Chemical Peels

Medical-grade chemical peels offered by the Northwestern Plastic Surgery aesthetics team for wrinkle reduction, pigmentation correction, acne control, and overall skin renewal. Peel formulation and depth — from superficial glycolic acid peels to medium-depth TCA treatments — are selected based on skin type, Fitzpatrick classification, and the concern being addressed. Available as standalone treatment or combined with other non-surgical skin services.

Chemical peels at Northwestern Plastic Surgery are offered as part of the practice's comprehensive non-surgical skincare service, administered by licensed aesthetician Ariana De Jesus and the aesthetics team under plastic surgeon supervision. Medical-grade chemical peels use controlled acid formulations to remove damaged superficial skin layers and trigger a wound-healing response in the dermis, resulting in new epidermal growth and progressive dermal remodelling that improves wrinkle depth, skin tone uniformity, texture, and surface quality. Superficial chemical peels using alpha-hydroxy acids — glycolic acid (derived from sugarcane) in concentrations of 20–70%, lactic acid (derived from milk), or mandelic acid — remove the stratum corneum and superficial epidermis. These peels produce mild exfoliation with minimal visible peeling and no significant recovery time, making them suitable for regular monthly maintenance use to maintain skin luminosity and prevent cumulative photoageing. Salicylic acid (a beta-hydroxy acid) superficial peels penetrate lipid-rich follicular debris and are particularly effective for acne-prone skin and clogged pores. Medium-depth peels using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in concentrations of 20–35%, applied alone or following a Jessner's solution priming coat, penetrate into the papillary and upper reticular dermis. The resulting controlled injury produces a more pronounced wound-healing response over five to seven days of visible peeling and redness, with improvements in moderate wrinkles, pigmentation disorders (melasma, solar lentigines, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), and skin texture irregularity from photoageing evident over the following weeks. The physician-supervised setting of a plastic surgery practice provides access to pre-treatment skin preparation protocols (including retinoid and hydroquinone pre-conditioning where indicated), peel selection matched to the patient's Fitzpatrick skin type and recovery tolerance, and the clinical oversight to manage complications should they occur.