Category: Chemical Peels

3 Minute Read: 

It’s an old saying that “Two are better than one,” and this can be absolutely true with cosmetic procedures. While so many plastic surgery procedures and cosmetic treatments can offer stunning results, the most dramatic transformations are often achieved by combining different procedures.

Our faces are the most visible parts of our body. This means that aesthetic concerns cannot be easily covered up or hidden. Because of this, there are numerous facial options (both surgical and non-surgical) to help you look and feel your absolute best. 

This blog will look at the benefits and details of combining trusted plastic surgery procedures for the face with the croton oil peel to give you the best results possible.

What Surgical Procedures Are Available for the Face?

Whether from age, sun damage, lifestyle, or life events, wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin can make you look older and more run down than you want. 

Men and women who struggle with these issues can feel self-conscious and even embarrassed to show their faces in social settings. And while you can hide yourself away, and miss out on important parts of your life in the process, surgical procedures can help you regain control of your facial appearance. 

Some of the most important and effective surgical procedures for the face are facelift surgery, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), and brow lift surgery (forehead lift). 

While a facelift addresses the lower two-thirds of the face (from the cheeks to the neck) and tightens the facial skin to offer patients a more youthful appearance, blepharoplasty and brow lift surgery help men and women achieve a more youthful and attractive appearance around the eyes and on the forehead. 

Any number of these facial plastic surgery procedures can be combined to give you a dramatic transformation.

What Is a Croton Oil Peel?

Chemical peels are not new cosmetic procedures by any means. However, different peels are being developed to better help patients achieve a more rejuvenated appearance and healthier skin. 

The croton oil peel is an exfoliating treatment that can be performed as a standalone treatment to address and correct facial wrinkles (especially around the mouth) and revitalize the skin’s health. 

For this treatment, a solution made of croton oil is applied to the skin. This oil exfoliates the skin (removes the upper layer of skin) to allow for newer and healthier skin to show. 

This exfoliation process happens gradually over the next several days. Not only is new skin now exposed, but the croton oil peel helps to promote collagen production, which is important since collagen is responsible for the overall health and strength of our skin. This means that the new skin will be tighter, firmer, smoother, and clearer. 

Why Should I Combine Surgical Treatments With the Croton Oil Peel?

While you can achieve fantastic results with just surgical procedures or just a chemical peel, by following your facial surgery with the croton oil peel, you will be able to target both the external skin and internal tissue. The increased collagen production can allow for long-lasting rejuvenation to your skin, which will only enhance the results achieved from the surgical procedure(s). In this sense, you will be able to achieve the very best results. 

If you choose to combine procedures, it is important to understand that you will not be having both the surgery and chemical peel at the same time. 

Instead, it is necessary for the surgical procedure to be completed and for your face to begin healing from the surgery before exfoliating the skin. Because of this, the croton oil peel will be scheduled about six weeks after your facial surgery. By this time, you should be returned to most (if not all) of your normal, daily activities, and your skin will be in a healthier state for the rejuvenation process of the peel. 

Interested in Learning More? 

If you have questions about cosmetic facial surgery, chemical peels, or combining these procedures in Southern California, please feel free to contact Dr. Hung at 626-432-5032 (Pasadena) or 949-574-8292 (Newport Beach).

2 Minute Read:

Dark spots, wrinkles, and loose skin all make us look older, and cosmetic treatments to combat these signs of aging are plentiful. However, when it comes to effective non-surgical procedures, finding the right one for you can be challenging.

The croton oil peel is a simple and straightforward option that can provide dramatic results by penetrating deeper into the skin to treat a wide range of skin blemishes and flaws.

What Is a Croton Oil Peel?

A croton oil peel — also referred to as a Hetter or modified phenol peel — is a cosmetic peel that penetrates the deeper layers of the skin. This treatment provides superior facial skin rejuvenation for long-lasting results and was developed for the public after years of research and trials.

The main difference between other phenol peels and the croton oil peel is that the amount of croton oil is increased, and the phenol is decreased.

Medical science has proven that the key ingredient in effective chemical peels was the croton oil and not the phenol — this observation led to better outcomes with a shorter recovery period.

What Are the Benefits of a Croton Oil Peel?

Those interested in a croton peel can expect the following results:

• Significantly improved complexion
• Diminished sun spots and discoloration
• Tighter facial skin: 20 to 25% skin tightening
• Dramatic reduction of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, lips, forehead, and cheeks
• Less downtime than with a traditional deep phenol peel

Patients must prepare their skin for about four weeks prior to treatment with tretinoin, hydroquinone, phytic acid, or glycolic acid for the best results — ask your provider for their recommendation.

While the croton oil peel can tighten mild to moderately loose skin, a facelift may be the more appropriate procedure for you if you see significant sagging in your neck and jowls.

This Is a Versatile Deep Peel

A croton oil peel needn’t be applied to the entire face. Specific areas can be isolated and targeted without having to treat areas that don’t need it, further reducing recovery time.

How Is This Different From Typical Chemical Peels?

The peels you may receive at a spa can only treat the upper layers of skin, making them superficial.

The croton oil peel provides deep treatment and, because of this, may require general anesthesia. However, for the results it offers, it is considered a far less invasive procedure than cosmetic surgery.

Croton Oil Peel in Pasadena or Newport Beach CA

Dr. Vincent Hung is trained and board-certified in plastic surgery, dermatology, and Mohs skin cancer surgery. He offers the croton oil peel as an alternative to facelift surgery and recommends this treatment for patients with lines, wrinkles, age spots, and mild to moderate skin loosening.

Want to Learn More?

If you have any questions about the croton oil peel or other cosmetic procedures in Pasadena or Newport Beach, please feel free to contact Dr. Hung at 626-432-5032 (Pasadena) or 949-574-8292 (Newport Beach).

3 Minute Read: 

Almost all men and women want to fight the aging process, which is why the cosmetics and anti-aging industries are so massive. Unfortunately, there will come a time when over-the-counter creams and lotions are not strong enough to get the job done. Fine lines, wrinkles, laxity, volume loss, and skin irregularities all occur due to age, sun damage, harsh environments, and lifestyle choices.

There are many different anti-aging cosmetic procedures available today, ranging from non-invasive treatments to surgery. Two of these are chemical peels and facelift surgery.

Potential cosmetic patients are often interested in learning about which procedure will give them the best results in the least invasive way. While non-surgical procedures are preferred by many, they are not always, if ever, able to match or rival the results provided by cosmetic surgery. 

What Is Achieved With Facelift Surgery?

Facelift surgery addresses aging and laxity on the lower two-thirds of the face. This procedure can reduce or eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and jowls on the face and neck. Facelift surgery makes incisions in the hairline that start at the temple and continue down and around the ear. Loose skin is trimmed, underlying tissues are lifted and tightened, and the remaining skin is redraped over the new contours. 

Facelift surgery restores smoother, tighter, and more youthful skin.

Why Should Patients Still Consider a Chemical Peel?

Just because a chemical peel cannot achieve that same level of correction as a facelift, it does not mean that chemical peels do not have significant benefits. Like facelift surgery, chemical peels have the power to address common signs of aging such as fine lines around the mouth, crow’s feet, and forehead furrows. However, unlike facelift surgery, chemical peels also have the power to restore and improve the overall tone and texture of the skin. Some of the tone and texture issues that can be addressed by a chemical peel include dark spots, acne scars, and uneven pigmentation.

There are different levels (or strengths) of chemical peels. This not only determines your recovery period and length of peeling, but it also determines the quality of your results. Light chemical peels are surface-level peels that improve the texture of rough or dry skin. Medium intensity peels target texture irregularities as well as fine lines and minor skin imperfections. Deep peels penetrate deep into the skin and allow for the most significant correction. Unfortunately, they also require the most significant amount of downtime, and some can only be applied to the face once so that there is no lasting damage.

Croton Oil Peels

The croton oil peel is a deep chemical peel that delivers noticeable improvement to smoker’s lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet. This resurfacing peel restores skin health and leaves you with a radiant, healthy-looking complexion. Croton oil peels are safe and effective for patients of all ages and can be performed after you have healed from facelift surgery for enhanced results.

                             Before and after image showing the results of a croton oil peel.

How Do the Recoveries Differ?

After facelift surgery, patients need to take two weeks before returning to work and any regular activities, and more strenuous activities require a longer break. Chemical peels take anywhere from five days to two weeks to recover from. The recovery after your chemical peel will depend on the depth (strength) of your peel. Light peels do not require much in the way of downtime. Most patients look sunburned; however, they can go about their regular routines with very little concern. The medium or deep chemical peels require more in the way of downtime. Deep peels can cause severe swelling around the eyes, which can make normal activities more difficult.

To find out if you are a candidate for a chemical peel or a facelift, contact Dr. Hung by calling (626) 432-5032 or by filling out our online contact form.