BBL and MOXI in NYC on the Sciton mJOULE

Light for color and a gentle laser for texture, on one platform and often in one plan.

Medically reviewed by Doris Day, MD, FAAD · Last reviewed October 11, 2026

Clearer color and smoother texture, from one appointment. The Sciton mJOULE can help with both, and that pairing is what it was built around: BBL light for sun spots and redness, and MOXI, a light-touch 1927 nm fractional laser, for early sun damage. I'm Dr. Doris Day, a board-certified dermatologist with an Upper East Side office across from The Frick Collection. In 2022, Newsweek and Statista ranked me #3 among America's Best Cosmetic Dermatologists, and #3 again among cosmetic dermatologists in America's Best Dermatologists 2023.

• Board-certified in dermatology since 1998
• Newsweek and Statista: #3 among cosmetic dermatologists, 2022 and 2023
• BBL and MOXI handpieces on one Sciton mJOULE

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Clear, even, radiant skin is a lovely goal at any age. Sun spots, blotchy redness and rough patches are simply years of sunshine showing up. Healthy-looking skin at every age is the goal, with a plan you can keep up comfortably.

At a glance

• BBL: Brown spots and redness. Typically 30 to 60 minutes, usually no numbing
• MOXI: Tone and texture. Usually about an hour with numbing
• BBL downtime: Typically pinkness for a few days. Brown spots darken and lift away over about a week
• MOXI downtime: Pink the day after, then dry and a little rough for about 5 days
• Series: BBL 3 to 6 visits about a month apart. MOXI 3 to 6 sessions about 4 weeks apart
• Sun: Avoid sun for at least a week after either one
• Days to plan in New York: BBL fits a short visit. After MOXI, plan about a week of dry skin and strict sun avoidance

Two treatments on one platform

The mJOULE is a Sciton platform with two very different handpieces:

• BBL (BroadBand Light) is the intense pulsed light Sciton makes. The BBL HEROic handpiece tracks its own position in three dimensions and places each pulse automatically as it moves. That keeps coverage even on curved areas and across large areas such as the back, arms and legs. It has nine filters and small adapters for tiny vessels.
• MOXI is a gentle fractional laser at 1927 nm. It shares its 1927 nm wavelength with the Fraxel laser, which is why I describe MOXI as similar to Fraxel. Sciton puts its reach at 100 to 200 microns.

BBL works through color: it targets pigment and blood. MOXI works through water: it makes tiny columns of controlled injury that the skin repairs. Used together, they reach different parts of the same problem, which is why I love having both in one room.

You may be hoping for smoother texture and smaller-looking pores. I hope for that with you, too, and I'll tell you honestly what to expect.

Actinic keratoses are rough spots that can, over time, turn into skin cancer. MOXI can treat them, but it doesn't replace a full skin exam.

The science, in plain words

BBL. Pulsed light finds its targets by color, a principle called selective photothermolysis. Brown spots take in the light and darken, then flake away. Small vessels take it in, warm up and gradually close.

BBL and aging skin. A pilot study looked at the genes that are switched on in older skin. After BBL, more than half of the genes linked with aging shifted toward the pattern seen in younger skin. It was a small study, and it doesn't prove longer-lasting skin. I find it encouraging, and it's part of why I value regular, gentle care.

MOXI. The 1927 nm wavelength is strongly absorbed by water, so it stays in the upper layers where early sun damage lives. In a study of a 1927 nm thulium fractional laser for actinic keratoses on the face, lesion counts fell by 86.6% at 6 months, and patients also reported better overall photodamage. That study used a different 1927 nm laser, so it supports the wavelength rather than MOXI by name.

Results, and what patients say

Patients rate our practice 4.7 on Google from 140 reviews (as of October 2026).

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The decisions behind each treatment

The mJOULE offers choices: which BBL filter, how much energy, whether to treat in one pass or several, and how deep and dense to make MOXI. Sciton publishes ranges of energy, density and passes for MOXI, and where you fall within them depends on your skin, your goals and how much recovery time suits you. I also decide when to pair the two and when one is enough. Those calls draw on more than 25 years of treating sun-damaged skin, and I make them with you, not for you.

Your routine around BBL and MOXI

Both treatments ask your skin to renew its surface. How comfortable that feels depends a lot on your care at home, and I'll keep the steps easy. My approach is to clear the way before treatment, protect the skin while it renews, and then build a routine that protects the brighter, smoother surface. I believe this adds to the results and keeps recovery short. It reflects my approach, and it hasn't been tested as a protocol.

• Before MOXI. Pause retinoids and exfoliating products for 5 days.
• After BBL. Leave darkened spots alone so they can lift away.
• After MOXI. A plain moisturizer while skin feels dry and rough, then retinoids and exfoliants back after 5 days.
• Ongoing. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and an antioxidant step in the morning.

Who BBL and MOXI suit, and skin tone

BBL can be a good choice when you have freckling, sun spots, facial redness or visible vessels, often on the face, neck, chest, arms or hands. MOXI may suit you if you'd like brighter, smoother skin with little time off, or if you're seeing early sun damage. Some people benefit from both.

Your skin tone guides my choice. Light-based treatment needs extra caution in deeper skin tones, since melanin also absorbs the light. Sciton states that MOXI can treat all skin types because it targets water. I'll still set the treatment for your skin and your history of dark marks.

Please hold off if you're tanned, pregnant, or have a cold sore or skin infection at the moment. Let me know if you take medicines that make you more sensitive to light.

What a visit feels like

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Downtime and your results timeline

BBL. Expect pinkness, and possibly some swelling, for a few days. Brown spots darken and then lift away over about a week. A series usually means 3 to 6 visits, roughly a month or a little more apart.

MOXI. The day after, skin looks pink. Around day 3, it can feel dry and a little rough for about 5 days. By the end of the first week, many people see smoother, brighter skin. Plans often include 3 to 6 sessions about 4 weeks apart. Sciton notes visible change can start after one session, and it recommends 2 to 4.

Both. Avoid sun for at least a week after, and wait 5 days before going back to retinoids or exfoliants after MOXI.

Combining BBL and MOXI with other care

BBL and MOXI can be done in the same visit, with light first and laser second. For deeper lines and scars, I consider UltraClear, UltraPulse CO2 or Tixel. Stubborn redness may respond better to Vbeam. Firming treatments such as Sofwave or Thermage address a different layer. Sculptra and neuromodulators can round out a longer plan. My guide to lasers and energy devices shows how everything relates, and my longevity dermatology page explains the long view.

BBL and MOXI questions

What makes a dermatologist a good fit for BBL and MOXI in NYC?

The right dermatologist for you diagnoses your spots before any light touches them, since some brown spots need a biopsy instead. Look for clear answers on skin tone, the number of sessions and downtime, and for authorized photos.

What's the difference between BBL and MOXI?

BBL is pulsed light that targets pigment and blood vessels. MOXI is a 1927 nm fractional laser that works in the upper layers of skin.

Is BBL the same as IPL?

BBL is Sciton's form of intense pulsed light. My Lumenis Stellar M22 has another.

Is MOXI like Fraxel?

Yes, in wavelength. Both work at 1927 nm. MOXI is designed as a gentle, quick treatment.

Can BBL and MOXI help melasma?

BBL can help melasma, but heat can also make it worse, so I go slowly and combine treatment with a routine at home, as my melasma page explains.

Can I have BBL and MOXI on the same day?

Yes. Light first, then laser. Recovery is a little longer than for either alone, and I'll help you pick a week that works.

Can MOXI treat precancerous spots?

Yes, MOXI can treat actinic keratoses. I check each spot first, and some need a different treatment.

What areas can be treated?

Besides the face, both treat the neck, chest, arms, hands, legs and back.

When will I see results?

BBL spots usually lift within about a week. MOXI often shows smoother skin by the end of the first week.

Is MOXI safe for darker skin?

Sciton says MOXI can be used in all skin types. I set it carefully for anyone prone to dark marks.

Could my first visit be virtual?

Yes. We can review your concerns and history by video, then confirm the plan in person.

Traveling for treatment

If you're flying in, a virtual consultation beforehand tells us which handpiece, or both, before your trip. BBL alone fits a short visit. After MOXI, plan for about a week of dry, rough skin and strict sun avoidance, which matters before a vacation. The Surrey, The Carlyle, The Mark and The Lowell are within about a 10-minute walk.

Let's plan your light and laser care

Bring your questions, a list of what you'd like to change, and what you'd never want to lose. I'm looking forward to it. Call the office at (212) 772-0740 to book your consultation, in person or virtual.

Related treatments: Clear + Brilliant · Vbeam · ResurFX