Contact 
Gallery 
Call 
When fine lines start deepening and sun damage lingers no matter how many creams you try, it’s time to look beyond the basics. The croton oil peel isn’t a quick facial or a mild exfoliant. It’s a physician-performed treatment that rewinds years of visible aging.
At The Plastic Surgery Institute of Southeast Texas, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Leo Lapuerta performs the croton oil peel with the same precision he brings to his surgical work. Every detail from anesthesia to aftercare happens in a fully accredited facility under medical supervision. The goal is simple: clearer, tighter, healthier-looking skin, restored safely and beautifully.
1 of 10
The croton oil peel, sometimes called a phenol croton oil peel, is one of the most effective tools for deep skin resurfacing. Unlike light chemical peels that barely graze the surface, this technique reaches the deeper layers of the dermis where wrinkles, discoloration, and sun damage live.
The solution blends croton oil with phenol, creating a controlled injury that triggers powerful skin regeneration. Collagen production ramps up. Damaged skin sheds. New, tighter skin emerges. Because croton oil acts as the key driver, this peel allows precise depth control, producing smoother, firmer, more even-toned skin with fewer of the harsh side effects once associated with older phenol peels.
It’s the treatment for patients who want meaningful change and not a temporary glow.
A properly performed croton oil peel doesn’t just polish the surface. It restores structure and vitality to skin that’s lost its resilience.
Patients often describe their results as transformative: skin that feels stronger, looks fresher, and reflects light in a way it hasn’t in years.
This peel is not a cookie-cutter treatment. It’s best suited for fair to medium skin tones showing visible aging, like deep wrinkles, uneven tone, or etched-in sun damage. Candidates should be healthy, realistic about downtime, and ready to follow post-treatment instructions closely.
For croton oil peel patients with darker complexions or specific sensitivities, Dr. Lapuerta may suggest lighter or staged options such as glycolic acid peels or other non invasive treatments that minimize pigmentation risks. What matters most is tailoring the treatment to the skin in front of him, not to a formula.
The experience begins with an in-depth consultation. Dr. Lapuerta studies your facial structure, reviews your skin history, and maps out the ideal concentration for each area of your face. Treatments are performed in our accredited surgical facility with anesthesia administered only by physicians, ensuring complete safety and comfort.
After cleansing the skin, the croton oil and phenol solution is applied in a controlled sequence. You might see a pale “frosting” appear as the old skin reacts to the solution, a sign that the deeper tissue is being renewed. Each pass is deliberate and precise. Once the process is complete, your face is covered with a soothing ointment and light dressing to protect the fresh layer underneath.
Recovery from a croton oil peel takes commitment, but the payoff is unmatched. Over the first week, redness, peeling, and swelling signal that the damaged layer is releasing. Within ten to fourteen days, the bulk of the peeling subsides, revealing tender new skin beneath. Redness gradually fades as the healing process continues.
Dr. Lapuerta and his team provide clear, step-by-step care instructions. Keep the skin moist with protective ointments. Avoid sun exposure completely until cleared. Use gentle cleansers and avoid anything exfoliating. Around the two-week mark, most patients feel comfortable returning to social activities. Over the next few months, collagen continues to build, giving the face a subtly lifted, refined look that can last for years.
This peel demands an experienced hand. The combination of croton oil concentration and application depth must be exact, which is why it’s only performed by physicians trained in facial rejuvenation. When done in a proper medical setting, the procedure is safe and remarkably effective.
Side effects such as redness or temporary pigmentation shifts are possible but uncommon. Dr. Lapuerta personally oversees each step of the process, from the pre-peel skin prep to post-procedure follow-ups, and his patients have direct access to him after hours for any questions. Safety is never handed off; it stays in his hands from start to finish.
Most chemical peels rely on agents like glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), or salicylic acid to dissolve dead skin cells on the surface. These lighter or medium-depth treatments can refresh dullness and refine pores but don’t address deeper wrinkles or laxity.
A croton oil peel reaches where those treatments can’t. It works through the deeper layers of skin, softening severe lines and sun damage in one session. Compared to the traditional phenol peel, it offers more predictable control and often a slightly easier recovery. For patients weighing between advanced peels and cosmetic surgery, this procedure often hits the sweet spot, significant change without an incision.
The transformation doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s worth the wait. Once the peeling ends, your skin appears clearer and more even. Over the following months, new collagen thickens and tightens the underlying structure, giving the face a firm, refined contour. With diligent sun protection and healthy skincare habits, results can last for years, sometimes close to a decade. Many patients maintain their results with lighter chemical peels or other cosmetic procedures like Botox or filler, depending on their goals.
Experience and safety define Dr. Lapuerta’s practice. A triple-board-certified plastic surgeon with over two decades in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, he brings the rigor of surgical precision to every cosmetic treatment. All procedures occur in a certified surgical facility, with anesthesia administered by medical doctors rather than nurses or CRNAs.
But it’s his approach that patients remember most. He meets with every patient himself, performs all treatments personally, and checks in throughout recovery. His bilingual team ensures clear communication and comfort for English- and Spanish-speaking patients alike. The practice runs less like a high-volume clinic and more like a boutique: focused, attentive, and deeply personal.
If you’re ready to invest in skin that looks as vibrant as it feels, schedule a consultation with Dr. Lapuerta. A croton oil peel in Houston can restore tone, smoothness, and confidence, all under the care of one of Texas’s most trusted plastic surgeons.
Most people heal within two weeks, though mild redness can linger a bit longer. Once cleared, makeup can safely be worn.
It’s safest for fair to medium tones. For darker complexions, Dr. Lapuerta may suggest a lighter peel or staged approach.
Yes. This deep peel effectively reduces acne scars, dark spots, and uneven skin tone, restoring smoother, more even skin.
Usually just one. Results last years, with optional lighter peels later to maintain clarity.
Avoid direct sunlight, heat, and active skincare products until your skin has fully recovered.
Lighter peels exfoliate the surface. A croton oil peel works deeper, producing more dramatic and longer-lasting improvement.
Initial results appear once peeling subsides. Full improvement continues for several months as collagen production increases.
