- Cosmetic Dermatology
Deep Wrinkle Treatment
A tailored plan that softens etched-in, static wrinkles that remain even when your face is at rest.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Craig Singer creates a personalized deep-wrinkle treatment plan for each patient at his Bingham Farms practice.
Quick facts
Treats
Deep, etched wrinkles
Common area
Perioral (“smoker’s lines”)
Approach
Matched to depth & severity
Deepest option
Phenol-croton oil peel
Downtime
~7–10 days healing
Performed by
Dr. Craig Singer
What is deep wrinkle treatment?
Deep, etched wrinkles are a structural problem in the skin, not just a surface one, so creams and light treatments rarely make a real difference. Dr. Singer matches the approach to the depth and severity of your wrinkles, from fractional laser resurfacing and medium-depth chemical peels for milder lines, up to the phenol-croton oil peel, the deepest chemical peel available, for severe etched wrinkles, especially the perioral (“smoker’s”) lines around the mouth.
Matched to severity
There is no single best treatment for everyone. The right option depends on wrinkle depth, skin thickness, prior treatments, and how much downtime you can accept, which Dr. Singer reviews with you.
Deep Wrinkles are not a textural issue…they are a structural issue in the skin.
Most treatments (creams, light peels, even some lasers) only scratch the surface.
At Craig Singer MD Dermatology, treatment is based on depth, structure, and severity, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you are dealing with:
- Deep perioral lines (“smoker’s lines”)
- Advanced sun damage
- Crepey, etched skin
You need a more aggressive and targeted strategy.
How to Treat Deep Wrinkles Effectively
There is no single best treatment for everyone.
Treatment depends on:
- Depth of wrinkles
- Skin thickness
- Prior treatments
- Tolerance for downtime
Most patients fall into one of three categories
Mild to Moderate Wrinkles
Fractional CO₂ laser
Erbium laser resurfacing
Medium-depth chemical peels
These improve texture and early lines but have limited impact on deeply etched wrinkles.
Moderate to Advanced Wrinkles
Combination resurfacing
Laser + chemical peel approaches
Targeted blending techniques
There is no single best treatment for everyone.
Severe Wrinkles (Deep Etched Lines)
For patients with significant wrinkling, especially around the mouth:
The most effective option may be a phenol–croton oil peel.
This is the deepest chemical peel available, capable of reaching the reticular dermis and producing dramatic collagen remodeling.
Phenol Peel vs CO₂ Laser for Deep Wrinkles
This is where most patients get misled.
Fractional CO₂ Laser
Treats a fraction of skin per session
Requires multiple treatments
Limited depth per pass
Phenol–Croton Oil Peel
Treats 100% of the surface
Greater depth in a single session
More effective for severe wrinkling
- For mild aging → laser is appropriate
- For advanced wrinkling → deeper treatment is often required
What Areas Can Be Treated?
- Perioral region (most common)
- Lower eyelid
- Full face (select cases)
The perioral area is where this treatment provides the most dramatic improvement.
Why Most Practices Don’t Offer This
This is not a routine cosmetic procedure.
It requires:
- Experience with deep resurfacing
- Careful patient selection
- Medical monitoring
Because of this, many patients searching for deep wrinkle treatment in Detroit end up traveling, often unnecessarily.
Recovery and Downtime
You need to be realistic.
- Healing phase: ~7–10 days
- Redness: 2–8 weeks
- Collagen remodeling: several months
This is significant downtime, but it comes with more significant results.
Who Is a Candidate?
- Fair to medium skin tones
- Deep, etched wrinkles
- Willingness to accept downtime for better results
Not all patients are candidates, and in many cases, a combination approach may be more appropriate.
Deep Wrinkle Correction Case 1
A 72-year-old woman with moderate-to-severe deep wrinkles (Glogou 3) was treated with a 1.1% phenol-croton oil peel around the mouth, extending onto the cheeks. The remainder of the face was treated with a medium-depth peel using sequential Jessner solution and 35% TCA. The final photographs were taken 6 weeks after the procedure. She does have some residual redness but overall has healed extremely well with dramatic resolution of deep wrinkles. Most importantly, she is ecstatic with her results.
Surgeon: Dr. Craig Singer
Demographic: 72-year-old woman
What deep wrinkle treatment addresses
The deep, etched concerns that need more than surface treatment:
Perioral lines
Deep “smoker’s lines” around the mouth.
Advanced sun damage
Years of accumulated photoaging.
Crepey, etched skin
Deeply lined, crepey texture.
Deep static wrinkles
Lines that stay even at rest.
How we treat deep wrinkles
Matched to wrinkle depth and severity:
Fractional CO₂ / Erbium laser
Resurfacing for milder lines and texture.
Medium-depth peels
Phenol-croton oil peel
The deepest peel, for severe etched wrinkles.
Combination approach
Blended techniques for the best result.
Frequently asked questions
What deep static wrinkles are, how they are treated, expectations, downtime, and results.
What are deep, static wrinkles?
These are lines that remain visible even when your face is relaxed, unlike dynamic wrinkles that appear only with movement. They often have more than one cause.
How are deep wrinkles treated?
Treatment is matched to the depth and severity of your wrinkles, from fractional CO₂ or Erbium laser resurfacing and medium-depth peels for milder lines, up to the phenol-croton oil peel, the deepest chemical peel available, for severe etched wrinkling.
Will one treatment be enough?
It depends on severity. Milder lines may need a series of resurfacing treatments, while a single deep phenol-croton oil peel can produce dramatic improvement for severe etched wrinkles.
Is there downtime?
For deep resurfacing it is significant: the healing phase is about 7 to 10 days, redness can last 2 to 8 weeks, and collagen remodeling continues for several months. Dr. Singer reviews this with you in advance.
Will I look natural?
Yes. The goal is smoother, refreshed skin with softened wrinkles and a natural-looking result.
How do I get started?
Begin with a consultation. Dr. Singer assesses your wrinkles and builds a personalized plan for the most natural improvement.
Deep wrinkle treatment near Detroit, MI
Dr. Craig Singer’s Bingham Farms practice offers deep wrinkle correction and deep-resurfacing peels for patients across metro Detroit and Oakland County, so you may not need to travel out of state.
- Detroit
- Bingham Farms
- Bloomfield Hills
- Birmingham
- Southfield
- Royal Oak
- Grosse Pointe
- Farmington Hills
- Novi
- Troy
- West Bloomfield
- Rochester Hills
Explore other cosmetic services
Patient testimonials
4.9
Based on Google reviews
HOUR Detroit Top Doc
Recognized dermatologist
About Dr. Craig Singer MD Dermatology
Located in Bingham Farms, Craig Singer MD Dermatology was founded in 2017 by Dr. Craig Singer, a board-certified dermatologist.
We specialize in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology, treating patients of all ages, newborn through elderly. We have expertise in a wide variety of skin conditions including eczema, acne, and warts as well as complicated dermatological issues that include hair loss and autoimmune disease. In addition, we are highly skilled in the evaluation of moles and skin cancer.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Craig Singer has helped thousands of patients look and feel their best.
20+ Years
Trusted by Thousands
Board-Certified
Dermatologist & Pediatrician
