I am trying to choose between a chemical peel and a fractional laser treatment.

Question

I am 43 with some fine lines/creepy skin under my eyes. Otherwise my skin is not in bad shape. I have had Botox and was very happy with the results.

John Philip Connors III, MD · Answer

Hi!  Both of these treatments are great options to address your under eye concerns.  The main difference is that the chemical peel will address your concerns a bit more superficially than a fractional laser.  A chemical peel will offer resurfacing of the top to mid- (depending on the strength of the peel) layers of the skin - improving skin tone, texture, and fine lines/wrinkles.   A fractional laser treatment will achieve all of the above results but will also stimulate collagen growth - providing immediate results but those will continue to improve for about three months post-treatment, making a fractional treatment a gift that keeps on giving!  Don't forget that you will have at least a week of downtime (maybe more depending on the intensity of the peel or fractional laser treatment) and to always protect your skin by using a good physical sunscreen!  Best of luck in your treatment decision!

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser.  Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.  
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD · Answer

There are some wonderful chemical peels out there now and some are specific to the eye area. Your skin heritage will help make the choice of which peels would work the best for you. Chemical peels generally address more superficial problems and fractional laser will go deeper and provided additional benefits of increased collagen. An experienced medical aesthetician would be able to treat you with a chemical peel, but you should rely on a trained medical specialist for any laser or light based treatments.It's worth the time and potential cost of a consultation with a board certified dermatologist to make sure you choose which type of procedure will give you good results without undue risks for your skin.It's inevitable that we get those fine lines and changes in skin texture. Lifestyle, diet and skin care will make a difference in how quickly and how dramatically that happens. Good skin care will be your best friend - so make sure you have proper products including sun screen and antioxidants to keep your skin in as good a condition as possible.

Glenn Murray, MBBS · Answer

Hi and thank you for your question.I would suggest to book in for a complementary consultation with a professional to assess your skin type and current skin condition to determine which would be suitable for you. Chemical peels range in different strengths and percentages and often address dehydration, improve appearance of fine lines and temporarily improve skin texture. Lasers such as DOT therapy stimulate more collagen and resurface the skin texture so a more dramatic and permanent solution for creppy skin, sun damage and fine lines and wrinkles. It is hard to determine which is more suitable without a photo, but you would have to consider down time, cost and what you are aesthetically looking to achieve.Wishing you all the best,
  
Stay absolutely safe and well,

Dr. Murray from Absolute Cosmetic Medicine

Promila Banerjee, MD · Answer

Hello fitnessobsessed, To achieve a more youthful appearance and to shed years off the look of your skin, laser treatments will help your skin look healthier and more rejuvenated. Laser treatments can also reduce the unwanted signs of aging. Collagen and elastin make up the support structure in our skin. As we age, that support structure weakens and allows wrinkles to form. Laser revitalization treatments use powerful technology to refresh the skin by stimulating collagen and elastin production. This technology is great for wrinkles around the eyes, crow’s feet, wrinkles around the mouth, frown lines, and all facial wrinkles because it slows down the aging clock in our cells which is backed up by science. 
We recommend laser treatments to our patients because it offers visible results after 1 treatment with minimal discomfort. Lasers are a quick, non-invasive treatment and they are your results to keep for life. In any case laser is your best bet! Hope this helps.

I am trying to choose between a chemical peel and a fractional laser treatment.

Answers (5)

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