VI Peel in Chicagoland

The VI Peel is a medical-grade chemical peel: a blend of resurfacing acids paired with vitamin C, applied to the skin in a thin, controlled layer. Rather than scrubbing the surface away, the solution works chemically. It loosens the bonds that hold dull, sun-damaged, and pigmented cells at the surface, so that outer layer lifts and sheds over the following week.

What surfaces underneath is newer skin that has not been exposed to years of sun, so tone looks more even and texture feels smoother. Because the peel also prompts the skin to renew itself more actively, the improvement continues for several weeks after the visible flaking has finished.

Depth is what separates a VI Peel from a lunchtime facial peel. A light surface peel refreshes and is typically repeated in a series for gradual change. The VI Peel reaches further, which is why it addresses more noticeable discoloration and texture in fewer sessions, and why it comes with a predictable few days of flaking rather than none.

The solution is applied by a licensed esthetician or nurse as part of our nurse-practitioner-led care model, and the formulation and depth are matched to your skin at your consultation.

The VI Peel is a system rather than a single solution. We carry the formulations that cover the concerns we see most across our four clinics, and your provider selects between them at your consultation.

The formulations we offer

• Sun and Age Spot VI Peel: built around pigment. We use VI Peel Precision Plus with its Lighten and Brightening boosters, and this is the formulation we reach for when sun damage, age spots, and uneven tone are the main concern.
• Acne VI Peel: our most comprehensive peel for acne and acne scarring. We use VI Peel Purify with Precision Plus, which works on active breakouts and on the darker marks left behind at the same time.
• Anti-Aging Wrinkle VI Peel: aimed at early fine lines and the crepey, uneven texture that comes with sun exposure over time.
• Body Chemical Peel (VI Peel): the body formulation, for skin renewal beyond the face.

Where the peel is applied

The face is the most common treatment area, and the peel extends comfortably to the neck, chest, hands, and back, which are the areas that show cumulative sun exposure earliest and are often overlooked in a facial skincare routine. The body formulation covers larger areas where the skin is thicker.

If you are already booked for another treatment, a VI Peel can often be added to the same visit as a same-day add-on rather than a separate appointment. Pricing differs between the face formulations and the body peel, and between a standalone peel and a same-day add-on, so it is worth reading through what a VI Peel costs at Express Med Spa before you book.

A VI Peel visit runs about 30 to 45 minutes, and most of that is preparation rather than the peel itself.

Your provider begins by cleansing and degreasing the skin so the solution absorbs evenly, which matters more than people expect: residual oil or makeup causes patchy results. The solution is then brushed on in thin passes, building up coverage gradually. You will feel warmth and a light tingling that peaks within the first few minutes and settles quickly. There is no need for numbing and no downtime on the day itself.

The peel is left on when you leave. You go home with a take-home aftercare kit and instructions on when to rinse, when to apply the post-treatment products, and how to manage the days that follow. Following that timing is the part that most affects how evenly you peel.

Most people return to work and normal activities the same day. The visible flaking does not begin immediately, which is why many clients schedule a peel early in the week or ahead of a quiet stretch in their calendar.

One of the most common questions we hear is when the peeling actually starts. The cycle is predictable enough to plan around.

• Days 1 to 2: skin looks slightly tight and may take on a light bronzed tone. No visible flaking yet.
• Days 3 to 4: light flaking begins, usually around the mouth and nose first, then spreads across the face.
• Days 5 to 6: peeling is at its most active. This is the stretch to keep the skin moisturized and protected.
• Day 7 onward: flaking finishes and the new surface is fully revealed.

Many clients see brighter, more even skin within one to two weeks as the peeling completes, with continued improvement over the weeks that follow as the skin keeps renewing. Results build best in a series rather than from a single peel, and how long they hold depends heavily on daily broad-spectrum sunscreen. Pigment that took years of sun exposure to develop will return with continued unprotected exposure.

Your provider will recommend a treatment interval and a maintenance rhythm based on your concern and how your skin responds to the first peel.

The most useful comparison is not between brands of peel, it is between depths, because depth is what determines both your result and your week.

The VI Peel is medium depth. It reaches beyond the immediate surface, which is why it addresses more noticeable discoloration, sun damage, and texture, and why it comes with several days of visible flaking. If your concern is established pigment or acne that has not responded to lighter treatments, this is the depth that moves it.

The Glow Peel is our light option. It refreshes the surface with little to no visible flaking, which makes it a good fit for sensitive skin, a first peel, a pre-event glow, or maintenance between deeper treatments.

Neither is better in the abstract. A medium-depth peel on someone who wanted zero downtime before a weekend event is the wrong call, and a light peel on established sun damage will underdeliver. That match is the point of the consultation. If you want to see how the VI Peel compares with other resurfacing options rather than with another peel, we have written a detailed comparison of VI Peel and microneedling.

The VI Peel is available at all four Express Med Spa locations, so you can book at whichever clinic is easiest to reach.

• La Grange: Express Med Spa La Grange
• Frankfort: Express Med Spa Frankfort
• Shorewood: Express Med Spa Shorewood
• Mount Greenwood: Express Med Spa Mount Greenwood

The same formulations and the same protocol are used at every location, so your result does not depend on which clinic you choose. VI Peel pricing is consistent across all four as well. If you are in the western suburbs specifically, we have a dedicated page for the VI Peel in La Grange.

The VI Peel sits within our wider chemical peel menu, alongside the lighter Glow Peel.