Question 1

What is a VI Peel?

Accepted Answer

A VI Peel is a medical-grade chemical peel that uses a synergistic blend of acids and nutrients — trichloroacetic acid (TCA), retinoic acid, salicylic acid, phenol, vitamin C, and additional brighteners depending on the formula — to accelerate cellular turnover and resurface the skin. Unlike a spa-grade glycolic or lactic peel, a VI Peel penetrates to the medium depth where pigment and collagen live, which is why it produces visible change in a single treatment. Application is painless and takes about 30 minutes; you leave the solution on your skin for roughly four hours before washing it off at home. At Millstone Aesthetics in Greenville, SC, VI Peels are administered by Caroline Timms APRN, a certified medical provider. Call (864) 269-6131.

Question 2

What does a VI Peel treat?

Accepted Answer

VI Peel addresses hyperpigmentation, melasma, sun and UV damage, dark spots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) from acne, active acne and acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, rough or uneven texture, dullness, rosacea-prone skin, and laxity. Which of those it targets best depends on which of the six VI Peel formulas your provider selects — Original for first-time peelers and early aging, Precision + Peptides for pigment and melasma, Purify for active acne, Purify with Precision + Peptides for acne plus the dark marks acne leaves behind, Advanced for mature skin over 40, and Body for concerns below the clavicle.

Question 3

Is a VI Peel safe for darker skin tones?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is one of the main reasons VI Peel is used so widely. It is formulated to be safe and effective across all Fitzpatrick skin types, including melanin-rich skin, and the brand specifically markets Purify with Precision + Peptides for melanin-rich skin. That matters because deeper skin tones carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation when treated too aggressively — an overly aggressive peel can leave darker marks than the ones it was meant to remove. The safeguard is not just the product; it is the provider choosing an appropriate formula and depth for your skin. At Millstone Aesthetics your peel is selected and performed by a licensed medical provider inside a full medical clinic, not applied from a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Question 4

Does a VI Peel hurt?

Accepted Answer

No. The solution is applied with a gauze in sweeping strokes and layered, and most patients describe a brief warming, tingling, or mild stinging that fades within a minute or two of each layer. It does not require numbing or anesthesia. The application itself takes about 30 minutes. The more common complaint is the tightness and itching during the peeling phase on days two through four, which is manageable with the moisturizer included in your take-home kit.

Question 5

How long does a VI Peel take?

Accepted Answer

The in-office appointment runs roughly 30 to 45 minutes including your skin prep and post-care instructions. The peel solution then stays on your skin for about four hours after you leave — you go about your afternoon with it on, then cleanse at home that evening using the kit we send with you. The kit includes a gentle cleanser, post-peel towelettes applied that evening and the following morning, a post-treatment repair cream, and SPF 50+.

Question 6

What does the peeling actually look like, day by day?

Accepted Answer

Day 0 is the appointment; skin looks slightly bronzed or tight, and you wash the solution off about four hours later. Days 1 and 2 bring tightness and the beginning of light flaking, often starting around the mouth. Day 3 is when visible peeling begins in earnest and spreads outward across the face. Days 4 and 5 are the most pronounced shedding. By day 6 peeling eases significantly, and by day 7 most patients have finished entirely, revealing brighter and smoother skin underneath. The single most important rule across the whole week is do not pull, pick, or exfoliate the flaking skin — let it shed on its own, or you risk scarring and pigment changes.

Question 7

How long until I see results from a VI Peel?

Accepted Answer

You will see brighter, smoother, more even skin the week after peeling finishes — around days 7 to 10. But the deeper work continues underneath: collagen remodeling and pigment correction develop over the following weeks, and results continue to refine for up to a month after treatment. For melasma and stubborn pigment, the meaningful change generally shows up after the second or third peel in a series rather than the first.

Question 8

How many VI Peels do I need?

Accepted Answer

One VI Peel produces visible improvement, which is why it is a popular pre-event treatment. For a lasting correction, most providers recommend a series of three to six peels spaced four to six weeks apart, with the exact number depending on how deep and how established your pigment or scarring is. Melasma and long-standing sun damage sit at the higher end of that range; general brightening and texture work at the lower end. After your initial series, many patients maintain results with a peel every three to four months. Caroline will map out a specific number at your free consultation rather than selling you a package before she has looked at your skin.

Question 9

How much does a VI Peel cost in Greenville, SC?

Accepted Answer

VI Peel is priced per treatment, and cost varies by which of the six formulas your skin needs — the pigment-correcting and acne formulas cost more than the Original. Nationally, VI Peel pricing generally lands somewhere between roughly $200 and $600 per peel depending on formula, market, and provider. Millstone Aesthetics prices competitively for the Greenville market and quotes your exact cost, including any series pricing, at your free consultation before anything is scheduled. Call (864) 269-6131 for current pricing.

Question 10

How is a VI Peel different from other chemical peels?

Accepted Answer

Three practical differences. First, depth with tolerability: VI Peel reaches medium depth, where pigment and collagen respond, but does so with a blended formula that stays comfortable during application — unlike a straight high-concentration TCA peel. Second, no pre-peel prep: many medium-depth peels require weeks of hydroquinone or retinoid priming beforehand, while VI Peel does not, so you can book it without a month of preparation. Third, skin type range: many resurfacing treatments carry real hyperpigmentation risk in deeper skin tones, and VI Peel is formulated for all Fitzpatrick types. The tradeoff is the visible peeling on days three through five, which lighter superficial peels do not produce.

Question 11

What is VI Peel Precision + Peptides?

Accepted Answer

Precision + Peptides is VI Peel's newest pigment-correcting formula, launched in September 2025 as the successor to Precision Plus. It keeps the pigment-correcting foundation and adds Smart Peptide Technology — a MelanoCalm peptide that regulates melanin production and supports healing, and a SkinBoost peptide that calms inflammation and strengthens the skin barrier — alongside hydroxypinacolone retinoate (a bioavailable retinoid), hexylresorcinol, kojic acid, and vitamin C. The intent of the reformulation is to interrupt pigment at the point of formation rather than only lifting pigment that already exists, which is what makes it the current standard for melasma, UV damage, and stubborn dark spots. It is also available in a Purify with Precision + Peptides version for patients dealing with active acne and the dark marks it leaves behind.

Question 12

Can a VI Peel treat melasma?

Accepted Answer

Melasma is one of VI Peel's primary targets, and the Precision + Peptides formula was specifically developed for it. Set expectations correctly, though: melasma is a chronic, hormonally driven condition, not a one-time stain. It is managed, not cured. A series of peels can meaningfully lighten it, and the peptide technology in the current formula is designed to slow how quickly it returns — but sun exposure, hormones, pregnancy, and certain medications can all reactivate it. Daily SPF is non-negotiable if melasma is your concern, and periodic maintenance peels are usually part of the long-term plan.

Question 13

When should I schedule a VI Peel before a wedding or event?

Accepted Answer

Give yourself at least two weeks of runway, and preferably more. If you schedule a single peel, book it a minimum of 14 days before the event — peeling finishes around day 7, and days 7 through 14 are when the new skin settles and looks its best. If you want the fuller result of a series, start three to four months out so you can complete three peels spaced four to six weeks apart with the last one landing two to three weeks before the date. Booking a first-ever peel the week of an event is the one scenario to avoid.

Question 14

Where can I get a VI Peel near me in Greenville, SC?

Accepted Answer

Millstone Aesthetics offers VI Peel at 3029 White Horse Rd, Greenville, SC 29611, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Peels are performed by Caroline Timms APRN, certified in Aesthetics Medicine, inside a full medical clinic with a board-certified physician on staff. We serve patients from Greenville, Easley, Mauldin, Piedmont, Simpsonville, Berea, Taylors, Greer, Fountain Inn, Travelers Rest, and across Upstate South Carolina. Consultations are free — call (864) 269-6131 or message @millstoneaesthetics on Instagram.

VI Peel^®
in Greenville, SC
One Peel. Visible Change.

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Precision + Peptides: Smart Peptide Technology

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Which VI Peel Is Right for Your Skin?

Match Your Skin Concern to a VI Peel Formula