Light vs Acid, Compared Honestly
Laser Peel vs Chemical Peel in Durango: Contour TRL Nano/Micro vs Acid Peels
We do not offer acid peels. Our resurfacing is light: Contour TRL Nano $250, Micro $750, Deep $3,000–$3,500, and the Clear Silk soft path at $350/month. Here is the honest comparison.
The short answer
Both peel. One uses acid, one uses light, and we sell the light.
Chemical peels (TCA, glycolic, Jessner) dissolve the skin's surface with acid; the depth is controlled by solution strength and contact. Laser peels vaporize the surface with light; Contour TRL's Er:YAG laser sets depth to the micron, which is why the same device performs the $250 Nano peel, the $750 Micro peel, and $3,000–$3,500 deep resurfacing. R Med+Spa Durango does not offer chemical peels, and we do not publish acid menus or prices. If your skin wants gentle rather than peeling, the Clear Silk soft path ($350/month with Glacial Rx) does not peel at all. Dr. Brian Rike, DO performs the Contour work; individual results vary.
Why this page exists without an acid shelf
“Chemical peel” is one of the most searched skin terms in the country, and Durango has no shortage of menus offering one. We do not sell acids. Saying that in the first paragraph is the only way this comparison is worth your trust.
Three things we will not do here: we will not pretend acid peels are unsafe or outdated, we will not invent acid menus or prices for rooms we do not work in, and we will not quietly rename our laser work “a chemical-free peel” to catch the search. What we will do is explain precisely how the two mechanisms differ, price every rung we actually sell, and tell you honestly when an acid peel somewhere else is a perfectly reasonable choice.
Side by side
Acid-peel facts are general education about the category, not a description of any local clinic's menu.
| Feature | Laser peel (offered here) | Chemical peel (not offered here) |
|---|---|---|
| How it removes the surface | Contour TRL: a Sciton Er:YAG laser vaporizes the outer layer at a depth Dr. Rike sets precisely, in microns | Chemical peels: an acid solution (TCA, glycolic, Jessner) dissolves the surface at a depth the solution and contact time control |
| Depth control | Dial-able to the micron. The same device does a 10-micron refresh or deep resurfacing | Depends on acid strength, layering, and skin response. Less precise by nature |
| What is offered here | Nano $250 · Micro $750 · Deep $3,000–$3,500 | Not offered here. Acid menus and prices are set by the clinics that sell them |
| Downtime here | Nano about 1–3 days · Micro about 3–5 · Deep about 7–10. Healing varies | Varies by acid and depth, quoted where the peel is performed |
| Gentlest path we sell | Clear Silk: non-ablative 1064 nm, no peeling at all, $350/mo with Glacial Rx | Not applicable |
| Performed by | Dr. Brian Rike, DO (Contour). Andrea Rike (Clear Silk) | Not performed here |
Three paths: acid elsewhere, Contour here, or no peel at all
The acid path (elsewhere):a chemical peel relies on chemistry. The solution dissolves tissue on contact, and depth emerges from the acid's strength, how many layers are applied, and how your particular skin reacts that day. That variability is the honest cost of the approach; some skins love acids, and experienced peel providers do good work with them.
The Contour path (here): the Er:YAG laser ablates tissue with light, and depth is a number Dr. Rike selects before the first pass. At 10 microns, the Nano Laser Peel ($250) lifts the outermost dull surface in 1–3 days of downtime. At 50 microns, the Micro Laser Peel ($750) removes real sun-damage in 3–5 days. At resurfacing depth, Deep Contour TRL ($3,000–$3,500) reaches what no light acid can, in 7–10 days. One device, one physics, four orders of tunability. The full ladder with honest downtime per rung is in our Halo vs Contour depth guide.
The no-peel path (here): Clear Silk is a non-ablative 1064 nm laser, performed by Andrea Rike, that heats without removing anything. No peeling, no recovery window, no visible flake. Paired monthly with Glacial Rx at $350, it is the maintenance rhythm for people who want steady improvement without ever looking treated. It is not a substitute for resurfacing when resurfacing is what the skin needs.
A decision guide
- Dull, rough surface, first peel: Nano at $250, or a short series. Lightest real peel on our shelf.
- Sun damage and texture you can feel: Micro at $750, about 3–5 days of peeling.
- Deep lines, scars, severe damage: Deep Contour TRL, $3,000–$3,500, 7–10 days, chosen carefully.
- Want change without any peeling: Clear Silk + Glacial, $350/month, non-ablative.
- Specifically want an acid peel: book it with a clinic that performs them. That is a legitimate choice, not a failure of this page.
Nobody needs every peel in this conversation. Most skin needs one path, chosen once, honestly.
Contour vs TCA, carefully
TCA is the acid people usually mean when they compare peels to lasers, because at higher strengths it reaches real depth. The honest comparison: deep TCA and Deep Contour TRL both exist to reach resurfacing territory, and both demand serious healing windows. Where they differ is control. A laser's depth is set before the pass and is the same across the treated field; an acid's depth varies with strength, layering, contact time, and skin response. We will not claim one always outperforms the other, because that claim would be marketing. What we can say is which variables each one puts in your provider's hands, and that Dr. Rike chose to put a tunable laser on our shelf.
Prices, stated plainly
- Nano Laser Peel: $250. ~10 microns, 1–3 days.
- Micro Laser Peel: $750. ~50 microns, 3–5 days.
- Deep Contour TRL: $3,000–$3,500. Resurfacing depth, 7–10 days.
- Clear Silk + Glacial Rx Monthly: $350/month, non-ablative, no peeling.
Everything on the price list. Chemical peel prices are the acid clinics' business, not ours to quote. Consultations are not complimentary; the $25 deposit holds your appointment and applies toward whatever you book. Individual results vary.
Who treats you
Dr. Brian Rike, DO performs all Contour TRL work at every depth; Andrea Rike performs Clear Silk and Glacial Rx. Every depth decision is made by the provider who will hold the device. See who performs each laser for the full breakdown.
Aftercare at altitude
Durango sits over a mile above sea level, and our UV is strong even on cold days. Freshly peeled skin, by acid or by light, is new skin that will grab pigment fast if it meets unprotected sun. Daily SPF, wide-brimmed hats, and shade are part of the treatment, not optional extras. Dry mountain air pulls moisture from healing skin, so a gentle cleanser and the barrier care we send you home with carry more of the result than anything elaborate. Fall and winter make the 3-to-10-day windows easier to protect.
Questions we hear on this comparison
Do you offer chemical peels at R Med+Spa?
No. We do not offer acid peels of any strength, including TCA, glycolic, or Jessner solutions, and we do not publish acid menus or prices. Our resurfacing tools are lasers: the Contour TRL Er:YAG platform (Nano $250, Micro $750, Deep $3,000–$3,500) and the non-ablative Clear Silk 1064 nm soft path. If you specifically want an acid peel, this page explains the differences honestly, but you would book it with a clinic that performs them.
What is the difference between a laser peel and a chemical peel?
Both remove the damaged outer layer of skin so fresher skin can replace it. A chemical peel does it with acid: a solution that dissolves tissue, with depth controlled by the acid's strength, how many layers are applied, and how your skin responds. A laser peel does it with light: the Contour TRL Er:YAG laser vaporizes the outer layer at a depth set numerically, to the micron, by Dr. Rike. The honest difference is control. Light can be dialed and stopped; a solution works by chemistry once it touches skin.
How much does a laser peel cost in Durango?
On our published price list: Nano Laser Peel $250, Micro Laser Peel $750, Deep Contour TRL $3,000 to $3,500, and the Clear Silk + Glacial Rx monthly soft path at $350 per month. Consultations are not complimentary, and a $25 deposit holds the appointment and applies toward treatment. Chemical peel prices are set by the clinics that offer them; we do not quote them.
Is a laser peel better than a chemical peel?
Not universally. Acid peels are an established approach with decades of use, and for some skin and some goals they are a reasonable choice. What a laser peel offers is precision: micron-level depth control on a single device, from a light refresh to deep resurfacing, with healing you can plan. Whether that control matters for your skin depends on what is being treated and how your skin has responded to acids in the past. Dr. Rike will give you an honest recommendation at consultation, including that an acid peel elsewhere may suit you fine.
What is the downtime for each?
Here: Nano about 1 to 3 days of pinkness and light flaking, Micro about 3 to 5 days of visible peeling, Deep about 7 to 10 days of real healing. Clear Silk has no peeling at all. Healing varies with settings, your skin, and your aftercare. Chemical peel downtime depends on the acid and depth, and is quoted by the provider performing it.
Why do you prefer laser over acid for resurfacing?
Preference is the wrong frame; capability is the honest one. Our Er:YAG platform does something acids cannot: it treats the entire surface at a depth chosen numerically and reproduced exactly, visit to visit, from 10 microns to deep resurfacing. That single tunable range is why we invested in it. That said, we do not claim acids are unsafe or inferior for every skin; they are simply not on our shelf.
Who performs laser peels at R Med+Spa?
Dr. Brian Rike, DO performs all Contour TRL work: Nano, Micro, and Deep. Andrea Rike performs the Clear Silk soft path. New patients start with an aesthetics consultation, where depth, downtime, and calendar are matched to your skin before anything is booked.
Acid or light, know what touches your skin.
R Med+Spa, 679 E 2nd Ave Unit 1, Durango. Call (970) 501-0610 or book a consultation with Dr. Rike. We will tell you which rung of the ladder your skin needs, what it costs, and whether the honest answer is one of our lasers or an acid somewhere else.