Light and medium peels are safe in the hands of a well-trained and competent esthetician. Both these peels are considered superficial peels. Superficial peels really don’t penetrate very far into the skin. However, a deep peel is made to penetrate nearly 4 times the depth of medium peels. You’ve read what happens in a medium peel so at 4 times the depth, you can imagine the consequences of a deep peel!
A deep peel requires operating-room procedures, sedation and/or anesthesia, and complete cardiac and pulmonary monitoring.
This peel will lead to excessive shedding of the skin. The several weeks of downtime are not only because of how you look but also to prevent infection in what are essentially open wounds. Possible complications include scarring, excessive redness, infection, hypo- and hyperpigmentation, permanent lines of demarcation and cardiac arrest. The short and long term complications are serious and sometimes cannot be reversed.
The primary agent used for deep deeps is phenol many times in combination with other agents. This is the strongest chemical. Therefore, these peels should not be taken lightly.
Deep peels should be used for treating extremely coarse skin, deep facial wrinkles, damaged and scarred skin or precancerous growths.
The successful results of these peels are a spectacular smoothing of the skin. But, keep in mind that the risks are great. At this point it is my responsibility to mention that you will no longer be able to go out into the sun and a sunscreen of the highest quality will be required everyday, rain or shine. And, wide brimmed hats!
