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Chemical Peels New York City, NY

Reveal Smoother, Brighter Skin

Introduction to Chemical Peels

Top New York plastic surgeon Dr. Darrick Antell is board-certified in plastic surgery, with an emphasis on aesthetic/cosmetic surgery. One of the procedures he performs is the chemical peel.

In a chemical peel procedure, a chemical solution is used to improve and smooth facial skin texture by removing damaged outer layers. If you are considering a chemical peel, this section will give you a basic understanding of the procedure.

This page will provide basic information about certain types of chemical peel treatments and the results you might expect. It won’t answer all your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Once you and your plastic surgeon have chosen a specific peel program, ask about any details you don’t understand.

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  • Real patient results in New York, NY Performed by Darrick E. Antell MD, FACS
  • Real patient results in New York, NY Performed by Darrick E. Antell MD, FACS
  • Real patient results in New York, NY Performed by Darrick E. Antell MD, FACS
  • Real patient results in New York, NY Performed by Darrick E. Antell MD, FACS
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Considering a Chemical Peel

The chemical peel procedure uses a chemical solution to improve and smooth facial skin texture by removing damaged outer layers. It is helpful for those individuals with facial blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation. Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are used for this purpose. The precise formula used may be adjusted to meet each patient’s needs. Although a chemical peel may be performed in conjunction with a facelift, it is not a substitute for such surgery, nor will it prevent or slow the aging process.

Chemical peels are most commonly performed for cosmetic reasons—to enhance your appearance and self-confidence. Chemical peels may also remove precancerous skin growths, soften acne scars, and even help control acne. In certain cases, health insurance may cover the peel procedure. Check your policy and contact your insurance company before the procedure.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic, lactic, or fruit acids, are the mildest of the peel formulas and produce light peels. These types of peels can provide smoother, brighter-looking skin for people who can’t spare the time to recover from a phenol or TCA peel. AHA peels may treat fine wrinkles, dryness, uneven pigmentation, and acne.

Various concentrations of an AHA may be applied weekly or at longer intervals to obtain the best result. Your doctor will decide this during your consultation and as the treatment progresses. An alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic acid, can also be mixed with a facial wash or cream at lower concentrations as part of a daily skin-care regimen to improve skin texture. AHA Peels may cause stinging, redness, irritation, and crusting. However, as the skin adjusts to the treatment regimen, these problems will subside.

Here are some key considerations associated with Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA):

  • A series of peels may be needed
  • As with most peel treatments, sunblock use is recommended

Who Are the Best Candidates for Chemical Peels?

Patients across New York City, NY, come to Dr. Antell for his seasoned expertise in performing chemical peels. The best candidates for chemical peels should be looking to treat the following conditions:

  • Sun-damaged skin
  • Uneven skin pigmentation or melasma
  • Acne scars or other types of scarring
  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Rough, dry skin
  • Pre-cancerous growths

Patients should also not smoke, have reasonable expectations, and have healthy skin, but want a fresher, more youthful look.

What Are the Benefits of Chemical Peels?

Chemical peels can produce exceptional improvements in skin texture, smoothness, and overall appearance. Each type of peel is specially designed to target skin imperfections at various depths. Here is a breakdown of the benefits for each type of peel:

Alpha hydroxy Acids (AHAs)

  • Smooths rough, dry skin
  • Improves texture of sun-damaged skin. Aids in control of acne
  • Can be mixed with a bleaching agent to correct pigment problems
  • Can be used as TCA pre-treatment

Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA)

  • Smooths out fine surface wrinkles
  • Removes superficial blemishes
  • Corrects pigment problems

Phenol

  • Corrects blotches caused by: sun exposure, birth-control pills, aging
  • Smooths out coarse wrinkles
  • Removes pre-cancerous growths

Planning for a Medical Peel

In some states, no medical degree is required to perform a chemical peel — even the strongest phenol peels. Many states have laws that permit non-physicians to administer certain peel solutions but regulate the strengths they may apply. You should be warned that inadequately trained practitioners have offered phenol and TCA peels, claiming “miracle techniques” to rejuvenate the skin.

It is important to find a physician with adequate training and experience in skin resurfacing. Your plastic surgeon may offer you a choice of peel techniques or suggest a combination of peels to obtain the best result for you.

Your New Look After Chemical Peels

Improvements from AHA peels may be very subtle at first. You may detect a healthier glow to your skin. With continued treatment, you should notice a general improvement in your skin’s texture.* The results of a TCA peel are usually not as long-lasting as those of a phenol peel. However, your skin should be noticeably smoother and fresher-looking.* If you’re planning a phenol peel, you can expect dramatic improvement in the surface of your skin — fewer fine wrinkles, fewer blemishes, and more even-toned skin. Your results should be long-lasting, though not immune to aging and sun exposure.

Dr Antell consulting with patient walking together in modern medical office hallway - in New York, NY

How to Begin Your Chemical Peel Journey

Your chemical peel journey begins with a private consultation at Dr. Antell’s practice in New York City. During your consultation, you can expect the following:

  • Discuss your expectations with your plastic surgeon
  • Don’t hesitate to ask any questions or express any concerns that you may have
  • Your plastic surgeon will explain the planned procedure in detail, including its risks and benefits, the recovery period, and the costs.
  • If you have a history of herpes, you should inform your physician prior to the procedure and provide any additional information regarding your medical history.
  • A treatment plan will be created specifically designed for your unique goals and needs, including the type of peel, whether multiple appointments are required, and whether you are combining additional treatments.

Where Your Chemical Peel Will Be Performed

Most chemical peels may be safely performed in a plastic surgeon’s office, office-based surgical facility, or outpatient surgical center. Your plastic surgeon may want you to stay overnight in a facility or hospital if other cosmetic procedures are performed simultaneously.

Dr. Antell performs chemical peels at his New York City office.

Types of Anesthesia for Chemical Peels

Anesthesia isn’t required for phenol or TCA peels because the chemical solution acts as an anesthetic. However, sedation may be used before and during the procedure to help you relax and stay comfortable. No anesthesia is needed for AHA peels since they cause only a slight stinging sensation during application.

What to Expect on the Day of a Chemical Peel Treatment

Your chemical peel will be at Dr. Antell’s office in New York City, where our front desk staff will greet you. Before you undergo the treatment, Dr. Antell will review your treatment plan with you and make sure you have no remaining questions.

Phenol and TCA Peels

Typically, the skin is thoroughly cleansed first. Then, the surgeon will carefully apply the phenol or TCA solution. You may feel a stinging sensation as the peel solution is applied, but it will pass quickly. A full-face TCA peel usually takes no more than 15 minutes. You may need two or more TCA peels to achieve the desired result, and they may be spaced out over several months. Mild TCA peels may be repeated as often as every month.

If your plastic surgeon uses phenol solution, they may coat the treated area with petroleum jelly or waterproof adhesive tape. With lighter peels, no covering is necessary. A full-face phenol peel generally takes one or two hours to perform, while a phenol peel to a smaller facial region (perhaps the skin above the upper lip) may take only 10 or 15 minutes. A single treatment usually suffices.

AHA Peels/Treatments

Your doctor will apply the AHA solution to your cleansed facial skin, a process that usually takes no more than 10 minutes. No “after-peel” ointment or covering is required. Depending on the peel strength, you may need periodic treatments until you achieve the desired results.

For some patients, applying an AHA-based face wash or cream once or twice a day at home will be sufficient to achieve the desired goal. Your plastic surgeon may add Retin-A or a bleaching agent to your at-home treatment schedule. After several weeks of at-home use, your doctor will examine your skin to determine if your regimen needs adjustment.

Dr Antell in navy suit and tie having serious discussion in office setting - in New York, NY

After Your Chemical Peel

After an AHA peel, temporary flaking or scaling, redness, and dryness are common. However, these conditions will disappear as the skin adjusts to treatment.

After a phenol or TCA peel, your doctor may prescribe a mild pain medication to relieve any tingling or throbbing you may feel. If tape was used to cover your face, it will be removed after a day or two. A crust or scab will form on the treated area. To help your face heal properly, it is essential that you follow your doctor’s specific post-operative instructions.

A TCA peel may also cause significant swelling, depending on the peel’s strength. If you’ve had a phenol peel, your face may become quite swollen. Your eyes may even be swollen shut temporarily. You will need someone to help care for you for a day or two. You may also be limited to a liquid diet and advised not to talk very much during the first few days of recovery.

Combining My Chemical Peel with Other Treatments

During your chemical peel consultation with Dr. Antell in New York City, you will have the opportunity to discuss all of your cosmetic concerns. Dr. Antell will help craft a treatment plan to address all of your concerns, which may include more than just a chemical peel. Here are some popular combinations our New York City patients combine with their chemical peel:

Dermal fillers are scientifically formulated injectable treatments, usually made from a naturally occurring sugar called hyaluronic acid. Dermal fillers can help reduce the appearance of aging skin on the face and hands by restoring soft, natural volume. It treats a wide variety of concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, creases between the brows, lip lines, and more.

Getting Back to Normal After Chemical Peels

Your Guide to Post-Chemical Peel Care

With an AHA peel, the temporary redness, flaking, and dryness you experience will not prevent you from working or doing your normal activities. Continued AHA treatments can improve skin texture. Remember, protecting your skin from the sun is also important following these mild acid peels. Ask your doctor to recommend a sunblock with adequate UVA and UVB protection and use it every day.

With a TCA peel, the moderate discomfort and mild swelling you may experience will subside within the first week. In about 10 days, your new skin will be apparent, and you should be healed enough to return to your normal activities. It is best to avoid sun exposure unless you are adequately protected.

With a phenol peel, new skin will begin to form in about seven to ten days. Your face will be very red at first, gradually fading to a pinkish color over the following weeks to months. During this time, it is especially important that you use a sunblock, or blotchy, irregular skin coloring may result.

About 10-14 days after treatment, you may return to work and resume some of your normal activities. Your skin will be healed enough for you to wear makeup. (For makeup tips, ask your plastic surgeon for the ASPS brochure on camouflage cosmetics.)

How Much Do Chemical Peels Cost in New York City, NY?

The cost of chemical peels in New York City depends on a variety of variables, including the type (depth) of the chemical peel, the provider’s expertise, the number of sessions needed to accomplish your goals, and whether additional treatments are combined.

Remember, chemical peel treatments are usually not covered by medical insurance unless they are performed for medically related problems. Book a consultation with Dr. Antell at his New York City practice to find out how much your chemical peel will cost.

Why Choose Dr. Antell?

Dr. Darrick Antell is a leading New York plastic surgeon specializing in cosmetic and aesthetic surgery. He repeatedly appears on the Best Doctors lists for Town & Country, Vogue, and New York Magazine. Dr. Antell will also be recognized among Newsweek’s America’s Best Plastic Surgeons 2026. In a career that spans over twenty years and more than ten thousand procedures, Dr. Antell combines meticulous surgical skills, the latest and safest medical technologies, and the distinct eye of an artist, allowing his results to whisper, not scream.

Dr. Antell is an official spokesperson for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and has memberships in many regional and national medical societies, including the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Antell is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

NYC Plastic Surgeon

Darrick E. Antell

MD, FACS

Chemical Peels FAQ’S

  • “I recommend him with complete confidence”

    It is rare to find a physician who combines exceptional surgical talent with genuine kindness and integrity, but Dr. Antel does exactly that. I recommend him with complete confidence to anyone

    Giovanni S.

  • “I am extremely grateful”

    I am extremely grateful for the care I have received over the years and would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Antell and his wonderful team—Rosa, Nancy, and Tiffany—to anyone.

    Anonymous

  • “I’m so pleased and grateful”

    I recently underwent a breast augmentation procedure with Dr. Antell at his New York City office. I’m so pleased and grateful for a seamless experience and successful result.

    Theresa D.

  • “Had a fantastic experience”

    Had a fantastic experience with Dr. Antell and his entire team in NYC, Manhattan. From start to finish, they made what could have been a stressful process feel smooth, comfortable, and well-managed.

    Ben R.

  • “Highly recommend”

    Him and his team has always made me feel comfortable through any process/procedure(shoutout to Nancy and Rosa!). Highly recommend.

    Eric L.

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