Strong Disagreement with Plastic Surgeon's TCA Post Peel Advice

asked 1 year ago by Soniak in Boston
Latest answer by Mitchell Schwartz, MD
Question viewed 604 times
Tags: age 25-34, female, dangers, sun damage, treatment, worried

I am 28 with minor sun damage on my face which I wanted reversed so i saw a plastic surgeon who put me on 0.1% Retin-A +4% hydroquinone & gave me an 8% TCA peel today.He's asked me to continue using the products immediately & get another 8% tca peel next week.His regimen sounds too aggressive & even dangerous.I'd like to allow my skin to heal naturally for at least 2-3 weeks.He told me he has 20 years experience and knows what he's doing,but honestly I am freaking out.Any recommendations?

5 answers to Strong Disagreement with Plastic Surgeon's TCA Post Peel Advice

Patients need to follw TCA peels with their own common sense

Patients need to follw TCA peels with their own common sense. In an age where doctors and patients alike practice braggadagio it is best to use common sense in post peel therapy.

Edward Lack, MD
Chicago Dermatologist

Stick with Dr's advice on post-peel management

There are a number of different approaches to managing skin care with TCA peels and they are often tweaked according to each specific patient. The 8% TCA is not especially strong so overall it doesn't sound overly aggressive.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Minor Sun Damage Can Easily Be Treated With the Obagi NuDerm System

One of the most effective ways to reverse sunspots due to the effects of chronic sun damage to your skin is by using a combination of two prescription strength medications: 4% hydroquinone and tretinoin cream. Prescription strength 4% hydroquinone is better than any OTC product for lightening dark spots in the skin. Combining prescription-only tretinoin cream with hydroquinone will make it even more effective. I recommend the Obagi Nu-Derm System which uses both tretinoin cream and... more

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

8% TCA peel

Dear Soniak - I would agree that the 8% TCA is not overly aggressive at all - and I would suggest to you that the routine outlined by your practitioner is not unreasonable. The Retin-A and the Hydroquinone are prepping the skin for the peel. My instructions if I were to offer such a skin routine would including stopping these two products 2 days prior and not starting again for 2 days after the peel. The weekly application (for 2 applications) of the 8% TCA is... more

Paul E. Kelly, MD
Hamptons Facial Plastic Surgeon