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I’ve always looked younger than my age. It’s partly thanks to my mom’s genetics, but also my skin’s melanin—which is thought to help skin age more slowly by naturally protecting it from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
But even with melanin on my side, I know sustaining healthy-looking skin and a youthful glow often comes down using skincare ingredients actually proven to work, and sticking to habits such as wearing sunscreen every day, getting routine facials, and drinking lots of water. Even though I do all those things, I’ve noticed my complexion gradually begin to dull as I age: It looks slightly blotchy, and I can see signs of aging in my smile.
For many women, watching themselves get older sparks the desire to get neuromodulator injectables like Botox or to go under the knife. In fact, patients ages 40-54 (the age bracket I fall within) comprised 57% of all neuromodulator injection procedures in 2024, according to the most recent annual procedural statistics release from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Meet the experts: Dr. Kim Nichols is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of NicholsMD, a boutique dermatology practice in Connecticut. Danny Guo is a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and cosmetic expert in Alberta, Canada. Divya Shokeen is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Ocean Skin and Vein Institute in California.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with getting Botox. But in my eyes, aging is a gift—and I want to embrace it fully without getting injectables before I feel like I need them. So when vafa MD, a regenerative aesthetics clinic in New York City, offered me four sessions of Laser Genesis, a non-invasive laser facial that targets signs of aging by spurring collagen production, I was in: “It’s often called a ‘lunchtime laser,’” since the process is so quick and easy, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kim Nichols, the founder of NicholsMD, a boutique dermatology practice in Connecticut. “It is very popular among patients who want results that look natural.”
This felt like the perfect opportunity to address my dull, blotchy skin, minimize the appearance of my pores, and fade fine lines and wrinkles all without the use of needles. And since Laser Genesis doesn’t require any recovery time, I knew I could resume my life right away without worrying about how I looked throughout the process. If that sounds up your alley, read on to learn everything experts want you to know about the procedure—including how it works, the benefits it provides the skin, the risk profile, and what you can expect once you step foot inside the doctor’s office.
What Is Laser Genesis and how does it work?
Laser Genesis is a non-invasive laser facial that improves the appearance fine lines, wrinkles, scars, acne, large pores, and redness. It involves the use of a device that emits a specialized laser to heat the dermis, or the middle layer of the skin, to intentionally stimulate the production of collagen and elastin—proteins that keep skin firm and bouncy, according to Cutera, the medical aesthetic device company that developed the treatment. “This is a non-ablative laser,” adds Danny Guo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and cosmetic expert in Alberta, Canada, “meaning it does not break the skin.”
Compared to other types of laser treatments, such as laser resurfacing (which sometimes involves vaporizing the outermost layer of skin), and laser skin tightening (which uses more intense thermal injuries to stimulate the skin wound-healing process), Laser Genesis is considered the gentlest option, says Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Ocean Skin and Vein Institute in California. “It achieves subtle, cumulative improvements over multiple sessions,” she says.
The laser involved in Laser Genesis treatments is called the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. It’s made using a special crystal that emits light at a wavelength of 1064 nanometers. This wavelength is considered ideal for skin treatments because it’s able to pass through the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis, and stimulate the activity of fibroblasts, cells in the dermis that produce collagen and elastin, research suggests. The treatment also uses micro-pulse technology—extremely short, rapid bursts of energy that gently heat the dermis rather than scorching the skin and causing visible damage in the process. These factors allows Laser Genesis treatments to rejuvenate the skin with zero downtime, making the procedure particularly popular “among patients who want maintenance or preventive skin care” rather than more intense, corrective procedures, says Dr. Shokeen.
What are the benefits of Laser Genesis?
As a Laser Genesis newbie, I experienced what many patients do after their first session: a dewy glow that brightened up my face. And while I was told that the real results occur over time, I was pleasantly surprised to see the shift from dullness to radiance on day one.
But experts say the real magic lies in the benefits experienced after four to six treatments, which can last between six months and a year. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of those perks:
- It stimulates collagen and elastin: As previously mentioned, the gentle heat stimulated by Laser Genesis prompts the skin to produce collagen and elastin. The inevitable breakdown of these proteins over time is what contributes to the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture and sagging. So by helping the skin build more of its own collagen and elastin, Laser Genesis reduces those signs of aging, and can even help delay their development in the first place.
- It zaps away redness: Facial redness, known as erythema, is caused by vasodilation, or widening of tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin. The wavelength of light emitted during Laser Genesis treatments gets absorbed by hemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells that gives blood its red color. When hemoglobin absorbs that energy, it helps minimize the appearance of dilated blood vessels, reducing diffuse redness and creating a more even skin tone. Because of this, research suggests that Laser Genesis (and other treatments using a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser) may be effective in alleviating symptoms of rosacea.
- It’s quick and painless: Laser Genesis is known for being a “lunchtime facial” due to its quick procedure time—a full-face treatment can be as short as just 15 minutes, according to the Cutera website. I can personally speak to the speediness of the process: I spent more time on the train traveling to and from my appointments than I ever spent at the clinic. Plus, since Laser Genesis treatments don’t break the skin, they won't hijack your day and force you to lay low while you recover: You can resume daily activities without worrying about bruising or inflammation from the treatment.
- It’s safe on a broad range of skin: Certain laser treatments carry extra risk for people with darker skin tones due to the increased risk of severe post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—excess melanin production (and darkening of the skin) in response to the inflammation caused by the treatment, Dr. Shokeen explains. For instance, ablative skin resurfacing lasers are strong enough to completely destroy the outermost layer of skin, which can activate pigment-producing skin cells. But the gentler laser used in Laser Genesis treatments is less aggressively absorbed by the melanin in the skin, making it far less likely that it’ll trigger unwanted dark spots. As such, the treatment is generally considered safe for a broad range of skin tones—though it’s still best practice to visit an experienced provider who calibrates the treatment based on an individual’s skin tone to minimize risk, Dr. Shokeen adds.
- It’s low risk: Again, Laser Genesis is considered a safe and gentle option in the world of cosmetic laser treatments. But keep in mind that it is still possible to experience swelling, redness, bruising, and, in very rare cases, burning and scarring, Dr. Guo explains. Using tanning beds, artificial tanning mats, and plain ol’ exposure to the sun increases the risk of these side effects, according to Cutera.
These benefits, while impressive, can come at a pretty hefty price tag. At vafaMD, Laser Genesis sessions cost $250 per session, which is considered on the more affordable end. Depending on your specific provider and geographic location, treatments can cost anywhere between $200 to $600 per session. Since four to six sessions are recommended for optimal results, Dr. Shokeen recommends setting aside about $3,600 to cover your basis for treatments on the expensive end of the spectrum.
What are Laser Genesis treatments like?
Before we began my first session, which lasted approximately 30 minutes from start to finish, I was first instructed to remove all of my jewelry, including my nose ring.
I laid down on the table and then my laser technician described what I could expect the treatment to feel like. She said it’s more annoying than painful, and since the treatment is so tolerable, there was no need to administer numbing cream. She warned that my face would feel warm or hot, but assured me that if it became too much to bear at any point, I could let her know and she would take a break from that section of my face and move on to another one. Then, the technician gently cleansed my face and rubbed it down with rubbing alcohol to prepare my skin.
Next, she placed goggles over my eyes, assessed my comfort, and got to work: The technician was right—it didn’t hurt. Instead, the laser micro-pulses felt more like warm drops of water falling on my face. After the technician treated my entire face, she moved on to aftercare: She applied moisturizer, a skin-firming serum, and a peptide facial refining concentrate, a medical-grade serum that plumps the skin and reduces wrinkles and redness, to my face. And finally, we finished off with sunscreen —the most important step since, again, sun exposure can damage the skin and raise the risk of side effects after the treatment.
Since the treatment is so gentle, I didn’t have to make major adjustments to my skincare routine in the days following the procedure. But to be safe, my technician suggested avoiding harsher skincare actives such as retinoids and exfoliating acids a few days before and after my treatment.
I completed four sessions of Laser Genesis treatments over six weeks, with each session booked two weeks apart. The process was the same each time, but after my first go-around, I started applying my own sunscreen instead of the one provided by the dermatologist at the clinic since that one left a white cast on my face. And at my technician’s advice, I also brought a hat to wear after each treatment for additional protection from the sun.
I monitored my skin’s progress daily, and there was a noticeable glow-up from my first session to my last. Before my first session, I had more prominent laugh lines, but within two weeks, the area looked more even. I also had a dark scar on the right side of my forehead that noticeably faded a few days after my first treatment.
So the bottom line is this: For me, Laser Genesis was the perfect introduction to non-invasive treatments because of its quick, painless approach to skin rejuvenation. If you're someone who's curious about cosmetic treatments but hesitant to commit to something more aggressive—whether that be injectables like Botox, ablative lasers, or anything that requires real downtime—Laser Genesis is a genuinely low-stakes entry point. The results are subtle and cumulative rather than dramatic, but that's exactly the point. When it comes to Laser Genesis, it’s less about transformation and more about preservation.
Marsha B. is a freelance journalist and Senior Fashion and Beauty editor for HelloBeautiful. The seasoned writer has been featured in a number of publications, including Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Blavity, and Fashion Bomb Daily. When she is not writing, she enjoys traveling the world and creating the life she has always wanted.
Katie Mogg is the beauty editorial assistant at Women’s Health. Since starting college at Northeastern University in 2020, her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC News and The Boston Globe. She strives to help readers lead happier and healthier lives through science-backed stories that explain how to care for hair, skin and nails. When she’s not working, Katie enjoys live music, strolling through Central Park, planning her next beach getaway, and sharing hotpot with friends.
