Additional Options

What Is a Chemical Peel?

This procedure can restore sun-damaged, wrinkled, blemished, acne scarred or blotchy skin to its original youthful appearance. The results are normally a smoother, more even toned, textured skin. The skin will look younger, tighter and "fresher" than before although it cannot remove all facial flaws. Deeper lines, wrinkles and other flaws may require additional treatments or techniques. The chemicals normally used are Trichloracetic acid (TCA, for more superficial lines and blemishes) or Phenol (a much deeper and more serious peel) for deeper wrinkles, flaws or discolorations.

Your Options in Chemical Peels
There are very minor peels and there are deeper, more serious, peels requiring sedation and extensive recovery time. These peels can be used not only on the face, but on the neck. chest, back, arms, hands, etc. – anywhere you wish to rejuvenate or improve your skin.

Alphahydroxy Acid: These peels help with fine, superficial wrinkles, sun damage, unevenness, white and black heads, pimples and splotchiness. These peels can also improve dryness and dehydrated skin. They are minimally invasive and provide mild resurfacing results, producing a mild rejuvenation without the extended downtime of a more invasive peel.

Fruit Acids: There are five main fruit acids: citric acids (citrus-derived), glycolic (derived from sugar cane), lactic acid (although derived from milk, this is still considered a "fruit acid"), malic (derived from apples) and tartaric (derived from grapes).

Citric Acid peels: Usually derived from lemons, oranges, limes and pineapples. These peels are simple and effective, although not capable of significant improvement with one treatment.

Glycolic Acid Peels: formulated from sugar cane, this peel creates a mild exfoliating action. Glycolic acid peels work by loosening up the horny layer and exfoliating the superficial top layer of skin. This peel also stimulates collagen growth.

Lactic Acid Peel: 70%or less alphahydroxy facial peel to remove dead skin cells, and promote healthier, softer and more radiant skin. This peel is derived from either sour milk or bilberries.

Malic Acid Peel: This peel is the same type of mildly invasive peel derived from the extracts of apples. It can open up the pores, allow the pores to expel the sebum and reduce acne.

Tartaric Acid Peels: This peel is derived from grape extract and is capable of delivering the same benefits as the above peels. Have your skin technician determine which is best for your individual needs.

Are You a Candidate for a Chemical Peel?

Depending upon the peel, you may be a candidate for a chemical peel if you have slight wrinkles, hyperpigmentations, splotchiness, unevenness, acne, acne scars, black heads or sun damaged skin. You may not be a candidate if you have herpes as this can spread to your healing skin and cause sores which will damage and scar your skin.

For deeper peels which require sedation or extensive recovery, first and foremost, you must be in good health, not have any active diseases or pre-existing medical conditions and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of your procedure. Communication is crucial in reaching one's goals. You must be able to voice your desires to Dr. Hecht if he is to understand what your desired results are. Discuss your goals with Dr. Hecht so that you may reach an understanding with what can realistically be achieved.

What Is Laser Resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing (or laser peel, laser rejuvenation, laser surgery), is the act of using a carbon dioxide (CO2), erbium, pulse dye or other laser to remove wrinkles, discolorations, age spots, and sun damaged skin or stimulate your body's fibroblasts to "grow" collagen to treat the wrinkle from within. The laser is passed over the treatment area to eradicate wrinkles around the eyes and mouth or anywhere you have unsightly lines, hyperpigmentation or blemishes. Lasers are an effective way to remove those superficial lines that make you appear aged. Plus, laser resurfacing is a considered a safer, less invasive procedure say than deep TCA peels or Dermabrasion. However, laser resurfacing is not for everyone.

Are You a Candidate For Laser Resurfacing?

Not everyone is a candidate for laser resurfacing. If you are prone to keloids, hyper or hypo pigmentation or do not react well to burns or excessive scarring due to minor cuts and abrasion, laser resurfacing is not a good idea. The laser is a type of burn as it literally evaporates the top layers of skin to reveal younger, tighter skin beneath. If you scar badly when you are burned, laser resurfacing may not be for you. If you have ethnicity (like Greek, Italian or African American, etc.) in your biological family, you may be prone to hyper or hypo pigmentation resulting from the procedure. An ideal patient would be of white European descent with elastic, non-oily skin.

What Are Soft Tissue Augmentation Treatments ?

Temporary injectable fillers such as bovine (cow) collagen and hyaluronic acid products are the most commonly used soft tissue augmentation products. They are used for wrinkles, and folds such as the nasolabial area (lines that run from nose to mouth) and the glabellar region (frown lines between the brows).

These types of injectable fillers are also used for augmentation of the lips and for filling out acne scars and other types of tissue deficiencies. They are ideal for "trying on" augmentation before undergoing a more permanent procedure because of their temporary nature..

Are You a Candidate for Soft Tissue Augmentation?

You may be a candidate for Soft Tissue Augmentation via injectable fillers if you are looking for a quick, effective and inexpensive method to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Treatments last from 3 to 6 months and take less than one hour in the doctor’s office. Results are immediate and recovery time is short; it is often possible to receive treatments at lunchtime.