chemical face peel.

[DONNNAKEBAB]

has anyone or does anyone know of anyone that has had one of these.

I have just booked a consultation for one in London at the weekend.

It is the thought of the acid on my face and melting the first layer of the skin (some scarring from acne when I was younger) that is scaring me to death.

Any help would be useful.

Thanks.

Katie. x

[Le Chat]

Hi Katie. Your post made me laugh as it all sounds very dramatic!!
The success of the peel will be down to two main factors. 1) The skill of the operator - Using the correct strength of product, checking your skins reaction before and during treatment, assessing your skins thickness, asking you questions that will inhibit or enhance results ie, do you smoke, do you sunbathe, what you use on your skin etc 2) The extent and depth of scarring. This depends on your age, the type of acne you had (was it cystic acne?) if you have pits in the skin, if you have severe collagen and elastin degeneration around the area.
So you see there can be many variables as to succes.
However, generally, you will see between 20 - 30% improvement in your skin. You will look rather awful after a few days but as long as you don't pick or pull off the dead skin flakes (very, very important) your skin will look fantastic. You will never be able to expose your face to the sun again though and will have to wear a good quality block everyday. If you don't you may get a hyper pigmentation on some area of your face, which will be permenant and will not look nice.
Please make sure that the dr performing the treatment is a suitably qualified dermatologist and (more importantly/assuming that he/she is) that he/she has carried out many of these procedures previously.
Make a list of questions you want to ask and if you don't understand the answers fully, then ask again. Ask for portfolios of other customers - before and after pics.
Good luck.

[DONNNAKEBAB]

Hi Le Chat.

Wow !!!! thank you so very much for all that infomrative advice, I am truly grateful.

I smoke about 10 a day (more at the weekends when I have been drinking) and although I cant see any point in lying on a beach all day, I do like to sit outside a bar with a large vodka and watch the world go by.

I have also just lost 11 stones with a GB operation and really dont like my face too much at the moment.

What are you thinking?

This doctor is a Dr. Bloom, french from Golders Green, London.

Katie. x

[Le Chat]

Well done for that weight loss - you must feel fantastic! Funny thing is I have seen your posts and made a visual image of you in my head (I think we all do this subconsciously!) and I did not have you as ever being so big!!!
Anyway, back to the matter in hand.....
Smoking will slow down the healing of the skin at an alarming rate! It is the single worst thing you can 'do' to your skin at the best of times. Firstly, the internal effects of the toxins inhibit cellular regenration , so healing takes alot longer or can prevent total healing completely.ie, you could be left with areas which are redder and more tender than the rest. There is also the external impact as you inhale the cigarette, the toxic lit end, is so near your skin and as you exhale it is right there too. Really, this is so important. If you are going to fork out a stack of cash for this procedure, you need to give yourself the best possible chance.
I think the sunbathing matter can easily be solved by fake tan or tinted moisturizer. You can still tan the rest of your body and just cover your face.
I am a Beauty Therapist and Teacher by trade and take students to a plastic surgery clinic for interest purposes. At one time myself and a friend were going to open a clinic specializing in botox, collagen injections etc, so I have been to trade exhibitions and learnt about aesthetic medicine..and of course I know about the skin and all its functions!
However, I don't know about any of the skin specialists or how good they are. You will need to do your homework yourself on this matter.
A good website is www.cindyjackson.com. She has had about a million cosmetic procedures and her website may help you itself or direct you to one that can.
The web address for the association of british dermatologists is www.bad.org.uk. They will cover all these procedures and have a q & a section.
Hope this helps
Kerris

[daffy654]

Hi Katie.There really is no need to worry about the procedure,the worst it will feel is uncomfortable.The acid when applied feels warm but when they neutralise it you may feel a fizzing sensation,its just the acid reacting with the alkaline,not your skin sizzling off.lol.It works fairly well if done properly and regularly. To be honest though I would have thought for the best result you should look into having micro dermabrasion instead,you get far better results,the difference to acne scarring after that is amazing,I only wish I could afford to have it done!!!
I use glycolic acid once a week on my skin and it has made my complexion brighter and reduced my scarring slightly.
Good luck with your procedure,I hope you get the result you are after.xxx

[DONNNAKEBAB]

Actually the doctor mentioned that to me. I think its about �650.00. Does that sound about right.

Katie. x

Thanks for your help by the way.

[daffy654]

I don't really know what the current cost are,when I looked into it a couple of years ago they said I would need 6 sessions over a 5 month period at the cost of �65.00 per session. I just don't have the money for that ! The other option for acne scarring is laser treatment,I have heard good things about it but not really looked into it as I just know it would be well out of my reach :-(

[DONNNAKEBAB]

It might be worth it though. Ahh the things we get up to.

Katie. x