Chemical skin peeling involves an application of a chemical solution to sun-damaged, unevenly pigmented, and finely wrinkled facial areas. The procedure is meant to diminish imperfections by peeling away the skin's top layers. Chemical peels rejuvenate the skin on the face, neck and body improving fine wrinkles, blemishes, uneven skin pigmentation and acne. Chemical peels accomplish this by exfoliating the superficial dead skin layers and stimulating collagen production. Dr. Gartner uses a trichloracetic acid (TCA) to peel the skin. Superficial and medium depth peels can be performed. No sedation or anesthetic is required. There is no blue discoloration following the peel as with other techniques. The procedure takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Flaking or peeling will not occur for several days following the peel.

Patients may prefer a series of several light peels to achieve their desired results, thereby eliminating any "downtime". Sun avoidance is important. Pre-treatment with topical vitamin A may be required. Patients with olive or darker skin types may undergo light peels without difficulty. Average patient require 7-10 days to recover for a deeper peel.