Laser Genesis or IPL: How to Choose Between Them
Choosing between them
We offer both Laser Genesis and IPL Photofacial. Patients often ask which one they need, and the answer usually comes down to a single question: are you trying to remove specific marks, or improve your skin overall?
The short answer
Choose IPL if you can point at what bothers you. Sun spots, age spots, freckles, broken capillaries, patches of redness — discrete targets with defined edges. IPL works by having its energy absorbed by those specific targets.
Choose Laser Genesis if you cannot point at it. Overall dullness, texture, enlarged pores, fine lines, generalized redness across an area. Laser Genesis works on the skin as a whole through gradual collagen remodeling.
If you find yourself describing your concern as a place rather than a quality, that points toward IPL.
The deciding factor for some patients
Skin tone often makes the decision for us. IPL is generally not appropriate for darker skin tones, because its broad-spectrum light also targets melanin in surrounding skin and carries a risk of burns and pigment change. Laser Genesis is suitable across a considerably wider range of skin tones.
This is a safety limit rather than a preference, and it is one of the first things we assess.
Other practical differences
Timeline. IPL produces visible change as treated pigment darkens and clears over one to two weeks. Laser Genesis builds gradually across a series, so there is less to see after any single session.
Appearance afterward. IPL causes treated spots to darken temporarily before flaking away, which is noticeable for several days. Laser Genesis typically causes only mild redness for up to 24 hours.
Cost. IPL is $495 per session or $1,299 for a package of three. Call for current Laser Genesis pricing.
Using both
Many patients do, because the two address different things. A common approach is IPL to clear specific pigmentation, then Laser Genesis for ongoing maintenance of overall skin quality. They need appropriate spacing, which your provider will plan.
More detail
For a fuller explanation of IPL — what it treats, what recovery involves, and who should not have it — see our guide to IPL Photofacial.
Book a consultation
The most reliable way to decide is to have your skin assessed. Call (951) 898-8515 or visit us at 2083 Compton Ave Suite 101, Corona, CA.
These are cosmetic procedures and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. IPL is not appropriate for all skin types. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed. A consultation is required prior to treatment.