CHEMICAL PEELS / dermabrasion

About Chemical Peels Or Dermabrasion

Welcome to Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery. Your preoperative consultation with a plastic surgeon is an important first step in this process. Our goal is to fully educate you about the Chemical Peels or Dermabrasion procedure that you have elected to undergo. Specifically, you will be told how to prepare for this procedure, what you should expect on the day of the procedure, and the guidelines that you will need to follow after your procedure to ensure optimal results. You must be aware that all surgery carries some risk, even when the procedure is elective. Complications are infrequent, but we want you to fully understand the possible risks involved.

During your pre-procedure consultation, the plastic surgeon will ask you questions about your medical history, current medications, and social habits. This information will help the medical team to provide you optimal care. The surgeon will also discuss in detail the contents of this packet as it relates to you. Please feel free to ask any and all questions. After your appointment, we encourage you to read the complete packet you will receive and contact us with any remaining questions. It is important to us that you are fully informed about the Chemical Peel and Dermabrasion Procedures to ensure that you have as smooth and pleasant experience as possible.

Who Is A Good Candidate For Chemical Peels Or Dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion smoothes acne scars and irregular traumatic scars to make them less visible. The Chemical Peel removes fine wrinkles around the mouth and eyes, rejuvenates sun-damaged skin and diminishes age spots. Both procedures give the skin a fresher appearance. The primary purpose of Chemical Peels or Dermabrasion is to remove irregularities, often due to fine wrinkles or acne scars, in the outer layers of the skin. Chemical Peels or Dermabrasion can also treat age spots and sun-damaged areas. The type of chemical used depends on the depth of penetration that is needed. The indication for Dermabrasion depends on the type of skin irregularity and the location.

Preparing For Procedure

At least 1 month prior to procedure
Stop smoking at least 1 month prior to your procedure. Smoking reduces circulation to the skin, impedes healing, and can lead to serious post-procedure complications.

2 weeks prior to procedure
Stop all medications that can thin the blood 2 weeks prior to procedure. These include drugs such as Aspirin, Coumadin, Lovenox, Ibuprofen, Vitamin E, and multiple herbal preparations. These medications may cause bleeding during and after procedure.

1 week prior to procedure
Report any signs of a cold or infection that appear the week prior to your procedure. You may need to postpone your procedure to avoid unnecessary complications.

The day before procedure
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your procedure. This includes water, ice, or hard candy. The only exception is that you may take your blood pressure or heart medication with a sip of water the morning of surgery.

The day of procedure
Plan to wear comfortable loose fitting clothes to the procedure.

Do not wear jewelry or bring valuables with you on the day of procedure.

You must arrange to have a responsible adult drive you home after your procedure.

What To Expect On The Day Of Procedure.

When you arrive, you will be escorted to a preoperative evaluation area where you will be asked to change into a gown and will be given foot covers. Your surgeon will meet with you before you enter the operating room suite. During this time, the surgical consent form will be reviewed with you in detail and special markings may be made on your skin at the surgical site. You will have the opportunity to ask any last minute questions.

When your procedure is completed and your dressings are in place, you will be moved to the recovery room. During this period a recovery room nurse will assure your comfort and continue to monitor you closely.

Your stay in the recovery room will last approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Most patients are fully awake within 30 to 60 minutes after your procedure, but they may not remember much about their time in the recovery room due to some of the anesthesia medication. Once you are ready for discharge, a postoperative appointment will be scheduled and your discharge instructions will be reviewed.

You must have a responsible adult drive you home from the surgery center. A responsible adult must stay with you the first night after your procedure because you have been sedated.

Post-procedure Instructions

Diet: Start with clear liquids and toast or crackers. If those are well tolerated, progress to a regular diet.

Driving: No driving for 1 to 2 weeks after your procedure or while taking pain medicine.

Activity: You may walk and climb stairs the day of surgery. Walk at least 3 times daily to decrease the risk of developing blood clots.

Work: Depending on your career and your rate of healing you should be able to return to work within 2 to 3 weeks of surgery. Your surgeon will be able to give you a better estimate depending on your physical and professional profile.

Wound Care: There will be oozing from the treated areas, as well as crusting that forms.  After the new skin returns in approximately 1 week after surgery, makeup can then be applied.  You may experience flakiness to the skin and possibly small areas of acne, which usually resolves itself in 1-2 weeks. 

Bathing: You may shower 48 hours after surgery—when you shower do not allow water to run or spray to hit directly over the incisional site. Do not submerge the incision in a bath or swimming pool for 4 to 6 weeks.

Medications: Ask your surgeon when you can resume your blood thinning medications. All other prescription medications may be resumed immediately, as usual. While you are taking pain medicine, you are encouraged to follow a high fiber diet and take a stool softener such as Colace (available over the counter), as pain medications tend to cause constipation. Your surgeon may give you antibiotics for several days to help prevent infection.

Smoking and Alcohol: Do not smoke for the first several weeks after surgery as it impedes wound healing and can lead to serious wound complications. Alcohol consumption is dangerous while taking pain medicine as it has a tendency to worsen bleeding.

Post-operative Appointment: Your first follow-up visit will be 1 week after surgery. Your surgeon will then schedule visits at appropriate intervals to monitor your progress.

Special Considerations: Call your surgeon immediately if you experience any of the following: pain not relieved by pain medicine, bleeding, redness at the incision site, fever over 101°F, chest pain, shortness of breath, or any other concerning symptoms.  

Long Term Results

You will immediately notice changes within the treated skin.  During the recovery period, you may notice there may be some changes in the skin tone, with some variation throughout the areas of the face.

Procedure Risks

All surgical procedures involve some risks, such as the effects of anesthesia, bleeding, infection, pain, and swelling. After reading the discussion below, please contact your surgeon if you have any remaining questions.

Bleeding: Bleeding is usually minimal and well-controlled during Chemical Peels or Dermabrasion.  Stop all blood thinning medications 2 weeks prior to surgery to decrease the risk of excessive bleeding. A complete list of these medications can be found in the back of this pamphlet.

Hematoma: A hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin. Hematomas may occur within the first few days after surgery or further out if the surgical site is traumatized. Small hematomas will resolve spontaneously and can be observed. Larger ones may require aspiration or drainage for optimal results.

Infection: Antibiotics will be given to you, prophylactically before surgery, and for several days after surgery to minimize the risk of infection. If an infection develops, it typically can be treated with different antibiotics. In some situations surgical debridement may be required. This can result initially in a larger scar, which may be revised at a later date.

Pain: Mild to moderate pain and discomfort is expected after surgery. You will be given a prescription for pain medication. If you have severe pain not relieved by pain medicine, contact your surgeon immediately.

Delayed Healing or Wound Separation: Cigarette smoking, poor nutrition, and a compromised immune system can all increase the risk of delayed wound healing or separation.

Numbness: It is common to experience some numbness around your surgical site for the first few weeks. Numbness can be temporary or it may be permanent.

Dissatisfaction With Cosmetic Results: We strive to attain the aesthetic results you desire. Some people are not entirely satisfied with their results due to asymmetry, scar deformity, or hypertrophic (irregularly raised) scarring. Careful surgical planning and technique can minimize, but not always prevent, such results. If necessary revisions can be made after the healing process is complete.

Blood Clots: Blood clots may form and travel to your lungs, resulting in severe injury or death. To decrease the risk of blood clots, boots that massage the lower leg will be placed on you during surgery. After the procedure you can decrease your risk of blood clots by walking 3 to 4 times daily.

Scarring: Scarring is generally not a problem, but is a rare complication of Chemical Peels or Dermabrasion.