Professional chemical peels in Surrey

Chemical peels, like the Jessner peel, or others, are often used to treat the following types of skin conditions:

• Age spots or brown spots
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Shallow acne scars
• Large pores and clogged pores forming acne
• Sun-damaged skin, including actinic keratosis, melasma and freckles (in combination with other treatments)
• Uneven pigmentation, such as blotchy skin tone, or hyperpigmentation
• Red spots or rosacea

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Chemical peels, depending on their kind, can be applied to:

• The area around the mouth and chin (for vertical lines, or ‘smoker’s lines’)
• The forehead (for horizontal wrinkles)
• The cheeks (for brown spots, acne scars and fine wrinkles)
• The neck (for fine lines)
• The hands (for age spots and wrinkles)
• The back (for acne scars, if acne has not created open wounds)

And, technically, other areas on the body where skin needs a collagen ‘boost.’

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All chemical peels – whether mild, medium or deep – work by brushing on thin layers of an acidic formula to the skin, where the target skin condition is. Sometimes, it is only one layer. The acid dissolves old skin on the top layers of the dermis.

The application of the acid intentionally causes these superficial layers of the skin to peel off.

Then, the body kicks in its natural response to produce healing collagen. New skin cells are formed. This creates a young, fresh dermal layer. It’s a skin rejuvenation method that has been used for about 100 years, or more, by some accounts.

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Mild and medium-strength chemical peels usually require a series of treatment sessions to be effective in the long-term. That said, some people get satisfiable results in just one treatment.

Depending on what is being treated, we may recommend repeating the chemical peel process every 4 – 6 weeks, initially, for best results. For example, if you have bad acne scars, you may need a series of treatments scheduled more closely together (we will give our best estimate on this when we see you in person for a consultation).

For a general beauty treatment, getting a chemical peel twice a year may be enough for you.

For regular upkeep, the HydraFacial™ procedure, with mild chemical additives and nutrients, can be done monthly.

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Mild and medium-strength chemical peels are very tolerable for most people. You may feel a little stinging during the application process. Cooling the area can help. However, no anaesthetic is required. The stinging goes away within a few minutes.

Deep chemical peels can create a stronger stinging feeling. Taking an over-the-counter pain medication may help with this.

During your initial consultation, we’ll let you know if we think you’ll need pain alleviation. This will depend on the formula being used for your chemical peel.

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With mild or medium-strength chemical peels, you will be able to resume normal activities immediately after treatment.

The treated skin will be red, swollen, and flaky within a few days after treatment. Browning may also occur. It can feel similar to a sun burn.

Peeling can last two to three days in most people. You may not feel comfortable going out in public during this time. However, this depends on each person’s preference.

The entire healing process can take 7 to 10 days. At that point, it is ok to use high-quality, hypoallergenic makeup, with strong UV protection. This can help to cover up remaining pink-ish hues.

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For most people, long-term side-effects of chemical peels are non-existent.

Rare side effects of a chemical peel include:

• Skin discolouration
• Scarring (this is usually treatable, however)
• Blistering (this should heal in due time, and can be part of the normal recovery process)

The prep and after-care of a chemical peel are very important. They can affect the outcome and possibility of side effects. Chemical peel care routines include:

• Never tugging at the peeling skin. Let it fall off naturally. Otherwise, unintentional damage may occur.
• Staying away from the sun, tanning beds and any UV rays (this is serious, since your new layers of skin will be ‘raw’ and prone to photodamage until they heal).
• Wearing broad spectrum, high SPF sunscreen everyday, and reapplying every two hours. This is a must! Even if it’s not sunny outside!
• Keeping the treatment area clean without rubbing, and without using strong soaps.
• Following a skin care routine our clinic may recommend. Product recommendations are meant to improve the effects of the peel, promote healing or prevent excessive flakiness on your skin.

You will be screened for eligibility before getting a chemical peel.

Allergies or certain health conditions can make this procedure dangerous for some candidates. They will not be eligible for a chemical peel at our office.

Those who are pregnant or taking birth control should not get a chemical peel. This is to avoid the likelihood of pigmentation issues.

Those who are prone to scarring, or who get cold sores, may need to avoid this procedure. If you fit this profile, ask us about possible routes to prevent these outcomes.

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The cost of chemical peels depends on the specific formula being used, the additions of any ingredients in our office to enhance your results, and the size of the area being covered.

Since chemical peels can be customized for your needs, the best way to get an accurate cost is to come in for a consultation. By seeing you in person, we’ll be able to take a closer look at your condition. We can then recommend treatments we think will work best on you.

You can fill out the form above to get a general idea of pricing.

Note: chemical peels are considered an elective, cosmetic procedure. They are not covered by Medical Services Plan (MSP) in British Columbia, nor most private insurance companies.

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