Chemical Peels

Gotham Plastic Surgery's in-house MedSpa offers chemical peels as a non-invasive skin resurfacing treatment performed within the same Midtown East Manhattan facility. Chemical peels remove the outer skin layers to address fine lines, uneven skin tone, sun damage, acne scarring, and dull texture, stimulating new skin cell production and collagen synthesis. Peel depth is selected based on the patient's concerns, skin type, and tolerance for downtime, ranging from light superficial peels with no recovery to medium-depth peels with several days of peeling.

Chemical peels at Gotham Plastic Surgery are provided through the practice's integrated MedSpa, which occupies the same Midtown East Manhattan facility as the surgical practice, allowing non-surgical and surgical treatments to be planned and coordinated under a single treatment philosophy. Chemical peels work by applying an acidic solution to the skin surface, which denatures and removes the outermost layers of the epidermis and, at deeper concentrations, portions of the papillary dermis. The controlled wounding response triggers the skin's repair cascade — stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, collagen synthesis, and elastin remodelling — resulting in a smoother, more even-toned, and more youthful-appearing skin surface as the treated layers shed and healthy new skin emerges. Superficial peels using alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid) or low-concentration salicylic acid target the very superficial stratum corneum and upper epidermis, producing mild exfoliation with no visible peeling and no significant downtime. These peels are appropriate for mild texture irregularities, dull complexion, and minor surface pigmentation, and are suitable for regular monthly maintenance. Medium-depth peels using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) at concentrations of 20–35% — or combination protocols such as the Jessner's solution followed by TCA — penetrate to the papillary dermis and produce more significant improvement in moderate fine lines, sun-damaged skin, surface acne scarring, and irregular pigmentation. Visible frosting and peeling occurs over three to seven days following the procedure. Medium peels provide meaningful rejuvenation results while avoiding the risks and extended recovery of deep phenol peels. Chemical peel treatments at the practice may be combined with other MedSpa services including microdermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing for patients seeking a multi-modal approach to skin quality improvement. Peels are also offered as a preparatory or adjunctive treatment for patients planning or recovering from surgical procedures at the practice. All peels are performed by trained aesthetic staff within the practice, with protocols and product selection guided by Dr. Miller's clinical oversight.