Rufus R. Noble Do you long for a flawless complexion that is wedding-ready? Two treatments are the best in skin resurfacing. You’ve probably heard many times about the amazing laser treatments and chemical peels. Which technique is best for you? It all depends on your needs. To help you decide between these two popular pre-wedding skincare treatments, we tapped celebrity aesthetician Jordana Mattioli to help break down the benefits, recovery, and costs–so basically everything!–associated with chemical peels and laser treatments.
What is a Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel is a facial treatment which works to improve the skin’s appearance and address issues such as wrinkles, scarring, scarring and uneven skin tone. The chemical peel basically removes the skin’s top layers so that it can become smoother. You don’t have to worry about a chemical peel being too harsh for your skin. There are three levels of it: mild, medium and deep. This allows you to tailor your treatment to your skin.
Chemical Peels: The Benefits
Peels can be used to correct superficial irregularities and are suitable for all skin types. Mattioli warns against using stronger peels on darker skin to avoid hyperpigmentation.
Peels are also more affordable at $150-500 per unit. You can also find great at-home options with brands such as Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare or Peter Thomas Roth. Mattioli says, “I recommend Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Skin Peel for my clients.” It’s simple, inexpensive, and provides instant gratification.
Cons of chemical peels
This brings us to downtime. It’s not an all-encompassing approach to recovery. There are many options for in-office peels. Some may not require any downtime. Mattioli says that you might feel some reddening and flaking. There are many laser options. Some offer mild resurfacing, with no or little recovery time. Others (such as ablative), can make you look pinker and more swollen for upto a week.
This varies depending on each procedure. Aftercare, however, does not. Mattioli recommends that patients avoid using scrubs, cleanser, washing cloths, or cleansing brushes. For topicals, Mattioli recommends a gentle cleanser that includes antibacterial support, soothing moisturizer and hydrating serum. It’s best to avoid strenuous exercise for 72 hours after treatment.
What is a Laser Treatment?
Laser peels are treatments that use lasers to remove outer layers of skin and heat the dermis layer of the skin. Laser peels are often used to treat deep wrinkles, acne scarring, sun-damaged skin, as well as other skin issues.
The pros of laser treatment
Laser treatment is a good option if you want to treat deep skin problems. Lasers are better at collagen remodeling, as well as for stubborn pigmentation and wrinkles. It’s possible, for example, to pinpoint specific areas of acne scarring or brown spots using a laser. It also produces faster results than peels and can be safely used to treat darker skin.
Laser treatment: The cons
Laser treatments aren’t as easy on the wallet as peels, which is a con. Your treatment will cost between $300-$3,000 per session.
How to Choose the Best Skincare Products
Chemical peels and lasers have almost the same goal: to enhance skin’s appearance and eliminate imperfections. These procedures address many of the same concerns, including discoloration, fine lines and rough texture. However, they don’t have to be interchangeable.
When deciding what is best to do for my client, there are several things you should consider. It all depends on the client’s needs, budget, and speed of treatment,” Mattioli explains.
Both procedures have lasting results but it all depends on what the problem is. “Deeper collagen can be retained for a longer time when you smoothen out wrinkles. It can be difficult to get pigment. You can usually achieve even skin tone for months to years if you use SPF regularly and follow a good skincare routine.
