How Long After 20% TCA Peel Before I Can Safely Have a Facelift/Fat Graft And a 35% TCA Peel?

Question

My recent 20% peel made me really red/swollen and did not even begin to really peel for 5 days and remained quite red for another week or so. There is so much variance with peoples experiences with the 20% TCA I'm wondering if mine was actually deeper or is my skin less tolerant than some. Thanks so much for your opinion.

Steve Laverson, MD, FACS · Answer

Depth of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels depend not only on the concentration of TCA measured weight/volume, but how saturated the gauze is with peeling solution, how forceful the gauze was rubbed against the skin, how many times the gauze was applied and/or re-applied over the same area, whether or not the TCA was neutralized at a certain point after application, the thickness of your skin, etc.  This explains some of the inter-individual variation.  Wait until you are well healed before subjecting yourself to additional procedure(s).

Rod J. Rohrich, MD · Answer

In general, if you have had a TCA peel in the last 3-6 months you are fine to proceed with having a facelift. However, I like to do the TCA peel in the perioral and central face area. If in doubt, I would wait 3-6 months.

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

The effects of a 20% TCA peel can vary as does skin type, and it seems best to delay facelift until your skin has fully recovered from the peel, perhaps four weeks. The second peel could be applied again after the facelift has fully healed in six to eight weeks. If your 'response' to the 20% peel was so strong, you might consider a second 20% peel rather than the 35% strength.
	Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

There are many variables that affect the depth of any chemical peel. But a 20% TCA peel is still a very mild intemediate depth peel and your postpeel experience sounds fairly typical and certainly not unduly prolonged. You could proceed with a facelift and a stronger TCA peel within four to six weeks after this last peel. Your skin will have had more than enough time to recover for proper healing.

How Long After 20% TCA Peel Before I Can Safely Have a Facelift/Fat Graft And a 35% TCA Peel?

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Answer: Facelift Surgery After A Chemical Peel

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How Long After 20% TCA Peel Before I Can Safely Have a Facelift/Fat Graft And a 35% TCA Peel?

Answers (4)

Answer: Facelift Surgery After A Chemical Peel

Answer: Facelift Surgery After A Chemical Peel

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Everything you need to know about TCA Peel

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.