The purpose of this study is to examine the histological skin changes induced by different peeling agents (Trichloroacetic acid 25% and 40% and phenol/croton oil) in subcutaneous undermined facial skin flaps.

Written informed consent has to be obtained from 9 random female Caucasian patients aged between 40 and 80 years who will receive a Peeling assisted volume enhancing (PAVE) facelift procedure in Ocean Clinic, Marbella Spain, to take part in the histologic case control study with a within-subjects design.

After completing the facelift, the subcutaneous undermined abundant pre-auricular skin of both sides which is to be resected as consequence of the lift anyhow of each study patient is not resected and split completely in half to yield four samples of the same size, two on each side, without contacting each other in order to prevent any interaction between the peeling agents (n=9 samples per treatment). One sample serves as the control, while the other three samples are each treated with different peeling agents by the same surgeon: Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel at concentrations of 20% and 40% and a phenol/croton oil peel. The TCA samples are peeled immediately for 2 to 4 minutes until even frosting and neutralized at the even frosting point. The phenol/croton oil peeled samples are occluded with silicone tape for 24 hours and not neutralized. After 24 hours during the routine in-hospital stay of the patient, the skin samples are resected, the preauricular wound is closed, and all samples are placed in 10 % neutral buffered formalin. The samples are immediately processed, trimmed, embedded, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) by the same researcher. Histological evaluation which will take place in Tuebingen is carried out using a microscope, and pictures are captured at 10x, 25x and 100x magnification using a digital camera. Two trained histological examiners blinded to the study design independently perform histological evaluations. The depth of necrosis in µm is determined by analysing the tissue damage in relation to histological skin layers. All slices are evaluated using light microscopy to assess the mean depth of necrosis in three samples at three different sites for each specimen. The vertical height in µm between the cutaneous basal membrane and the deepest penetration of tissue damage is measured as well as the total thickness of the epidermis and dermis. Based on the histomorphological changes, actual peeling depth is determined and classified analogously to the current classification of burns: superficial, superficial-partial, deep-partial and full thickness.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The population consists of all female English-speaking Caucasian patients of the Department for plastic and aesthetic surgery of Ocean Clinic Marbella, Spain, between 40 and 80 years seeking for elective facial rejuvenation with the PAVE-lift technique (peeling assisted volume enhancing Facelift) who give formal written informed consent to take part in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• any known cardiac problems like arrhythmia or conduction disorders, such as Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome
• previous facelift surgery
• previous facial peeling
• Fitzpatrick skin type 4, 5 and 6 (dark tanned skin types in which the applied peeling agents are known to lead to unpleasant results such as hypopigmentation and skin lightening)
• any former episode of skin cancer
• any inability to give informed written consent