Last fact-checked: 9 July 2020

Make your skin glow and take years off your face with a chemical peel in Bangkok. This guide explains what chemical peels are, who they’re for and how you can make substantial savings while in Thailand when you book through Medical Departures.

Chemical peels are a non-surgical way of improving the look and texture of your skin, with this common treatment giving you a more youthful and blemish-free appearance. Although most commonly used on the face, they can be used on other areas, such as the hands and neck. They are sometimes used in conjunction with microdermabrasion to give an even better result.

There are different strengths of chemical peel, and so the respective downtimes can vary from a few weeks to a few days. So, depending on how much time you have in Bangkok, it may be something you have to consider carefully if you don’t want to spend all your time inside.

A chemical peel is a non-invasive procedure that removes the damaged outer layers of the skin with a chemical solution. It can help lessen the appearance of:

• Age or liver spots

• Fine lines and wrinkles

• Acne scarring

• Freckles

• Light Scars

• Uneven skin pigmentation

• Sun-damaged skin

Chemical peels will not work for deep wrinkles and scars, sagging or loose skin, broken capillaries or for reducing the size of pores. Other wrinkle treatments are available for these elsewhere in Bangkok, such as Botox© or dermal fillers. 

A solution of chemicals based on a formula adjusted for your requirements is carefully applied to the skin. Depending on whether you have a light, medium or deep chemical peel, the solution removes the top or deeper layers of damaged skin to promote the growth of new, unblemished skin underneath.

For light and medium chemical peels, your skin will be first cleansed before the solution is applied. It will be left on for a few minutes, during which time you may experience a slight tingling or burning sensation. It will then be washed off and neutralized with a cold compress.

The same procedure is followed for deep chemical peels, except a general anesthetic may be administered (which means they must be performed in a surgical setting in adherence to medical protocols). After the procedure, an ointment and/or gauze may be applied.

Light and medium chemical peels will result in initial stinging and redness which should subside after a day or two. After that, over the next few weeks, there is likely to be some skin crusting and skin shredding. You will be advised to avoid the sun over the next six to eight weeks to ensure your new skin remains healthy.

Deep chemical peels require a longer recovery time: up to two weeks before you can return to work and wear make-up. You will likely experience significant discomfort immediately after the procedure for several days, as well as swelling, redness, peeling and skin crusting. It may take up to three months before your skin looks good, but one treatment usually produces dramatic results that can last for up to 10 years.

Please note: whether you opt for a light, medium and deep peel, you will need to stay well away from the hot Thai sun for the remainder of your stay. With chemical peels, if you want to experience a so-called “medical holiday”, it’s essential that you get all of your outdoor activities out of the way before treatment. 

Bangkok has an international reputation for offering excellent quality surgical and cosmetic treatments at competitive prices. If you are willing to invest the time to make yourself look better, you will find all of our listed facilities in Bangkok are second-to-none.

Deep chemical peels should always be carried out under surgical conditions by a suitably qualified and experienced doctor. For the medium and mild peels, this is not necessary as they do not go to the deeper layers of the skin—although you still need to find a reputable clinic that has experienced staff.

Whichever peel you decide on, you will want to be sure that your treatment is performed by practitioners with know-how, under hygienic conditions—whether it is in a hospital for deep peels or a beauty salon for the mild and medium peels. Ensuring your safety is paramount as, wrongly administered, a chemical peel can make your skin look worse and lead to permanent disfigurement. For a deep peel, you should check out your surgeon's credentials, such as board certification or the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Booking through Medical Departures ensures that your treatment will be carried out at a fully background-checked clinic and by a licensed practitioner. We conduct legal and criminal checks, pay onsite visits and verify qualifications, professional memberships and international affiliations. We list our findings on our website, with high-definition photos and real patient reviews; all of this information is available free-of-charge for you to look through at your leisure, enabling you to make your own decision in confidence—and book knowing you aren’t being ripped off (as we are always transparent about the prices with no hidden extras). 

This answer depends on whether you have a deep, medium or mild treatment. To give you an idea, for a deep chemical peel in Bangkok that requires a surgical setting, you can expect to pay around. AUD $1,500. In Australia, for example, prices are around double this at AUD $3,000. Medium and mild chemical peels do cost substantially less.

These are approximate prices calculated at the time of writing. To see some exact prices, we’ve listed three of our most popular clinics in Bangkok for chemical peels below:

• Meko Clinic IVF

• Meko Clinic

• BEQ Clinic Beauté Équilibrée (Silom)

Ready to book? See below for ways to arrange your free appointment or get in touch with our Customer Care Team if you've any questions about chemical peels in Bangkok.

Sources:

Global Top 20 Medical Tourism Destinations 2019: Current and Potential Opportunities, Inbound Numbers by Country and Revenue. PR Newswire. 2020.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-top-20-medical-tourism-destinations-2019-current-and-potential-opportunities-inbound-numbers-by-country-and-revenue-300945568.html

Bangkok. Lonely Planet. Website accessed: 19 January 2020.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok

International Society of Plastic Surgeons. Website accessed: 19 January 2020. 
https://www.isaps.org/

Chemical Peel. Mayo Clinic. 24 May 2018. 
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemical-peel/about/pac-20393473

Chemical Peels and Your Skin. WebMD. 27 August 2019. 
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-chemical-peel-treatments