(Phenol and trichloroacetic acid [TCA])

Procedure: Restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged facial skin, using a chemical solution to peel away skin's top layers. Works best on fair, thin skin with superficial wrinkles. 
Length: 1 to 2 hours for full face. 
Anesthesia: None; sedation & EKG monitoring may be used. 
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Full-face phenol peel may require admission for 1 to 2 days. 
Side Effects: Both: Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness; acute sensitivity to sun. Phenol: Permanent lightening of treated skin; permanent loss of ability to tan. 
Risks: Both: Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. Phenol: Abnormal color changes (permanent); heart irregularities (rare). 
Recovery: Phenol: Formation of new skin: 7 to 21 days. Normal activities: 2 to 4 weeks. Full healing and fading of redness: 3 to 6 months TCA: New skin within 5 to 10 days. 
Duration of Results: Phenol: permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages. TCA: variable (temporary).