If some new 'Miracle' skin product sounds too good to be true, it almost always is just that. The trained cosmetic surgeon, however, now has methods to resurface and retexture imperfections in the skin by using special chemical peels. These methods require chemical peels that can improve wrinkles and can greatly help scars from acne, chicken pox, traumatic injury or any other facial scaring.

Glycolic Acid Peels

Alphydroxy Acid Derived from sugar cane, glycolic acid is part of a family of chemicals called alphahydroxy acids, and you may know it as the fruity acid peel. This type of peel works slowly, but steadily. With long term use, it will eventually improve the color and irregularities of sun-damaged skin. After six months, the skin will usually have a healthy glow and generally look younger. The best regimen is to start with a series of peels done at a physician's office that progresses from 40 to 70 percent concentrations, as tolerated. These peels vary in cost around the country, but should be in the range of $50 to $70 each. Call Helen Elliott for preferred rates.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion uses a small, rapidly rotating wheel (fraise) to smooth the skin, and it operates in exactly the same fashion as a sanding machine smoothing wood. Dermabrasion can be very useful to lessen scaring, smooth certain types of wrinkles, and used in the past to remove tattoos on the lower body. Face Peels face peel is the ultimate uncontrolled cosmetic surgery because it depends far more on the art of cosmetic surgery than on the science of medicine. Face peels are obsolete. The preferred methods for this type of procedure is laser resurfacing.

DERMABRASION QUICK FACTS*

Procedure: Mechanical scraping of the top layers of skin using a high-speed rotary wheel. Softens sharp edges of surface irregularities, including acne and other scars and fine wrinkles, especially around the mouth.

Length: A few minutes to 1 hour. May require more than 1 session. [Depending on the Surgeon]

Anesthesia: Local, numbing spray, or general.

In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.

Side Effects: Temporary tingling, burning, itching, swelling, redness. Lightening of treated skin. Acute sensitivity to sun; loss of ability to make pigment (tan).

Risks: Abnormal color changes (permanent). Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores.

Recovery: Back to work: 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 4 to 6 weeks. Fading of redness: about 3 months. Return of pigmentation/sun exposure: 6 to 12 months.

Duration of Results: Permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages.

*From The American Society of Plastic Surgeons www.plasticsurgery.org

Phenol Peels

The best use of a deep phenol is to improve deep lines on the face, especially the deep lines around the mouth. For patients with these particular type of wrinkles, lipstick is forever "bleeding" into these lip creases, making it impossible to have a clean lip line. The ideal candidate is a very light-skinned, light eyed person with deep wrinkles and facial liver spots who is willing to wear makeup at all times to cover the possible change in skin color. Darker, olive-skinned patients are completely out of the question, because they often heal with permanent lightning of the skin.

TCA (trichloroacetic Acid) Peels

TCA is an acid that yields results that are in general not as dramatic as those produced by phenol, but the healing is quicker and less painful. At certain strengths, most of the peeling occurs in the first four to seven days, and makeup may be worn at seven to fourteen days.