Q. How long does a typical skin care treatment last? A. A typical treatment may last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer. The length depends on the size of the area being treated. Q. Do most of the treatments require pre- and post-treatment care? A. Depending on each patient's concerns, a home pre- and post- skin care system and series of treatments might be necessary to achieve optimal results. Q. Are there side effects after peels and microdermabrasion? A. Side effects, if any, are minor. They may include redness and tightness if the skin is exposed to the sun or wind during the first 24 hours after the procedure. Some skin may peel. Q. How will the sensitive skin react to clinical treatments? A. Sensitive skin will appear slightly red and swollen for a period of a few hours to a few days. If redness and/or swelling persist, contact your aesthetician immediately. Q. What skin problems can microdermabrasion correct? A. Microdermabrasion is effectively used to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, correct photo-damage, treat acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma and rosacea. Q. What skin types can benefit from natural and chemical peels? A. Cosmetic Technologies has been successfully treating all skin types with natural and chemical peels. The procedure is customized to fit the patient's needs and concerns. Q. Do I need to prepare my skin for a peel? A. Natural or Today's peels do not require pre-treatment preparation; however if you choose a chemical peel, your skin will have to be prepared in order to achieve desired results. Q. What can I expect during a chemical peel? A. A chemical peel begins with cleansing and drying the area treated, for example, face, chest, hands). The, the solution is applied with a brush. The peeling agent stays on the skin for several minutes. If a light or medium peel is applied, you may feel a warm sensation followed by the light stinging which is quickly alleviated. Q. What can I expect after an ultra-light chemical peel? A. In most cases there is no real recovery period associated with the chemical peel. Some patients experience skin flushing which can be camouflaged with make-up. Light skin flaking commonly occurs and can be controlled with a moisturizer applied to the skin throughout the day. Q. What can I expect after a light chemical peel? A. Typically, the downtime after a light peel is four to six days immediately following the treatment. A petrolatum-based gel will be applied to your skin to enhance heeling. Skin flaking that will occur can be controlled with a moisturizer applied to the skin throughout the day. Q. What can I expect after a medium chemical peel? A. After a medium peel a petrolatum-based gel will be applied to your skin to enhance heeling and minimize scabbing. As the new skin emerges after a week, you may resume normal activities. It is important to protect the skin with UVA/UVB sun block at all times. Additionally, swimming in chlorinated pools should be avoided for 4-6 weeks.