Your skin was always radiant, and it effortlessly weathered everything from harsh winds to hot summer days. The time has come to give your faithful friend a boost with nonsurgical skin rejuvenation to reveal a fresh new layer. Two widely popular and stellar choices for revitalizing skin are laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels, both of which you can find at our med spa in Tracy, CA. Both treatments are equally great for achieving youthful, radiant skin, so the only question to ponder is which treatment is right for you.
Before you pick the right fit for your skin resurfacing journey, it’s important to understand what laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels can achieve. Both treatments work wonders for hyperpigmentation, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, and the skin’s overall texture. However, your skin map is unique and should influence your treatment choice.
What skin issues am I trying to address?
The best treatment for you depends on the results you’re looking to achieve.
Pigmentation Issues
When trying to improve skin pigmentation issues such as melasma and other forms of hyperpigmentation, a chemical peel will suit best.
While laser skin resurfacing can effectively improve hyperpigmentation, the heat from the laser may increase patches of pigment in some skin types. For those with darker skin tones, a low-strength chemical peel administered 3 to 6 times is a better option versus laser treatments. Individuals with lighter skin tone experiencing sun-related melasma usually benefit from a higher strength peel, while darker skin better tolerates a lower strength.
Fine Lines & Texture Concerns
If you want to reverse age-related fine lines and slack skin, laser resurfacing better pinpoints the targeted areas and increases the production of collagen. According to Healthline, high temperatures from the laser cause collagen degradation and prompt new synthesis, which in turn increases collagen production.
Additionally, skin concerns that require precision such as acne scars or spots can be resolved with laser skin resurfacing, as it doesn’t interfere with the surrounding areas.
Chemical peels are more effective when treating a larger surface area on your face for overall rejuvenation. It is also a milder, customizable option for those who don’t tolerate laser treatments. If you have deeper lines or wrinkles, you may want to combine your treatment with dermal fillers, which you can learn more about in this earlier blog post.
What results and recovery time can I expect from laser skin resurfacing vs. chemical peel?
As with any cosmetic procedure, it’s always important to consider how fast you can see results and if there is any recovery period involved. Laser skin resurfacing will give you faster results, and you may see improvement in your skin within 3 to 5 days. You may opt for up to 4 laser skin resurfacing sessions, with each session building on the last. Once all treatment sessions are complete, the results can last 3 to 5 years, with the added benefit of increased collagen production and plumper skin.
The strength of the chemical peel’s acids determines when you’ll see results. With a mild chemical peel, you should see fresh, new skin in less than a week. For a medium peel, results are usually visible in 1 to 2 weeks, and for a deep peel, it’s about 2 weeks. You may schedule additional treatments depending on your results.
The potency of your treatment also determines your downtime for both laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels. You’ll discuss recovery time with your provider when reviewing your treatment options.
When choosing between laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels, it’s best to arm yourself with as much information as possible and speak to an experienced provider. We want you to love your skin, and we can help put your best face forward with our effective med spa treatments. For the best skin resurfacing options with an experienced plastic surgeon in the Tracy area, please request a consultation or call us at (209) 834-0626 to schedule an appointment.
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