a few minutes, which will produce a slight burning sensation but should pass rather quickly as the solution itself acts as an anesthetic. Right after, this solution will be wiped off and replaced with a neutralizing solution to stop the chemical reaction. A handheld fan is also provided should you need extra cooling in the area.

The treatment could take anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours depending on the size of the treatment area and the depth of your Chemical Peel.

In addition to the general cleansing as described above, here are the varying treatments and what to expect:

Light Chemical Peel

The chemical solution is brushed onto your skin and left on for a few minutes. You may feel some mild stinging.
Medium Chemical Peel
The chemical solution is brushed onto your skin and left for just a few minutes. You may feel some burning or stinging.
The treated area may turn a whitish-grey color.
The chemicals are neutralized with a cool saline compress.
Your skin may turn red or brown in the days just after the peel. The peeling process typically starts within 48 hours and lasts for a week. It is important to keep the skin well moisturized during the peeling process.

Deep Chemical Peel

You will be given a sedative to relax along with a local anesthetic to numb your face.
Your face will go through a stepwise cleansing process. Phenol is brushed onto the area after an appropriate time interval.
The chemical is neutralized with water.
A thick coat of ointment is smoothed over your skin, to prevent dryness and pain. The ointment must stay in place. Sometimes your surgeon will cover your skin with strips of tape or medicated gauze rather than ointment.

Chemical Peels Recovery

After your Chemical Peel at Prosilience Studio, your skin might appear pink, with some swelling, followed by it flaking off for about a week. For the first 3 to 4 days, we provide a protectant that needs to be applied to your skin two to four times per day after the peel is rinsed off your skin. For the first week, you are supposed to stay out of direct sunlight and are expected to use medical-grade sunscreen.

Finally, around the one-week mark, your results will be evident, with your face looking smoother and more radiant.

Here are the specific recovery expectations for various depths of peels:

Light Peel

You are likely to experience some redness, stinging, skin flaking, and irritation from a light chemical peel. After repeated treatments, these side effects will likely subside.

Medium Peel

You’ll experience some redness, stinging, and flaking of the skin. Commonly, symptoms are similar to those of a deep sunburn.
Although these chemicals won’t bleach your skin, you may see some color changes. You’re advised to avoid the sun and to use sunblock for several months to protect that fresh new layer of skin.

Deep Chemical Peel

Patients typically can return to work and some of their normal activities two weeks after treatment.
Deep chemical facial peels will result in peeling, crusting, skin redness, and discomfort for several days to weeks.
Your doctor will provide painkillers to keep you comfortable. Although the swelling is likely to disappear in about two weeks, your skin may remain red for up to three months.
One treatment with a deep chemical peel will produce long-lasting and dramatic results that can last up to 10 years.

Chemical Peels Cost

How Much Does a Chemical Peel Cost in Boston, MA?

The cost of a Chemical Peel in Boston & Arlington will vary depending on the strength of the chemical peel solution as well as the number of treatments needed for optimal results. Please schedule an appointment to consult with a technician for further insight into your customized needs and cost.

Prosilience Studio

Why choose Dr. Crawford?

At Prosilience Studio, we understand that choosing the best match for your treatment is a difficult decision. Our goal make our Boston area patients feel heard and safe before even attempting to propose a treatment plan, thanks to the guidance that comes from Dr. Crawford’s breadth of experience and her rigorous training.

Certified by the American Board of Surgery and her leadership positions at Valley Regional Hospital, the Cambridge Health Alliance, and her association with top Medical Schools in the country such as Harvard Medical School, you will feel safe in Dr. Catharine Crawford’s hands. Her dedication, beyond procedure, to the well-being of her patients is evident in the depth of her innovative work toward patient care and education.

Contact

Schedule a consultation

Are you ready to take the plunge towards a rejuvenated and refreshed you? If so, a Chemical Peel from Prosilience Studio in Arlington, MA, (about 20 minutes from downtown Boston) could be the answer you’re looking for! Please fill out the scheduling form below, or call our office directly and a helpful member of our team will be able to assist you. This is just the beginning of an honest collaboration towards achieving your goals for the new you. Contact us today.

Chemical Peels FAQ’S

Most people need a single appointment per chemical peel.

With good skincare and routine use of sunscreen, the results of your chemical peel at Prosilience Studio can last for several months or longer.

However, this treatment does not stop the natural aging process, so we may recommend that you have chemical peel treatments every one to two months.
Yes, you can! It is often encouraged to get a facial and a chemical peel together. For instance, it’s very common to combine Chemical Peels with Dermal Fillers. Getting these two treatments together will typically produce more significant results for your aesthetic concerns.

For patients who have moderate to severe pigmentation concerns, the combination of these two gentle exfoliation treatments can be highly effective.
Although rare, there are some noted side effects of Chemical Peels. You can minimize the risk of unwanted side effects by entrusting your treatments to Dr. Crawford at Prosilience Studio. We also encourage you to discuss any unwanted side effects of your previous cosmetic treatments, as well as any medical conditions, skin care products, and medications. Side effects of Chemical Peels may include:
- Dryness
- Redness and inflammation
- Blisters
- Itching
- Allergic reactions
- Discoloration
- Burning sensation
- Discomfort
- Scarring
While most of these effects are temporary, if you experience any long-lasting or unexpected reaction, please contact us immediately.