Laser Genesis

Pros

• little to no downtime after a treatment, with mild redness or flushing for a few hours
• little to no discomfort
• Laser Genesis can be performed on the same day as many other procedures
• can treat rosacea and symptoms of rosacea—like irritation, swelling, pain, and sensitivity—by targeting broken capillaries, diffuse redness, and flushing
• considered very low-risk
• tolerated by all skin tones, even those that are prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
• fine hairs are erased during treatment

Cons

• a series of treatments needed for best results, perhaps four to six weekly sessions.
• doesn’t offer dramatic results for deep wrinkles and severe sun damage
• full benefits take time to manifest. You may not begin to see a difference until several weeks after your first treatment.

Laser Genesis is gentle enough for all skin types and tones. If you’re pregnant or nursing, avoid all laser treatments. Additionally, if you have any irritation in the treatment area, such as a wound, cut, or rash, skip the lasers until you’re healed.

Tip: Some lasers can cause problems if you’ve used isotretinoin (Accutane) in the past 12 months, but Laser Genesis is different. You can actually have Laser Genesis while on Accutane to decrease acne more quickly and improves redness.

The Laser Genesis procedure starts with a thorough skin cleansing in order to remove makeup, oil, and dirt. Numbing cream is usually unnecessary and ill-advised: it affects the blood vessels, so you may not get as much of a redness-reducing benefit, and reduces the ability of the patient to provide feedback during the treatment.

You’ll be given protective eyewear before the treatment starts. As the laser’s handpiece glides over the skin, you’ll feel subtle warmth and tingling, like tiny firecrackers all over the surface of the skin. After the treatment, your technician may apply a moisturizer, hydrating serum (ideally with hyaluronic acid), or growth-factor skin peptide, followed by sunscreen.