Facial peels are performed to reduce facial wrinkles, reduce pore visibility, improve skin texture and overall smoothness, and to help repair sun damage and even out skin color irregularities. Peels can be superficial, with little or no down-time or healing, such as the glycolic peel or lactic peel, or more aggressive into the mid-dermal layers of skin, such as the strong TCA (trichloroacetic acid) or even phenol (carbolic acid) peels. TCA peels can also be weaker, with less dramatic results and quicker healing, and other mild peels such as the Jessner’s peel can provide relatively quick healing and lovely skin rejuvenation. Most peels are performed to improve facial skin, but some of the mild peels can also be used for damaged or aging skin of other areas, such as the neck, hands and arms, or upper chest décolletage.

Glycolic, Jessner’s, Lactic, and mild TCA peels are performed by our estheticians at Carillon Clinic, Ltd., associated with and supervised by the plastic surgeons at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery, Ltd. The strongest (and one of the most popular) peels performed at Carillon is the Obaji Blue Peel, which is a specialized TCA peel designed to be safe and effective for a number of skin types and conditions. Some peels are particularly effective in helping control both adult and teenage acne, as part of an entire skin care program directed by the skin care experts at Carillon Clinic. Of course, most patients have facial peels to remove or reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and sun damage that are present even when facial animation is absent. Another option to help smooth rough and irritated upper layers of skin is microdermabrasion, which is another service provided by the staff at Carillon Clinic’s two locations.

Strong TCA peels, buffered phenol and regular phenol peels, as well as dermabrasion and laser resurfacing, are performed by the plastic surgeons at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery, and are used for deeper wrinkles, lines, scars, or more advanced sun damage. Each modality (mechanical skin removal by a diamond wheel or brush and a surgical power tool—dermabrasion; chemical application to the surface of the skin causing the upper layers to peel away—chemical peels; or vaporization of the exact amount of damaged upper skin layers to stimulate the healing process—laser skin resurfacing, or ablative laser treatment) removes just enough of the upper skin layers to stimulate the development of new elastic and collagen fibers over which a new healthier epithelial surface grows from each hair follicle and duct or pore. The new collagen and elastic fibers contract during the healing process, reducing wrinkles and textural irregularities. Healing takes about a week or ten days for each type of treatment, provided that each patient follows healing recommendations carefully and accurately.

Pretreatment with a skin care program that includes the pharmacologically-active (prescription drugs) retin-A and 4% hydroquinone are started 4 weeks prior to most peels, some dermabrasions, and all laser resurfacing patients to speed the healing, reduce coloration blotchiness as skin color returns to normal, and improve the overall results. Use of these medications and the recommended skin care program is not done to “sell” product, but is essential to giving the best result possible.

If you are looking for milder or less dramatic changes in gently-worn skin, Carillon Clinic may be your best starting point. If the changes in your skin’s appearance are more advanced and need more aggressive care, consultation at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery is for you. In either case, the professionals at either Clinic can guide you, and refer you to our sister Clinic if required.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with our plastic surgeons, please call 763-545-0443.

For Carillon Clinic Golden Valley: 763-540-1837, or Carillon Clinic Maple Grove: 763-494-9939.