The weekend peel is a facial rejuvenation procedure designed to improve the texture and quality of the facial skin. The treatment is carried out by a laser trained plastic surgeon. A pulsed erbium YAG laser with a scanning device is used to remove the most superficial layers of the skin in a precise manner. The heat developed during this process stimulates the collagen in the dermis to increase. It is also accompanied by more favourable distribution of the pigment melanin within the skin and also by an increase in blood supply, which facilitates the beneficial changes. This procedure therefore can improve fine lines and wrinkles and even helps the skin tone.
Topical anaesthetic is necessary for this procedure. This will involve an application of cream to the entire face. The cream needs to be applied 30-60 minutes prior to the procedure to be effective. The intention of this is to freeze the superficial nerves in the face and reduce any discomfort. Once the local anaesthetic has worked, the eyes will be protected with special eye shields. The procedure itself will take 30 minutes. (With one-two passes of the laser being required). Paracetamol tablets taken one hour before the procedure and 6 hourly afterwards can be helpful.
To minimize the risk of pigmentation, it is extremely important that you use a sunscreen (>SPF 30) for at least 3-6 months following this treatment to protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.
It is possible to repeat the weekend peel 6 months after the initial treatment.
It would be very unusual to develop any scarring following the use of the resurfacing laser after the weekend peel, due to the superficial level of the laser penetration. This could be hyper-pigmentation in the skin which is more common in people who tan easily or have been exposed to ultraviolet rays without adequate protection. It almost always happens in black and Asian skin and as a general rule the resurfacing laser would not be carried out in the people with this skin type.
