Cost and Financing Your Chemical Peel

Chemical peels are priced by the depth of the peel desired and can fluctuate from one provider to another. While the average cost of a chemical peel in the United States is between six hundred and nine hundred dollars, the price of this process is influenced by the area of the country, choice of chemical product, choice of anesthesia, and treatment facility. For a light chemical peel, the average provider charges from one hundred to three hundred dollars, but this may not be the best value depending on your skin and circumstance. Light chemical peels only remove the top layers of the epidermis to eliminate fine lines, balance the skin tone, and remove blemishes on the skin's surface. To get satisfactory results from these lighter acids, patients generally require several treatments, and the cost of the process quickly multiplies. The patient who chooses a medium chemical peel can expect to pay between one and two thousand dollars for a single treatment. Although this treatment uses a stronger trichloroacetic acid which can correct problems with pigmentation, doctors recommend a repetition of the peel about four times a year. This can, again, increase costs overall, but the medium grade chemical peels tend to yield more dramatic results that can last longer than those associated with lighter chemical peels. Although the cost of a deep chemical peel might seem steep at twenty-five hundred to six thousand dollars, it typically requires only one treatment session. A single treatment will smooth the complexion and even remove pre-cancerous lesions. The quoted price for this long-term treatment often includes a planning session with the provider, anesthetization, and after care. It will not usually cover any needed pain medications, though each provider may package their procedure differently, so it is best to learn from them what is included before you schedule your procedure. Insurance will sometimes cover the cost of a chemical peel used to reduce scarring or to remove precancerous lesions, but providers do not cover chemical peels done for cosmetic reasons. It is wise to check about coverage before scheduling a peel, but if your insurance does not cover the treatment, other funding methods can be explored. Medical offices often have plans available which allow the patient to stretch out the payments, and if not, some financial institutions, such as CareCredit and Capital One, specialize in loans for cosmetic surgery. A loan from a personal bank is also an option for many patients.