Review: Laser Genesis Shrinks Pores, Evens Skin Tone, and Fills in Scars

Laser Genesis is a laser treatment for facial skin that promises to treat fine-lines, redness, large pores, uneven skin texture, and mild scars without the pain, redness, irritation, and downtime caused by other ablative lasers. Intrigued by the possibility of permanent changes in my skin without any downtime, I decided to try out the procedure, which takes 4-6 treatments to produce full results. While I don't have any major issues with my skin, I'm sometimes bothered by the appearance of large pores around my nose and chin, a few tiny scars from past blemishes, and some barely-visible fine expression lines. I figured if the Laser Genesis treatment could produce results in those with significant problems, it could certainly help with my minor complaints.

THE TREATMENT
I booked my first appointment at a medi-spa in midtown Manhattan, called The Skin Spa. After filling out a release form and questionnaire, I was showed into the treatment room and asked to change into a spa wrap. I also had to carefully stuff my very long hair into a protective cap, as the heat from the laser can sometimes singe hair. My esthetician began to cleanse my skin in preparation, explaining that Laser Genesis worked by creating intense heat in the skin, which in turn stimulated the growth of collagen and reduced the size of dilated capillaries. For my particular issue (the large pores), the collagen growth would essentially build up the skin around my pores, "squeezing" them shut. She told me that I would feel an extreme burst of heat as the laser was applied to my skin, and that it would be uncomfortable, but not painful, and that I also might smell hair burning as the tiny, invisible hairs in my facial pores were zapped by the heat. I was fitted with protective goggles, and braced myself for the first blast of the laser.

Surprisingly, it wasn't as uncomfortable as I had expected. The heat was definitely intense, like the feeling of a flame very close to the skin, but it was actually somewhat relaxing. I began to drift to sleep by the time she made her way from my forehead to my cheeks, and the time flew by until before I knew it, the 45 minute procedure was over. The esthetician handed me a mirror, telling me that I would not see full results until at least the next day, but I was surprised to see that my skin wasn't red or at all irritated- in fact, it was glowy and smooth. I actually left the spa without makeup, and went straight to dinner with friends, who confirmed that my skin did, indeed, look good.

THE IMMEDIATE RESULTS
The next day, I woke up to a welcome surprise: the results were much more dramatic than I had expected. Although the Cutera (the laser's manufacturer) Laser Genesis official website claims most patients need 4-6 treatments to see full results, I was seeing huge improvements after just one. The pores on my nose seemed like they were definitely smaller- I immediately grabbed my camera to verify that I wasn't just experiencing a placebo effect. I had taken closeup pictures of the skin on my nose and chin prior to the treatment, and I took more under the same light for comparison. Side by side on my computer screen, I could see a visible difference- I had been right, the treatment really had worked! I immediately called to book my second appointment for the next week.

For the next three days, I continued to see results developing. By the third day, I realized that a tiny darkened scar from a breakout years ago was nearly invisible. I was shocked to see the difference in my skin, and I reasoned that my quick and dramatic results were due to two factors. The first was my age: I'm in my early twenties, and younger skin is able to regenerate collagen more quickly and more efficiently than older skin, reacting rather well to the stimulation provided by the Laser Genesis. The second was the minor nature of my issues: my scars were VERY minimal, my fine lines were not noticeable to anyone but myself, and my pores were large, but not gigantic. Had I been struggling with more substantial problems, I can't be sure that I would have seen such a miraculous outcome with just one treatment.

THE FINAL RESULTS
So far, I have gone back for four Laser Genesis treatments, and I am planning to have at least two more. The effects of the procedure have greatly increased with every treatment I have had- and by using various coupons, discounts, and spa specials at various medi-spas, I have been able to get my treatments for between $75 and $115 each, instead of the regular price for the New York area, which ranges from $150- $250. The money I have spent has been definitively worth it. My pores are at least 75% smaller than when I began Laser Genesis, and all of the minor scars I complained about have filled in and faded. My fine lines are gone, as well, and one unexpected result of the treatment? I hardly ever experience a breakout now, when in the past, I would always get small hormonal blemishes around that time of the month. My esthetician has explained that this is due to the decreased size of my pores: when the pores are smaller, it is much harder for them to become clogged with oil or dead skin. I wear foundation a lot less now, as I don't feel the need to cover up discolorations or redness- I didn't really know that I had redness prior to Laser Genesis, but looking at my before and after photos, I can definitely see a difference in my skin tone and texture.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Laser Genesis will work best for those who have minor complaints with their skin, or those who are looking for a treatment with no downtime. It can be a great way to build collagen in younger skin to help avoid the signs of aging later in life. Those with major issues such as deep wrinkles, substantial scarring, or excessive redness may need more treatments to see improvement, or may wish to seek out an ablative laser treatment that requires healing time, but can offer more dramatic results. Most people will see results in 4-6 treatments, which can cost a total of between $450- $1200 (in the New York City area), depending on the price of the treatment and what kind of discount the spa may be offering.