Botox
Botox toxin therapy is a cosmetic injection that temporarily improves the appearance...
Learn More >
3-Step Stimulation Peel (ZO Skin Health®)
The 3-Step Stimulation Peel is a medium depth peel, designed to treat acne, melasma, sun damage, fine lines, texture roughness, large pores and dullness. The 3-Step Stimulation Peel is a potent retinol peel that confers long lasting benefits, beyond superficial improvements seen with ordinary peels promoting softer, smoother, more even colored skin.
Next Step: Click here for 3-Step Stimulation Peel (ZO Skin Health®) FAQs
Is The 3-Step Stimulation Peel Right For Me?
Virtually all skin types and conditions can receive a peel. A skin consultation is the best way to determine which peel is best for the outcome you desire and if you are a candidate for a particular peel. A chemical peel is one of the least invasive ways to improve your skins appearance. Peels are chemical soultions are that skillfully applied to you skin to improve its texture and color, and reduce wrinkling by removing damaged outer layers, encouraging cell renewal and revealing fresher, younger looking skin. The Northern Center for Plastic Surgery offers a carefully selected line of chemical peels, designed to improve the health and barrier function of your skin as well as promote skin cell turnover and production of collagen and elastin. All chemical peels involve pre-treatment with retinol based skin care systems. This will prepare your skin for the peel and speed the healing process.
Ask the Doctor
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the procedure performed?
Step 1: Peel Solution is applied to your skin with 17% salicylic acid, 10% TCA and 5% lactic acid to remove the outer most layer of skin (the epidermis).
Step 2: Retinol Crème (6%) is then applied to your skin. Application of this following the superficial peel allows the retinol to penetrate to the deeper parts of your skin where it is needed to stimulate your cells to turn over causing wrinkle reduction, improvement of irregular pigmentation and firming and toning. The retinol cream also contains ubiquinone, which stimulates cellular renewal, marrubium vulgare and leontopodium alpinum meristem which are powerful antioxidants, beta-glycan which protects your DNA, and myristoyl tripeptide to boost collagen to reduce wrinkles.
Step 3: Hydrating Crème – Post Procedure Skin Relief is applied to relieve irritation and restore moisture balance. This crème includes agents to increase hyaluronic acid and collagen production as well as improve the barrier function of your skin. The crème also contains powerful antioxidants and anti inflammatory agents to soothe and protect your skin. You are sent home with an additional packet of retinol to apply as recommended by Dr. Capuano or his highly trained aestheticians. The application of the retinol packet that is given to you is usually recommended to be applied that evening or the following morning.
Expected Recovery
You will have one to two days that your skin will be red and feel dry, the third-sixth days following your peel, your dead skin will slough off. And will likely peel in sheets of skin. Pay careful attention to not picking or pulling off any of the skin that is peeling as it could result in scarring of that area of the face.
How do I make an appointment for a treatment?
Contact the office of the Northern Center for Plastic Surgery at (201)820-5280 to schedule an appointment.
What if I am interested in other treatments including surgery?
You may schedule an appointment with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Aaron Capuano, who will address your interests and goals.
Does a 3 step peel hurt?
Everyone's pain tolerance is different, in light of that we can't say that it doesn't "hurt", with the initial pass of retinol one does not experience discomfort, as the doctor or provider applies additional passes on the face which causes the substance to penetrate deeper, it can become a little stingy or peppery but it does not hurt. WDuring your treatment we use an device called the Zimmer Chiller to help relieve any discomfort that can be experienced.
How much will I peel?
Typically we see people peel for 5 days and sometimes longer, you will peel an entire layer of skin, this is a peel that is designed to create change in the skin for various reasons so peeling is the goal. Your skin will peel in thick layers and do not pull the hanging layers of peeling skin off. This could lead to scarring of the skin in those areas of your face.
I had my 3 step retinol peel and peeled as you said, like a snake, but why do I see more pigment on my skin then before?
Great question! The 3 Step Peel uses a traditional chemical peel to remove the outer layers of your skin so that the second step, a 6% retinol can be applied to your deeper layers. The retinol does not dissolve pigment but it makes your skin turn over and exfoliate more rapidly which will cause your skin to lighten and your pigment irregularity to improve in a few weeks. In the meantime as these cells make their way to the surface your skin will temporarily be darker before it lightens. As the cells with the irregular pigment make their way to the surface they become more visible right before they shed. I hope this helps and I look forward to seeing you soon.
I had a 3 step peel and the pigment is only a little bit better, why is that?
Thank you for the question...Some people's pigment is located deep within the dermis rather then where it usually belongs within the epidermis or outer layers of the skin. Sometimes it is difficult to tell before a procedure how deep your pigment actually is if its located within the epidermis the pigment will usually lighten and improve with a single 3 step peel. However, if the pigment is located deep within the dermis, it may require several rounds of 3 step peels or even a deeper peel like a controlled depth peel along with a skin system to bring the pigment to the surface. One way we try to determine how deep your pigment is, is by pulling on the skin, if it lightens slightly when its pulled it is likely located in the epidermis and will respond to 3 step peels. However, if it does not lighten when pulled, it may be located in deeper layers and will likely only respond to more agressive forms of therapy. Often prolonged treatment with skin lighteners (hydroquinones) with varying amounts of sun exposure can drive the pigment cells deeper into the dermis which is your one of your body's protective mechanisms. Other types of pigmentation disorders that are difficult to treat with peels include Melasma, SK's (seborrheaic keratosis) and Nevus of Ota. I hope this helps and if you have any further questions please feel free to ask.
How often can I get a 3 step peel?
Great question! After one sees the benefit of a 3-step peel, it is easy to get hooked on wanting improved benefits. We generally recommend the peels be performed quarterly to maintain a wonderful result. However, this peel is designed to help treat skin concerns that could require the peel being performed more often initially to get the desired result.
What is the difference between having the doctor perform a 3 step peel on me versus an Aesthetician perform the treatment?
Thank you for the question. The difference between having the ZO 3-step peel performed by the Doctor versus the Aesthetician is simply that in the state of New Jeresey the doctor has the ability to do more passes of the retinol on the skin's surface then an Aesthetician this providing with a deeper peel.
How often can I get a 3 step peel?
You can get a 3 step peel every 3 months. If you desire to have them performed on you more frequently you can consult with Dr. Capuano or one of his providers to find out the advantages to receiving the ZO 3 step peel more than every 3 months.
How is the procedure performed?
Step 1: Peel Solution is applied to your skin with 17% salicylic acid, 10% TCA and 5% lactic acid to remove the outer most layer of skin (the epidermis).
Step 2: Retinol Crème (6%) is then applied to your skin. Application of this following the superficial peel allows the retinol to penetrate to the deeper parts of your skin where it is needed to stimulate your cells to turn over causing wrinkle reduction, improvement of irregular pigmentation and firming and toning. The retinol cream also contains ubiquinone, which stimulates cellular renewal, marrubium vulgare and leontopodium alpinum meristem which are powerful antioxidants, beta-glycan which protects your DNA, and myristoyl tripeptide to boost collagen to reduce wrinkles.
Step 3: Hydrating Crème – Post Procedure Skin Relief is applied to relieve irritation and restore moisture balance. This crème includes agents to increase hyaluronic acid and collagen production as well as improve the barrier function of your skin. The crème also contains powerful antioxidants and anti inflammatory agents to soothe and protect your skin. You are sent home with an additional packet of retinol to apply as recommended by Dr. Capuano or his highly trained aestheticians. The application of the retinol packet that is given to you is usually recommended to be applied that evening or the following morning.
Expected Recovery
You will have one to two days that your skin will be red and feel dry, the third-sixth days following your peel, your dead skin will slough off. And will likely peel in sheets of skin. Pay careful attention to not picking or pulling off any of the skin that is peeling as it could result in scarring of that area of the face.
How do I make an appointment for a treatment?
Contact the office of the Northern Center for Plastic Surgery at (201)820-5280 to schedule an appointment.
What if I am interested in other treatments including surgery?
You may schedule an appointment with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Aaron Capuano, who will address your interests and goals.
Does a 3 step peel hurt?
Everyone's pain tolerance is different, in light of that we can't say that it doesn't "hurt", with the initial pass of retinol one does not experience discomfort, as the doctor or provider applies additional passes on the face which causes the substance to penetrate deeper, it can become a little stingy or peppery but it does not hurt. WDuring your treatment we use an device called the Zimmer Chiller to help relieve any discomfort that can be experienced.
How much will I peel?
Typically we see people peel for 5 days and sometimes longer, you will peel an entire layer of skin, this is a peel that is designed to create change in the skin for various reasons so peeling is the goal. Your skin will peel in thick layers and do not pull the hanging layers of peeling skin off. This could lead to scarring of the skin in those areas of your face.
I had my 3 step retinol peel and peeled as you said, like a snake, but why do I see more pigment on my skin then before?
Great question! The 3 Step Peel uses a traditional chemical peel to remove the outer layers of your skin so that the second step, a 6% retinol can be applied to your deeper layers. The retinol does not dissolve pigment but it makes your skin turn over and exfoliate more rapidly which will cause your skin to lighten and your pigment irregularity to improve in a few weeks. In the meantime as these cells make their way to the surface your skin will temporarily be darker before it lightens. As the cells with the irregular pigment make their way to the surface they become more visible right before they shed. I hope this helps and I look forward to seeing you soon.
I had a 3 step peel and the pigment is only a little bit better, why is that?
Thank you for the question...Some people's pigment is located deep within the dermis rather then where it usually belongs within the epidermis or outer layers of the skin. Sometimes it is difficult to tell before a procedure how deep your pigment actually is if its located within the epidermis the pigment will usually lighten and improve with a single 3 step peel. However, if the pigment is located deep within the dermis, it may require several rounds of 3 step peels or even a deeper peel like a controlled depth peel along with a skin system to bring the pigment to the surface. One way we try to determine how deep your pigment is, is by pulling on the skin, if it lightens slightly when its pulled it is likely located in the epidermis and will respond to 3 step peels. However, if it does not lighten when pulled, it may be located in deeper layers and will likely only respond to more agressive forms of therapy. Often prolonged treatment with skin lighteners (hydroquinones) with varying amounts of sun exposure can drive the pigment cells deeper into the dermis which is your one of your body's protective mechanisms. Other types of pigmentation disorders that are difficult to treat with peels include Melasma, SK's (seborrheaic keratosis) and Nevus of Ota. I hope this helps and if you have any further questions please feel free to ask.
How often can I get a 3 step peel?
Great question! After one sees the benefit of a 3-step peel, it is easy to get hooked on wanting improved benefits. We generally recommend the peels be performed quarterly to maintain a wonderful result. However, this peel is designed to help treat skin concerns that could require the peel being performed more often initially to get the desired result.
What is the difference between having the doctor perform a 3 step peel on me versus an Aesthetician perform the treatment?
Thank you for the question. The difference between having the ZO 3-step peel performed by the Doctor versus the Aesthetician is simply that in the state of New Jeresey the doctor has the ability to do more passes of the retinol on the skin's surface then an Aesthetician this providing with a deeper peel.
How often can I get a 3 step peel?
You can get a 3 step peel every 3 months. If you desire to have them performed on you more frequently you can consult with Dr. Capuano or one of his providers to find out the advantages to receiving the ZO 3 step peel more than every 3 months.