A TCA chemical peel is a cosmetic medical procedure designed to give you younger-looking skin. TCA, or trichloroacetic acid, is a special chemical that will gently remove the top layers of your skin when applied on the body. Since TCA is not a toxic chemical, this process is completely safe. TCA peels have been proven to be extremely effective at treating age spots, fine lines, acne, sun-damaged skin and melasma.
While laser skin treatments are becoming more popular every day, a lot of people prefer TCA chemical peels because of their versatility. Laser treatments will not be able to successfully treat melasma or severe sun damage. A TCA chemical peel is also more effective when treating an area other than the face. The peel can easily cover a large area on the body, which is not possible when using laser treatments.
A TCA chemical peel works by affecting the top layers of the skin. These cells should dry up and peel off the body within about one week of getting the peel. Once this dead skin is removed, new and undamaged skin cells will be exposed. This process provides more color and texture to your skin.
The TCA chemical peel process begins with your skin being cleaned. This will remove all of the oil in your skin. The special peel solution will then be applied to your skin. Once the solution is removed, a special ointment may be applied to your skin to speed up the healing process.
While a TCA chemical peel is an extremely safe procedure, you may notice some minor side effects. Your skin may feel warm and tight for two or three days following the cosmetic procedure. However, this is completely normal. Your skin will also start to peel approximately three days following the peel. The skin peeling is extremely similar to what you would experience if you got a sunburn.
It is vitally important to avoid sun exposure after getting a TCA chemical peel. Your skin will be more sensitive to sun exposure after getting treated. In order to get the best results from your TCA chemical peel, you should avoid prolonged sun exposure for at least four weeks.
A simple TCA chemical peel at Athena Plastic Surgery may be just what you’ve been looking for to rejuvenate your appearance. We have offices in Stuart and Palm Beach Gardens and happily serve the West Palm Beach areas. Contact us today to schedule your consultation to learn more.