POSTED UNDER Phenol Peel REVIEWS
Phenol Peel: Recovery Review - Taipei, Taiwan
ORIGINAL POST
I am a 34 year old redhead who has tried Fraxel,...
redheadinher30sDecember 28, 2010
WORTH IT$1,500
I am a 34 year old redhead who has tried Fraxel, the Yag laser, and botox in an effort to soften crow's feet and acne scars. Nothing has worked and my dermatologist with a PhD from Harvard recommended a Phenol Peel.
He performed the peel in a public hospital in Taipei, Taiwan yesterday. My dermatologist has a lot of experience administering phenol peels and told me not to worry. At the moment it is the second day of my recovery and I have to wear a mask of bandages "like a mummy" for 8 days.
The phenol peel procedure was somewhat uncomfortable and took about two hours. My doctor injected my face with a nerve block and applied the phenol in patches starting from my forehead and moving downwards until my entire face was covered. He even put a small amount of phenol on my eyelids. Overall, I did feel some initial burning from the phenol which then resided. The experience was not pain free and I was given a morphine tablet to feel more comfortable.
After the phenol application my Doctor told me to drink lots of water and eat as much as I could. He cut the mouth opening on the mask so that I would be able to chew and I've been eating soup and pasta without a problem. Although, this is only my second day of recovery the experience is not so bad. I am not in pain and do not have to dress the wound as the mask stays on for 8 days. A phenol peel is much less messy than the Yag laser and should produce better results.
Replies (8)
February 4, 2015
I am hoping someone can help me. I had a Hetter peel which is a modified phenol peel. I am on day 5. I have peeled like crazy around my eyes and a little on my cheeks. My face is red, but I am not peeling on my chin or upper lip. The doctor said that is normal and most of the peeling will be on my eyes. Has anyone else experienced this?
February 4, 2015
Hi there, sounds like the peel is worth it but could you show a close up before and after photo re: the scarring. I have really bad acne scarring all over the face and was told that the fraxel laser would not benefit my skin! I feel lost in what I can do next and you said that this peel has worked better than the laser so this intrigues me! your advice would be much appreciated! x
April 7, 2017
I too had a phenol peel performed by my plastic surgeon, Dr Adam Stein, Raleigh, NC.
Dr Stein had my bloodwork done because of the toxicity of the phenol on the kidneys. My kidneys are healthy so the peel went along as planned. He immediately began flushing my kidneys out as soon as the phenol was applied under anesthesia, to avoid any damage to the kidneys.
It was no walk in the park, by any means, but now I have baby smooth skin 2 years post op. It took away all wrinkles, sunspots etc. It took me three months for all the redness to disappear, and my skin to emerge youthful.
Dr Stein knows what he is doing, he is a Plastic Surgeon. It is very important to do exactly as he advises you to do. It is in your best interest and you are paying him for his expertise! I would NOT let anyone else touch me! If they do not follow this routine, they do not know what they are doing! Dermatologists are not surgeons. Be careful!!! I cannot imagine not being anesthetized for such an intense procedure as this!
PM
Dr Stein had my bloodwork done because of the toxicity of the phenol on the kidneys. My kidneys are healthy so the peel went along as planned. He immediately began flushing my kidneys out as soon as the phenol was applied under anesthesia, to avoid any damage to the kidneys.
It was no walk in the park, by any means, but now I have baby smooth skin 2 years post op. It took away all wrinkles, sunspots etc. It took me three months for all the redness to disappear, and my skin to emerge youthful.
Dr Stein knows what he is doing, he is a Plastic Surgeon. It is very important to do exactly as he advises you to do. It is in your best interest and you are paying him for his expertise! I would NOT let anyone else touch me! If they do not follow this routine, they do not know what they are doing! Dermatologists are not surgeons. Be careful!!! I cannot imagine not being anesthetized for such an intense procedure as this!
PM
UPDATED FROM redheadinher30s
Yesterday I got my lower eye lids done and it was...
redheadinher30sJuly 5, 2011
Yesterday I got my lower eye lids done and it was a completely different experience. Much more easier than the full face. I did not even take any pain pills today and feel fine. The cost was $300USD and I went to see the same doctor.
Six months after the phenol peel my skin looks like new. All sun damage and fine lines are gone. In addition, my acne scars are greatly reduced by about 80%. However, I do have a scar on my lower chin from eating when the phenol bandage mask was on during my recovery. This is a bit annoying but the scar will blend into my skin when healed. Right now the scar is red but it should fade within a year.
Even with the scar I would rate the Phenol Peel as worth it. The peel is much more effective than the Fraxel re:store and Yag laser. The Phenol is very invasive though and not for everyone. Recovery takes weeks. You can not leave the house for at least two weeks and then your skin peels for another two more weeks and is very awkward in public. I had bright red skin for about four months and only stopped wearing make-up after five months.
My Dr. was Dr. Yeh at Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital. He is one of the best dermatologists in Taiwan.
Six months after the phenol peel my skin looks like new. All sun damage and fine lines are gone. In addition, my acne scars are greatly reduced by about 80%. However, I do have a scar on my lower chin from eating when the phenol bandage mask was on during my recovery. This is a bit annoying but the scar will blend into my skin when healed. Right now the scar is red but it should fade within a year.
Even with the scar I would rate the Phenol Peel as worth it. The peel is much more effective than the Fraxel re:store and Yag laser. The Phenol is very invasive though and not for everyone. Recovery takes weeks. You can not leave the house for at least two weeks and then your skin peels for another two more weeks and is very awkward in public. I had bright red skin for about four months and only stopped wearing make-up after five months.
My Dr. was Dr. Yeh at Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital. He is one of the best dermatologists in Taiwan.
Replies (9)
April 5, 2012
I'm wondering, is your skin decidedly lighter than it was before? I know with some chemical peels the skin is very white (absence of pink tone) afterward. And, does this prohibit you from any sun exposure, i.e., vacations in sunny locations? Thanks
August 6, 2012
kathi ... I've had several peels done but my deepest was a Obaji, 4 layers of 20% TCA. I believe Obaji is considered a medium depth peel. In my personal oppinion you don't necessarily have to skip sunny vacations but you would need to apply 50+ sunscreen on your face several times a day and I wouldn't go without a hat because your skin is delicate after a peel and very subceptible to burning and then you just get the darking again, which defeats the purpose of why you got the peel in the first place. Not to mention, sun reflects off water if you're on a beach or by a pool, just something to think about. I hope this makes sense. And phenol peels are even deeper, therefore, skin would be more delicate in following weeks/months after the skin has peeled. I always try to get my peels outside of the summer months.
Gena
Gena
April 29, 2016
thank you so much for sharing. I WOULD love to know if your skin is more firm after the peeling
May 5, 2016
Hi,
My story is complicated. I paid for the whole face, but he only did the forehead and eyes. He is a lousy doctor. The skin around my eyes is more firm, but I have complications. I am still red after 15 months and I now have a very weird, bumpy shiny texture under my eyes. Do you have any suggestions?
My story is complicated. I paid for the whole face, but he only did the forehead and eyes. He is a lousy doctor. The skin around my eyes is more firm, but I have complications. I am still red after 15 months and I now have a very weird, bumpy shiny texture under my eyes. Do you have any suggestions?
June 18, 2016
Just saw the u did replied me months ago.how is your skin só far? i might do the phenol peeling in Brasil. bit they haver a New tecnic there .called exosplastia facial. i AM 31 and for people on their ealrys thirties. this New tecnic allowed younger womens like us tô do it. no tô agressive btu even more afctive. after the peeling they put a mask on for a week with prevent any Marks and work as a lift
Hi redheadinher30s,
Wow, you have to have your whole face wrapped up for 8 days? I guess that makes it hard to leave the house.
Just a question, you said you live in the US, but went to Taiwan to have all the laser procedures done. Why go so far?
Please keep us updated on how your recovery continues.
Thanks,
-Britt
I lived in Taiwan for four years and taught English before moving back to the USA this summer. My husband has a business based in Taiwan so I go back twice a year.
Many Taiwanese Doctors are trained in the USA and there is an emerging health tourism market here.
Today I had my bandage mask taken off after 8 days which removed the layer of skin on top of my forehead and cheeks completely. Now I have to cover my skin in zinc oxide and Vaseline for several more days.
Hi Red,
Thanks for answering my question. Ohh, sounds painful to take off the bandages, I hope the zinc and vaseline helps. Please keep us updated.
Thanks,
-Britt