Dr. Catherine Bergeret-Galley
Catherine Bergeret-Galley is a cosmetic surgeon. She is married, with three children. Dr. Bergeret Galley is passionate about her work. « Enhancing, and making patients more attractive is my goal. I take the time to listen to their deepest concerns, to evaluate the defect they are worried about and often treat as a handicap... “I want to enhance the lives of my patients “
I started training as a surgeon during my internship in 1984, first in general surgery, then specializing in cervico facial surgery, microsurgery, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, both in France and in the United States. » More...
Address: 36 rue Penthièvre, 75008, Paris
Telephone: +33(0)1 42 89 62 02
Skin peeling, Lasers and Dermabrasion
Peeling of the skin is done to remove wrinkles, sun damaged skin, uneven pigmentation and small scars, like acne scars. This can be done in three different ways.
With lasers, and there are several different laser machines on the market to accomplish this. Some works only very superficial to remove part of the epidermis. This gives a quick healing , but also less effect on the result. Some goes deeper, down to the dermis, to give a better effect on deep wrinkles and scars, but demands a longer healing time, 1 – 2 weeks.
With mechanical dermabration , the same result can be accomplished (superficial – deep peeling) with a similar effect on healing time .
Finally we have chemical peeling, that has a history on the market that goes back more than 80 years. With different chemical solutions, we can create different depth for the peeling of the skin , and thereby balancing the desired result to the healing time.
Most shallow is the Glycolic Acid peel which has no healing time at all, and can be done during a lunch hour. Several treatments are necessary, to give sun damaged skin, a smooth surface and an even colour.
A medium peel is done with 20% Trichloroacetic acid (TCA). It gives no open wounds, but the skin becomes red and peels off in 3 – 5 days. Like a severe sunburn with a downtime of 5 – 7 days.
A deeper peel with Croton Oil, gives a total new skin with an even colour, almost all wrinkles gone and a long lasting result - more than 20 years! This requires some hospitalisation. Healing time is 2 weeks ,after which the new skin is red for several months and requires make-up (just like the deeper laser peelings). The laser peelings however, do not give the same profound rejuvenation effect on the skin and are not as long lasting.
The skin peeling procedure
Precautions
The surgeon will prescribe treatments (creams, antibiotics, etc....) a few weeks prior to the procedure to prepare the skin and obtain the best results.
The skin peeling operation
The operation will take place using local anaesthesia plus light intravenous sedation. Hospitalization can take a few hours to half a day.
Postoperative care after skin peeling
Right after the procedure, your skin will be quite red and swollen. A scab or crust will form over the treated area as it begins to heal. This will fall off after about two weeks as a new layer of tight, pink skin forms underneath. Your surgeon may recommend an ointment to make you more comfortable. If ointment is applied immediately after surgery, little or no scab will form. Pigmentation will return at the end of one month. The patient must avoid exposure to the sun for several months. Sun block and the use of non-allergenic makeup may be recommended. The surgeon will also prescribe a treatment (analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-herpes...)
The complications
All surgery carries uncertainty and risk, complications are always possible but exceptional (anaesthesia problems, infection). Specific complications are rare but possible.
- Acne, persistent redness,
- Healing problems
- Allergy
- Pain
- Changes in skin pigmentation
- Insufficient results, excessive scar tissue (keloid or hypertrophic scars); these are usually treated with the application or injection of steroid medications to soften the scar.
The results of skin peelings
The convalescence is tough, but the results are spectacular. Skin tightening as it heals gives a look, a smoothness and a tone, like 20 years ago. Pigmentation is homogenous. No other surgery can give anything close to this
