Chemical peels come in many forms. Most skin peels performed at Northwest Face & Body are light peels. This means that they use less aggressive acids that do not require any downtime. These treatments will cause skin peeling, but it only lasts a day or two and is relatively easy to conceal. Medium and deep peels cause more peeling and it can last for longer. However, they often provide better results and are recommended for patients with major skin damage. A new generation of skin peels offers the results of more invasive treatments with minor peeling and little downtime. Northwest Face & Body provides the best VI Peel Bellevue and Kirkland offers.
Overview: The VI Peel
The VI Peel combines a blend of ingredients and acids that deeply penetrate and resurface the skin while not requiring major downtime. Traditional TCA and phenol peels often leave your face peeling for a week and can directly impact your lifestyle. The VI Peel requires about the same amount of downtime as a light chemical peel. For most patients, the results are comparable to a more invasive procedure.
How It Works
A Bellevue VI Peel works similarly to a traditional chemical peel. It utilizes acids to chemically remove dead skin and the outer layers of skin. This causes the skin to peel following the treatment. This is where the chemical peel procedure gets its name.
Once the skin sheds off these layers, it reveals newer layers of skin underneath. Skin peels also often infuse moisture and restorative properties deep into the skin for complete rejuvenation.
The VI Peel innovates the chemical peel process. Light chemical peels typically use one, or a blend of acids like salicylic glycolic acid. These acids are effective for a standard chemical peel and those wanting to maintain the quality of their skin. For patients with more extensive sun damage, aging, or scarring, these light peels may not offer the results patients want.
Designed to treat cystic acne and its effects, the VI Peel uses these lighter acids and then adds in smaller amounts of acids such as trichloroacetic acid and phenol. Normally, these acids are more aggressive causing the skin to peel for longer and worse than lighter skin peels. They may even require a few days of downtime.
By using these acids in smaller amounts and blending them with ingredients that can soothe their effects, the VI Peel offers the results of medium chemical peels with less skin peeling and downtime.
What It Does
As mentioned previously, a VI Peel chemically resurfaces the skin. This essentially means that it deeply exfoliates and removes skin for a rejuvenated look. The resurfacing process can improve the quality and appearance of the skin substantially for most patients. Patients who experience certain skin problems or conditions may also find that it contributes to fewer flare-ups.
Conditions that a VI Peel in Bellevue may improve include:
- Acne
- Rosacea
- Sun damage (including sunspots)
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne scars
- Hyperpigmentation
- Effects of aging
- Melasma
- Cystic acne
Along with these treatments, the peel can benefit patients without skin conditions. Like other facial peels such as the zombie carbon laser peel, the VI Peel has many cosmetic uses. Cosmetic benefits include:
- Evens skin tone
- Treats rough skin texture and can contribute to softer skin
- Reduce the size of pores and clear clogged pores
- Contributes to increased collagen and elastin production
- Encourages cell turnover
Ingredients And Practices
The VI Peel is well known for valuing safe and ethical practices. Their skin peels are cruelty and paraben free. The peel itself is gluten free. It is also is considered one of the safest peels for darker skin tones. As far as ingredients, the VI Peel uses several natural acids from a variety of sources.
VI Peels offer multiple options that differ slightly in the formulation. Your master esthetician will determine the best VI Peel for you. Depending on the peel chosen, you may expect ingredients like:
- Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
- Phenol
- Salicyclic acid
- Vitamin C
- Tretinoin
- Hydroquinone
- Kojic acid
- Hydrocortisone
The VI Peel Procedure
The master estheticians at Northwest Face & Body custom make every procedure they perform. The VI Peel comes pre-packaged in a specialized kit that your master esthetician will choose for you. Based on your skin needs, your master esthetician may recommend other procedures like dermaplaning, oxygen facials, or microneedling in the weeks before or after your VI Peel.
The first step in the VI Peel application is to thoroughly clean your skin. Your master esthetician may use a toner, alcohol, or acetone to make sure the skin is thoroughly cleaned of debris, products, and oils. This ensures that the peel penetrates deeply into your skin.
Your master esthetician will then apply the first layer. You may feel a stinging sensation, though this should not last long or cause a large amount of pain. Next, your master esthetician will continue applying the following layers until parts of your skin turn white. This may sound alarming, but this is a perfectly normal process called “frosting”. Frosting indicates that the VI Peel is beginning to remove dead and damaged skin.
Once frosting begins, your master esthetician will stop applying the peel. You can then leave the office as the Bellevue VI Peel self neutralizes. Your skin will look darker in tone due to the peel. Before you remove the peel after a few hours, you should not apply any products during this time. You should also avoid sun exposure.
VI Peel Aftercare
VI Peels come with a specific aftercare kit that your master esthetician will give to you before you leave the Northwest Face & Body office. The VI Peel will remain on your skin for about four to six hours on average. The amount of time you allow the peel to self neutralize will depend on your specific skin type, tone, and goals. After the specified time, you will wash the peel off at least one hour before going to bed. You will then use the provided towelettes. Your kit may also include other products to apply over the next few days.
Peeling after a VI Peel usually begins at around day three. At this point, you can resume the provided or approved moisturizer. Applying the aftercare products as instructed may help some of the peeling skin come off. It also keeps your skin more comfortable. Peeling should resolve in about five to seven days following the VI Peel. Some patients see peeling at ten days, but this is rather rare.
Accompanying the VI Peel aftercare, you will need to temporarily shift your lifestyle. Usually, your master esthetician will recommend avoiding exercise for a few days and certain skincare products. When peeling begins, you should not pull off the peeling skin, the moisturizer and aftercare kit can help with this.
You do not need time off work. Though, if you have never had a VI Peel before, your master esthetician may recommend scheduling it on a Wednesday so that the majority of the peeling occurs over the weekend. However, there is no required downtime from daily activities other than exercise and your skin routine.
Results
When the peeling stops, you will likely notice that your skin looks brighter and feels smoother. You may also see that your skin tone looks more even and balanced. Over time, the VI Peel works to stimulate collagen and elastin production which can contribute to more youthful skin and fill in irregularities. Subsequent peels can improve and enhance the collagen production process.
Risks
The VI Peel is largely regarded as one of the safest chemical peels Bellevue offers. Safe and effective for all skin types and tones, the VI Peel does not have many risks in an ideal candidate. For certain patients with specific skin conditions or health problems, the VI Peel may not suit them or their needs. For example, patients with eczema may not find benefit from a VI Peel. Also, like many esthetic procedures, there is a risk of reactivating herpes sores. If you have frequent cold sores, you should discuss this with your master esthetician.
Patients with darker skin are at a higher risk of hyperpigmentation. This is true for all chemical peels and the VI Peel has a good track record of treating patients of all skin tones. Your master esthetician may discuss this with you before treatment and likely no action or the use of a brightening cream before treatment may be necessary. You and your master esthetician can handle these risks before your Kirkland VI Peel.
The Best VI Peel Bellevue At Northwest Face And Body
Northwest Face & Body is a highly rated plastic surgery and cosmetic center in Kirkland, Washington. Offering the best in injections and professional skincare, Northwest Face & Body specializes in non-surgical procedures like the VI Peel. Our master estheticians have years of experience, extensive training, and medical knowledge to treat a variety of skin conditions and concerns.
The Northwest Face & Body office is centrally located and minutes away from downtown Kirkland and Bellevue. We offer comfortable treatment rooms with a friendly and safe atmosphere. Before your treatment, you will meet with one of our master estheticians for a consultation to determine if you are a candidate for a VI Peel.
To schedule a consultation with a master esthetician at Northwest Face & Body, call us at 425-576-1700. You can also contact us online via our contact page, chat, or Price Simulator™ app.
