Your Pre-Treatment VI Peel® Guide

Transform tone, texture, and clarity with medical-grade medium-depth chemical resurfacing.

Synergistic Chemical Exfoliation & Cellular Turnover

At beyond|AESTHETICS, VI Peel® provides targeted dermal rejuvenation designed to lift stubborn hyperpigmentation,smooth fine lines, and clear active acne or scarring. Combining a blend of TCA, Salicylic Acid, Retinoic Acid, Phenol,and Vitamin C, this painless medium-depth peel penetrates into the papillary dermis to stimulate cellular renewal. Proper pre-treatment preparation strengthens your skin barrier and minimizes post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) risks.

Preparing for Your Treatment

7 to 10 Days Before Treatment

Avoid Direct Sun Exposure & Tanning: Discontinue intentional sun exposure, tanning beds, and self-tanners. Skin must be free of active sunburn or tan prior to peeling.
Pause Invasive Facial Procedures: Discontinue laser treatments, IPL, microdermabrasion, wax hair removal, or electrolysis on the treatment area.

3 to 5 Days Before Treatment

Pause Active Topicals: Stop using Retin-A, retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, AHA/BHAs, hydroquinone, and physical scrubs to keep the lipid barrier calm.
Check Skin Integrity: Ensure the skin is completely free of open wounds, active cold sores, viral lesions, or inflammatory rashes. (Patients prone to cold sores should request a prophylactic antiviral prior to treatment).

Day of Treatment

Arrive Clean & Bare: Wash your face thoroughly. Arrive completely free of makeup, heavy moisturizers, serums, or sunscreens.

Day of Treatment

Prescription Medications: Take prescribed anti-viral medication as instructed by your provider.
Clean Skin: Arrive with completely cleansed skin—no makeup, moisturizers, perfume, cologne, or sunscreen. (Numbing cream is applied in-office).
Medical Disclosure: Notify us of any medication allergies, or if you are pregnant or nursing.

Patient receiving a chemical peel

What to Expect in the chair on Treatment Day

Skin Degreasing & Cleansing: We apply a clinical-grade topical anesthetic for approximately 45–60 minutes to ensure maximum comfort during the procedure.

Layered Application (Painless): The VI Peel® solution is applied in multiple passes. The initial pass contains a localized numbing agent (Phenol), making the application comfortable with only mild, brief tingling.
The “Self-Neutralizing” Layer & Yellow/Bronze Glow: VI Peel® is a leave-on, self-neutralizing formula. You will leave the clinic with a bronze-tinted layer on your skin, which stays on for 4 hours before your first home wash.
Take-Home Patient Care Kit: You will receive a specialized VI Peel® Post-Retinoid Wipe kit and prescription-strength hydrocortisone/moisturizer to use at specific hour intervals following your treatment.

Recommended Pre-VI Peel® Home Care

Preparing your skin barrier 1 to 2 weeks prior to chemical resurfacing ensures even solution penetration, reduces pigment sensitivity, and supports rapid barrier recovery.

Pre-VI Peel Skincare Essentials at beyond|AESTHETICS

Alastin Skincare® Regenerating Skin Nectar

Matrix Clearing & Recovery Prep

Why use pre-treatment: Powered by TriHex Technology®, applying this prior to resurfacing clears damaged ECM proteins, calms reactive tissue, and accelerates post-peel re-epithelialization.

Shop Alastin Skin Nectar

SkinMedica® HA5® Rejuvenating Hydrator

Deep Dermal Hydration

Why use pre-treatment: Deeply saturates five forms of hyaluronic acid into dermal layers, ensuring the skin canvas is supple and hydrated prior to chemical solution application.

Shop SkinMedica HA5

Epionce Daily Shield Tinted SPF 50

Broad-Spectrum UV Defense

Why use pre-treatment: Skin must be free of active UV inflammation or sunburn prior to peeling. Mineral SPF keeps skin calm and protected leading up to your session.

Shop Epionce Tinted SPF 50

We’re with you every step of your aesthetic journey.

Beyond your pre-care routine, dive into our resources below to discover:

Learn More about VI Peel®

VI Peel® Aftercare

Read our ‘VI Peels: Practitioners’ Self-Treatment Experiences’ Blog

Meet Your Providers

photo of five providers at beyond Aesthetics

Our priority is surpassing your expectations.

Meet The Team

VI Peel® FAQ's

What makes HALO a "hybrid fractional" laser, and how does it work?

Ablative Wavelength (2940 nm): Vaporizes micro-channels in the superficial layer of the skin (epidermis) to remove sun damage, visible pigment, and uneven texture.
Non-Ablative Wavelength (1470 nm): Penetrates deeper into the dermis to create microscopic thermal injuries that spark long-term collagen and elastin production without damaging the surface skin.
By combining both, HALO provides the dramatic skin-renewing results of traditional ablative lasers but with the significantly shorter recovery time of non-ablative treatments.

What skin concerns does HALO treat, and what is the recovery like? HALO improves overall skin health and texture, specifically targeting:

Fine lines, deep wrinkles, and enlarged pores
Sun damage, age spots, and uneven skin tone
Mild scarring and loss of skin elasticity
Recovery & Downtime:
Days 1–2: Redness and swelling (similar to a moderate sunburn), accompanied by a warm sensation for a few hours post-treatment.
Days 3–5: Microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) appear—tiny dark spots that make the skin feel like sandpaper.
Days 6–7: MENDs naturally flake off to reveal a glowing, fresh layer of skin (“HALO glow”). Most patients return to regular activities and wear light makeup by day 3 to 4.

How many sessions are needed, and when do results appear?

Number of Sessions: Depending on your goals and skin condition, optimal results are typically achieved in 1 to 2 sessions. You can opt for 1 aggressive session or 2 lighter sessions spaced a few months apart.
Timeline of Results: Initial improvements in skin tone and brightness appear within 2 to 3 weeks. However, deeper collagen rebuilding continues over the next 3 to 6 months, producing ongoing structural improvement that can last for years with proper sun protection.