Chemical Peels
in St. Louis, MO
in St. Louis, MO
At Gurley Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa in St. Louis, we believe that healthy skin is beautiful skin. Our medical-grade chemical peels are designed to be painless, deeply therapeutic, and highly effective, giving you a luminous, youthful glow. These pure, therapeutic treatments do exactly what they say they do: stepping up your skin health so your at-home products penetrate better while dramatically enhancing the results of your other cosmetic investments.
A chemical peel treatment involves applying a specialized chemical solution to the skin to gently exfoliate and remove damaged, dead cells.
There are several types of chemical peels, ranging from a light chemical peel (or superficial peels) to medium peels and intense deep peels. Depending on your specific needs, the solution might utilize alpha hydroxy acid (such as those derived from sugar cane), lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), or even carbolic acid. While some practices rely on extremely aggressive deep chemical peels, our focus is on providing highly effective, customized treatments that deliver beautiful, glowing results without unnecessary trauma to the treated skin.
Our peels offer a multitude of benefits to help you achieve healthier skin and a remarkably smoother texture. They effectively sweep away dullness to promote youthful skin and drastically improve your overall skin appearance. Beyond providing a beautiful glow, our peels are specifically formulated to maximize the efficacy of your daily skincare routine by allowing products to penetrate deeper.
Chemical peels perfectly complement our proprietary Gurley Glow skincare line (Anti-Aging, Brightening, Acne, Sensitive Skin, Mens, and post-procedure collections). They also serve as an ideal enhancement alongside our other advanced in-office cosmetic procedures, including IPL, SmoothGlo, Morpheus8, ResurFX, and UltraPulse CO2.
We offer customized peel treatments for anyone who is seeking a clearer, more vibrant complexion. Whether you have oily skin, or are dealing with dull, rough skin, we have a solution for you. Our advanced formulas are rigorously tested and proven safe for all skin types, and for individuals with sensitive skin conditions like rosacea.
Chemical peels are highly versatile for a wide range of skin concerns. They can expertly address fine lines and wrinkles, moderate lines, and even help soften the look of deeper wrinkles. If you struggle with uneven skin tone, skin color irregularities, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or age spots caused by sun damage and UV rays, a peel can restore your natural brilliance.
They are also an excellent acne treatment, helping to clear breakouts, minimize enlarged pores, and smooth out superficial acne scars (though severely deep scars may require additional laser therapies). In some cases, peels can even help manage precancerous skin growths like actinic keratosis.
To target these diverse needs, we proudly offer three specific levels of peels:
This deeply hydrating treatment utilizes specialized silica beads alongside a gentle blend of two mild acids (lactic and malic) and urea. It's designed to penetrate the skin's surface, providing profound relief for dryness and irritation. The Hydro Peel exfoliates, brightens, improves skin texture, reduces acne breakouts, and boosts collagen. It's exceptionally safe for all skin shades and can even be used on patients with psoriasis.
Working beautifully on the superficial layers of the skin, this light chemical peel is specifically formulated to address discoloration. The best part? There's absolutely no downtime, meaning you can return to your day immediately. It's safe for all skin types, including darker skin tones, and can be reapplied every three weeks to maintain your bright, reflective results.
This is our most powerful brightening peel. It is a medium-depth treatment designed to aggressively target hyperpigmentation, melasma, and severely photo-damaged skin. To maximize your results, this peel is accompanied by a required at-home GG skin brightening kit. You can expect some peeling on days three through five, and the treatment can be safely repeated every four to six weeks.
What truly sets our practice apart is the high level of medical oversight. Dr. Gurley is directly involved in assessing your skin type and health history to establish the best options to maximize your results. During your consultation, we will review your medical background, including any medications. Proper preparation ensures the safest and most beautiful outcome.
Your peel will be performed by one of our highly trained professionals, either an expert esthetician or a specialized nurse, who are always in direct communication with Dr. Gurley. During the 30-minute appointment, your skin will be thoroughly cleansed. The targeted chemical solution is then carefully applied to the treatment area, sometimes using a soft cotton-tipped applicator or specialized brush. Our peels are uniquely formulated to be as painless and comfortable as possible.
Following your peel, proper aftercare is essential as your skin heals. For our lighter options such as the Micro Illume Peel, downtime is non-existent. For medium-depth chemical peels like our Advanced Illume Peel, you may experience flaking for about a week. We recommend washing your face with a gentle cleanser and waiting to wear makeup until the skin has settled.
Crucially, you must avoid direct sun exposure. The fresh skin post peel is delicate, so applying rigorous sun protection is non-negotiable. From the GG Skincare line, we recommend the So Clear SPF 35 or the Protect SPF 50+ for all our peel clients.
Note: A chemical peel is also highly therapeutic as part of post-surgical care. Once cleared by Dr. Gurley, a peel is a fantastic way to revitalize the skin after facial or eyelid surgery.
Depending on the depth of the treatment and your ongoing skincare habits, the results of your peel can offer either a temporary or permanent change. Patients consistently report a dramatic improvement in skin tone and a radiant, glass-like finish. Because our pure, medical-grade peels step up your overall skin health, your at-home products will continue to enhance these beautiful, lasting results for months to come. Dr. Gurley highly recommends her GG Skincare line for long lasting, enhanced results. You will receive expert at-home skincare advice while in our office.
The cost for our chemical peel treatments range from $165 to $425, depending on the specific level of peel chosen and any accompanying at-home kits required for optimal treatment results.
We will give you exact pricing during your consultation. Since this is an elective aesthetic treatment, it is not covered by insurance.
While many medspas offer standard peels, few can provide the comprehensive, medically backed oversight of a board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Judith Gurley’s deep understanding of facial anatomy ensures that you receive a pure, medical-grade treatment tailored to your exact needs. Our estheticians and nurses work in lockstep with Dr. Gurley, offering you the safety, communication, and expertise you should always expect from a top-tier plastic surgeon.
You deserve skin that reflects your vibrant, dynamic life. Whether you're dealing with stubborn discoloration, looking to manage acne, or simply wanting to unveil your most luminous glow, we're here to guide you. Step into a brighter, healthier, and more confident version of yourself.
Contact Gurley Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa in St. Louis today, and let us help you achieve a truly reflective, painless, and beautiful result.
Light peels target only the outermost layer of skin for a quick, painless refresh. Medium chemical peels penetrate into the middle layer to address more significant damage, like moderate wrinkles, pigment and acne. A deep chemical peel (using strong agents) penetrates further for severe damage, though our practice focuses on highly effective, less traumatic alternatives that provide beautiful results without extended downtime.
Absolutely! Our Hydro Peel, Micro Illume Peel and Advanced Illume Peel are explicitly formulated to be exceptionally safe and effective for all skin types, without the high risk of pigmentary changes sometimes associated with older deep peels.
Avoid sun exposure completely for the first few days, as your skin is highly vulnerable. Even after your skin has healed, daily SPF is required to protect your investment and prevent new sun damage.
While the VI Peel is a well-known brand of medium-depth chemical peels, Dr. Gurley has meticulously curated her own specific tiers of treatments (Hydro, Micro Illume, and Advanced Illume). This ensures our patients receive the most targeted, pure, and medical-grade results that align perfectly with our proprietary GG skincare line.
Dr. Judith Gurley is a skilled plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, she trained at Washington University School of Medicine, where she served as an Attending and Assistant Professor. She is also an active member of The Aesthetic Society, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, St. Louis Society of Plastic Surgery, and FACS / American College of Surgeons Professional Association. With contributions to peer-reviewed journals and pioneering innovations, including FDA-approved treatments, she has been recognized as a Top Doctor.
