PETRO

SkinIssue 10

Concern 10 / In the mirror

the dark spots on my face

The Petro Rx All concerns

The Mirror Moment

I can handle wrinkles—but these dark spots make me look really old.

I don’t want to wear makeup all the time, but I do it to cover the dark spots.

People try to wipe the “chocolate” off my face.
It is not chocolate!

They are all over my arms & I get so hot in long sleeves!

02 / The part you might not say out loud

The Fear Is Real

“I have a friend who had it and got burned.”

“Can I ever get in the sun again?”

“Who will do the treatment?”

“Will this hurt?”

03 / Melanie Petro, MD

The Surgeon’s POV

Melanie Petro, MD

I have it myself.

I’m not one of these doctors that’s going to stand in front of you with brown spots all over my face and tell you you need BBL HEROic. I definitely have it myself.

Victoria has beautiful skin. She has it herself. I make the treatment plan, and Victoria does the treatment. She treats my skin, too.

Victoria / Master Esthetician

The Master Esthetician’s POV

Victoria / Master Esthetician

Your skin sets the pace.

I’m watching how your skin responds as I work. The settings are a starting point; I need to read what your skin is telling me throughout the treatment.

I want to target the spots, not the pigment in the skin around them. That’s why I change the treatment for the person in my chair.

Victoria, on choosing the settings for the skin in front of her.

The Sciton BBL HEROic handpiece, positioning arm and treatment platform — BBL HEROic / BroadBand Light by Sciton

The combination / BBL HEROic + MOXI

The spots. The texture. Both.

BBL HEROic is our go-to for the brown spots. MOXI is a separate laser treatment that works on uneven tone and texture. When both are part of the picture, we can pair them.

Victoria does BBL HEROic first, then MOXI. The first thing I noticed on my own skin? My makeup glided on. I noticed the smoothness before I had even checked the brown spots.

Adding MOXI changes the treatment and aftercare. We’ll give you the timing and price for both.

Dr. Petro receiving BBL HEROic and MOXI treatment with Victoria

My BBL HEROic + MOXI treatment with Victoria.

04 / The practical part

The Petro Rx

The Game Plan:
BBL HEROic. Our number-one go-to for these sun spots. Victoria, our Master Esthetician, does the treatment. If texture is bothering you too, read about BBL HEROic + MOXI.
The Recovery Reality:
The spots get darker before they come off. Think little flecks of pepper. Your skin can feel rough, like sandpaper, while those spots flake away and brighter skin shows through. Don’t scrub or exfoliate them off. Let your skin do its thing.
The Timeline:
Face: about 7 days. The peppering usually clears in 5–7 days. Body: allow 4–6 weeks. Your chest can take longer. Body spots take their time—don’t plan around the face’s timeline.
The Bottom Line:
Face starts at $450. Body areas are priced individually at your consultation. Want a price before then? Email us or call Candice at 205-824-6334.

A few questions.

The things people ask.

Does BBL HEROic hurt?

A little. People describe it as the pop of a rubber band, with heat. It’s quick—not a long, drawn-out sensation. It’s tolerable for most people, and you can tell Victoria what you’re feeling as she goes. It’s a fan favorite here.

How many treatments?

Start with the spots you want to change. Victoria will look at your skin and tell you whether she expects one treatment or more. More stubborn pigment may need another treatment 4–6 weeks later. We’ll tell you the proposed number and total price before you start.

What will I look like afterwards?

You can be red that day. The dark spots get a little darker, then they look like little flecks of pepper. On the face, that process usually takes 5–7 days. You don’t need to hide at home while the spots flake away. On the body, allow 4–6 weeks; the chest can take longer. Victoria will tell you when to put on makeup and return to exercise.

Can I do BBL HEROic in summer?

Yes—if you can stay out of the sun for two weeks before and two weeks after. If your summer means beach days and being outside, fall is often easier to plan around. Wear a hat and sunscreen and protect your skin. This isn’t a free pass to collect more sun damage; treatment can improve visible spots, but it can’t undo every effect of the sun.

Will the spots come back?

Clearing the spots you see now doesn’t mean you can never develop another one. Pigment that isn’t obvious yet can become visible, and more sun exposure can create more spots. That’s why skin care, a hat and sunscreen are part of keeping your skin looking good. Some pigment can return, too.

My friend got burned. Could that happen?

That’s a real concern. A burn can happen with light treatments. The person doing the treatment, your skin tone, recent sun and the settings all matter. Tell Victoria about your worry before you start. If your skin isn’t ready for BBL HEROic, we’ll wait or choose another approach.

Who will do my treatment?

Victoria, our Master Esthetician, performs BBL HEROic here. She treats my skin, too. Tell us about your skin, any recent sun and anything you’ve reacted to before so she can plan the treatment around you.

Can I speed up the flaking?

No. I don’t want you exfoliating, scrubbing or picking. Let the skin do its own thing. It’s a process.

Press play / Stay right here

See the treatment.

BBL HEROic + MOXI.

Victoria does the treatment. I’m in the chair.

Why I pair them.

The spots, the texture, and how my own skin feels.

“Is that just sun damage?”

From our illustrated campaign archive. March 2026 offer has ended. Silent film; these are illustrations, not treatment results.

Also on your mind?

From the Skin series

Your next chapter.

Explore the options

I’ll help you connect what you see with the choices that make sense for you.

Watch the recordings in this issue ↑

At home, too

I want between-visit skin care to fit your skin, too. Bring your routine; we’ll look at it together.

Back to the Skin series Let’s Make A Plan