Face and neck peeling

The skin is a living organ in its own right, constantly regenerating itself: the best-known example is wound healing.

Peels use the skin's natural ability to regenerate, to create more beautiful, younger, fresher skin.

Remember that the skin has two main layers:

• theepidermis is the superficial layer, without vessels. It is regenerated by the germinative basal layer. The most superficial epidermal layers are made up of dead cells, the corneocytes, whose thickness varies widely from one area of the body to another (they are the source of calluses).
• the dermis is the vascularized support layer, rich in hyaluronic acid (which gives the skin its contours) and fibers (collagen for firmness, elastin for elasticity). Its renewal is ensured by specialized fibroblast cells.

Depending on the depth of the peel, Dr Santini can target different imperfections and indications:

• Superficial peeling with AHA fruit acids targets only the first epidermal layers, to exfoliate dead cells, tighten pores, eliminate skin film and smooth skin texture with a soft, silky finish;
• the TCA (trichloroacetic acid) medium peel removes the entire epidermis right down to the dermal junction, adding a brightening, reshaping and slightly rejuvenating effect;
• deep peeling with phenol destroys the superficial dermis, resulting in a marked rejuvenating effect, with the only drawback of significant and often painful inflammation akin to a burn.

Dr. Santini reserves it for these very rare cases, as she favors gentle peels with few or no side effects. She also adapts her technique to the most fragile skin types, such as a peel for black or dark skin.

Peeling treatments are performed at the cosmetic surgery practice of Dr Christelle Santini, Paris 75116. During an aesthetic medicine consultation, Dr Santini evaluates your request, and after analyzing your skin, she specifies the personalized treatment plan corresponding to the indication to be treated. You'll also receive an informed consent form, giving you full details of the peel to be used.

Prior to treatment, Dr. Santini will prescribe a skin preparation involving the application of a specific day cream and night cream. These should be used 15 days before the start of treatment, and again between sessions.

The purpose of this peel preparation is twofold:

• smooth the skin's texture by exfoliation, resulting in a more homogeneous epidermis. This ensures that the peeling product penetrates evenly over the entire face, resulting in a more even finish;
• rest the skin's pigment cells, the melanocytes, to avoid inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

In the same spirit, Dr. Santini recommends avoiding the sun or ensuring good UV protection before and after each peeling session (at least two weeks). She adapts the recommendations to your phototype, as darker skin types may require a special peel.

A peel is not recommended during pregnancy, and is contraindicated in cases of herpes outbreak or acne superinfection.

Every peel must be seen as a medical procedure in its own right, which means it must be carried out with the utmost rigor.

Steps in a peeling session at Dr Santini's surgery (Paris 75116)

Treatment is usually performed in 3 to 4 sessions, spaced 15 days apart, after skin preparation.

The usual steps are :

• Cleansing of cleansed skin and pre-peeling agent, if required
• Application of the acid peel, usually in gel form.
• Control the duration of action according to concentration and desired depth.
• Neutralize acid solution with buffer solution, and rinse skin.
• Application of a soothing, repairing treatment.

Dr Christelle Santini's facial rejuvenation protocols

For a tailor-made treatment, Dr Christelle Santini offers a comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation, combining various aesthetic medicine techniques with peeling treatments.

For mature skin, for example, you may be offered a combination of peeling sessions with mesotherapy sessions combined with LED lamp photomodulation.

Mesotherapy provides vitamins, trace elements and revitalizing products. It improves skin tone and hydration on the face, neck and décolleté.

LED exposure has real anti-inflammatory, stimulating or healing virtues, depending on the wavelengths used.

Results depend on the type of peel performed, but there is an initial effect on complexion from the first session, with brighter, less shiny skin. At the end of the protocol, the skin is smoother, softer and more luminous, enhancing its freshness and sensuality.

Barely visible redness and/or flaking around day 3 may be observed after a superficial peel.

In the case of a medium peel with TCA 30%, desquamation appears for 7 days, sometimes with skin whitening a few hours to 24 hours after the session. A skin-repair cream should be applied twice-daily, and sun exposure should be avoided at all costs to prevent pigmentation rebound, for between 2 and 4 weeks, depending on the season and skin type.

You can resume your activities immediately after the session.

• Immediate results on the complexion.
• No need to take time off work, with few side effects.
• Return home immediately after the session.

What to do before a facial peel

• 1 medical consultation with estimate and photographs.
• Sun protection
• Preparatory cream to be applied for at least 15 days.

How is a superficial or medium peel session performed?

• Apply to cleansed, makeup-free skin
• Application of acid gel with control of concentration and duration of action.
• Neutralize and rinse off the peeling product (fruit acids or TCA).
• 15 - 30 minutes in the office.
• Return home after the session.

What happens after a neck or face peel?

• No need for vacation or social eviction
• Immediate intermediate result on the complexion.
• Few side effects (such as sunburn).
• Photorejuvenating and smoothing effect.
• Avoid the sun for at least 2 weeks.