What is the Difference between a Fire and Ice Facial, SilkPeel®, and a Chemical Peel?
In this age of modern medicine, researchers have developed countless cosmetic treatments that can address nearly any aesthetic concern, from helping to reduce wrinkles to minimizing excess fat. But as much as our patients at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center love having options, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, and to struggle to understand the differences between them. That’s where we come in. Our licensed and experienced medical aestheticians know everything there is to know about the procedures we offer, and they’re here to recommend the ideal treatment for your specific needs. To give you a little extra help, we’re breaking down the similarities and differences between three commonly confused procedures: chemical peels, the Fire and Ice Facial, and SilkPeel® microdermabrasion.
What They Do
The largest similarity between these three procedures is actually what aesthetic concerns they treat. Primarily, they target common problems like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, acne scars, and general issues with skin texture or overall complexion. In some cases, they can actually help to manage acne as well.
How They Work
All three of these treatments use exfoliation (removing damaged surface skin cells), but they all do it in a slightly different way. Vi Peel® and other chemical peels do exactly what their name suggests—a specific chemical is applied to the skin to reach a specified depth, signaling your body’s healing process to get rid of the damaged surface skin (which also rebuilds skin-firming collagen, too). The actual exfoliation happens in the form of peeling over the course of a few days after your treatment. Depending on the results you want to achieve, we’ll customize the intensity of your chemical peel.
SilkPeel®, on the other hand, gets rid of damaged skin using manual exfoliation instead—but there’s a twist. The treatment combines microdermabrasion (“buffing away” damaged skin cells) with gentle suction (to remove dead skin cells and pore-clogging debris). At the same time, it’s applying a customized topical solution tailored to your desired results. This unique process, called Dermalinfusion®, allows the topical medication to reach deeper into the skin for highly effective results.
Last but not least, the Fire and Ice Facial is a specialized process developed by esteemed skin care line iS Clinical®. It uses two distinct masks—the Intensive Resurfacing Masque (to exfoliate) followed by the Rejuvenating Masque (to hydrate and enhance your results).
How Intense They Are
SilkPeel® microdermabrasion in particular is a very gentle, easy procedure. The Fire and Ice Facial and chemical peels, uniquely, can be tailored to the mildness or effectiveness that you need. Our licensed and experienced aestheticians can adjust the specific formulas they use and the amount of time they allow the formula to exfoliate based on your aesthetic goals. As a result, all of these treatments involve little or no recovery time.
Who They Can Help
With their gentleness and customizability, these three procedures can be a great fit for nearly any patient. Because they do not involve lasers, they don’t carry as many risks for patients with darker skin as lasers do (although you do need to be cautious to protect your refreshed skin from the sun). Even those with sensitive skin may be able to receive SilkPeel®, the Fire and Ice Facial, or a chemical peel if our aesthetician adjusts their procedure accordingly.
It goes without saying that everyone wants to get the best results they can out of their cosmetic treatments. After all, if you’re taking the time to have the procedure, you might as well get as much from it as you can, right? And the first step toward loving your results is actually figuring out the right treatment in the first place. To get started, schedule a free consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. Or, for more skin care tips and special offers, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.