The Obagi Blue Peel® is a chemical peel using Trichloacetic Acid (TCA) combined with a blue dye to make the peel safer and allow peeling to whatever skin level is needed for the correction of the specific problem your skin has. It is used in combination with the Obagi® Nu-Derm® Skin Restoration System to give you clear, smooth, healthy skin. During the peeling process, we remove the damaged surface layer of skin. Within 3-14 days it is replaced with a fresh layer that is smoother, well-toned, more even in color and has smaller pores.
The Blue Peel offers benefits over other peel methods because it allows us to better control many aspects of the process, including the depth of penetration, so treatments are safer and we can tailor it to you. Combining the Nu-Derm® system and the Blue Peel can help you achieve a dramatic silky-smooth texture and uniform skin tone.
What is an Obagi Blue Peel?
Obagi Blue Peel is a trichloroacetic acid peel that is administered by a physician. It is stronger than those administered by an aesthetician. It can be modified from one that merely removes the outer skin layer to correct pigmentary abnormalities and brighten the skin to one that removes a substantial part of the skin to correct wrinkles and crinkles.
The skin issues Obagi Blue Peel® can improve
Because of its variability, our patients love the results they see in these problems:
Hydration
Age spots and sun spots
Melasma
Large pores
Uneven skin texture
Skin firmness
Acne and other scarring
Fine lines and wrinkles
Skin laxity
How does an Obagi Blue Peel work?
The Obagi Blue Peel® is a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) Peel but modified by mixing the TCA with an Obagi proprietary blue solution. This makes the Obagi Blue Peel® much safer than other trichloroacetic acid peels because it allows one to vary the depth of the peel with obvious different endpoints not apparent with a standard TCA peel. This variability allows modification of the depth of the peel depending on the needs and goals of the patient.
As we apply the Blue Peel® mix, to the skin, the color of the applied solution changes depending upon how deep within the epidermis or dermis the solution reaches. The TCA breaks down the cellular bonds causing various depths of the surface of the skin to peel away. The Blue Peel® can either remove very superficial layers of the epithelium to correct pigmentary problems, remove the entire epithelium and a very superficial part of the underlying dermis to correct uneven skin texture, or deep into the supporting dermis below lines and wrinkles to more aggressively remove these.
How the Obagi Blue Peel® is done
The Blue Peel® maximizes texture improvement and produces longer-lasting results than superficial peels. When you come to our beautiful Highlands office, Dr. Buchanan handles these peels to reduce possible problems as much as possible. The Blue Peel® takes 25-30 minutes. He applies this peel in several layers until the desired endpoint has occurred. When the Blue Peel® is applied, you’ll feel a warm to hot sensation that lasts from two to three minutes. This is followed by a brief stinging sensation. We use a fan to help keep your skin cool during the application and reduce discomfort. After the solution has completely dried, it is then washed off.
Who is a good candidate for an Obagi Blue Peel?
Anyone who needs a peel stronger than a Radiance, Glycolic or Jessner peel to correct pigmentary or skin surface abnormalities is a great candidate for an Obagi Blue Peel. This peel’s corrections can even do what a facelift cannot.
How long your results will last
These skin improvements are permanent, as the skin that peels away is obviously gone for good. The body will replace this skin with new, healthier skin. Of course, unless you live in a cave in the Smokies, your skin will continue to be exposed to the sun and other issues that create age spots, wrinkles, and the like. The aging process will continue, but these skin improvements are long lasting.
One of the other advantages of the Blue Peel® is that lesser depth peels can be repeated over a period of time to achieve results equal to those of deeper peels, without the lengthy recovery time required with deeper peels.
How often should I have an Obagi Blue Peel®?
Whether or not you repeat a Blue Peel® depends on the depth of the peel performed. Some can be repeated every 4-6 weeks, where others are intended as a onetime treatment.
Recovery after an Obagi Blue Peel®
The recovery varies considerably depending upon the depth of the Peel. If used as a superficial epithelial Peel, there is almost no recovery. With a Peel into the dermis recovery that will take from about 5 to 10 days. After your Blue Peel®, your face will have a light bluish tint, due to the color of the applied peeling agents. This will wash off in 12 to 24 hours. With the more superficial peels, your skin will be red and it will feel somewhat tight immediately. With the deeper Peel the surface will begin to peel within two to three days. Any lingering redness will resolve within several weeks to months. However, the more you tend to be red, the better the final result is at a year. During this process, you will be given different instructions depending upon the specific peel.
What are the risks involved with an Obagi Blue Peel®?
The Blue Peel ® was specifically designed to markedly reduce the risks normally associated with a trichloroacetic acid peel. Because they are applied in steps, depending on the patient’s skin, the application is completely controlled. Trichloroacetic acid is not absorbed through the skin, so there is not any chance of internal toxicity. These are, when done properly, safe, effective treatments.
How much does an Obagi Blue Peel treatment cost?
The cost of an Obagi Blue Peel treatment varies depending on whether the peel is a “Refresher” peel, a “Leveling” peel or something in between. Contact SKINFINITE SOLUTIONS to get specific pricing or to answer any other financial questions you may have.
