Lasers and energy devices matched to your concern, your skin tone and the time you can give to recovery.

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

There's no one laser for everything. Redness, brown spots, rough texture, scars, lines and softening firmness each call for different tools, each with its own strengths, and the right choice can help your skin look healthy, rested and more even again. I'm Dr. Doris Day, a board-certified dermatologist and NYU Clinical Professor of Dermatology, and at my Upper East Side practice, a block from Central Park, I design every laser and energy-device plan: which device, what settings, and what goes well together.

• Board-certified in dermatology since 1998
• NYU Clinical Professor of Dermatology
• Lasers, light, ultrasound and radiofrequency compared side by side

Request a consultation, in person or virtual · (212) 772-0740

If you're curious about lasers but nervous about downtime, that's completely normal, and we'll plan around it. Skin that looks healthy catches the light evenly, and texture, tone, redness and firmness all change that. Before I suggest any device, I tell you where your skin already looks healthy and bright to me, and I ask what you love most when you see it in the mirror. Then I want to know what you notice, how much time you can give to recovery, and what's coming up in your life. Then I read your skin and choose the device and settings that suit your skin and your goals. The goal I set with you is skin that looks healthy in every light, with each device treatment adding to the last. We plan the follow-up together.

"Longevity dermatology is how I describe the way I practice: caring for your skin as a living organ you will rely on for decades, not a surface to fix before the next event."

Jump to your concern: Redness, broken capillaries and rosacea · Brown spots, sun damage and uneven tone · Texture, pores and dullness · Lines and resurfacing · Acne scars and other scars · Loose skin and lift · Skin health and maintenance

At a glance

• What it treats: Redness, brown spots, texture, pores (an off-label aim), scars, lines and wrinkles, and softening firmness
• Devices compared: Gentle light through deep resurfacing, plus ultrasound and radiofrequency, in one table
• Time in the office: Enough to look at your skin together and choose the right plan, plus the treatment itself
• Downtime: Typically from little or none to about 7 to 10 days after deep CO2 resurfacing
• Sessions: Deep resurfacing is often a single treatment. Light-based and gentle fractional lasers usually work as a series
• Days to plan in New York: Sofwave, Ulthera, Thermage, HydraFacial and Fotona fit a short visit. Deeper resurfacing needs more days, sometimes as long as 3 days to one week.
• Cost: Quoted at your consultation

On this page: It's how I use the tools · Start with what you want to change · Which device for which day · Watch: a Fotona treatment on Good Day New York · Results, and what patients say · Ulthera, Sofwave and Thermage: how they differ · Every device, and what makes each one different · What I look at before I recommend a device · The skin care routine I design around your treatment · What affects the cost · Where my laser work began · Devices build on skin you care for every day · Coming from out of town · Start the conversation · Frequently asked questions

It's how I use the tools

Here's something I wish more people knew. Results come from the decisions behind a device more than from the device itself. I've held board certification in dermatology since 1998, and over those years I've seen the same laser help one patient and disappoint another because of the settings, the timing, and what came before and after it. Each of my devices has its own character, and most of them can do more than one thing. A light-based platform can fade a sun spot in one pass and calm facial redness in the next. A resurfacing laser can give a light refresh on Monday and a deep scar treatment on Friday. My job is to choose the right tool and its settings for your skin, decide what to combine and in what order, and build your skin care around it. Having many tools means I can match the device to your skin instead of fitting your skin to the one device I own. In simple terms, lasers use focused light. Ablative lasers gently remove very thin layers of skin, while non-ablative lasers warm the skin beneath without removing the surface. Some of my devices aren't lasers at all: Sofwave and Ulthera use ultrasound, Thermage and EndyMed use radiofrequency, microneedling uses fine needles, Tixel uses heat from a titanium tip, and BBL and IPL use broad-spectrum pulsed light.

Start with what you want to change

Redness, broken capillaries and rosacea

If your cheeks flush easily or tiny vessels have crept in around your nose, you're not alone, and there's a lot we can do. Vbeam is a pulsed dye laser whose clearance includes facial telangiectasia, rosacea and other benign vascular lesions. The IPL handpiece on my Lumenis Stellar M22 and BBL on my Sciton mJOULE are both cleared for erythema of rosacea and facial telangiectasias. Fotona can also be set for redness. Deeper leg veins call for the Stellar's Multi-Spot Nd:YAG, which is cleared for reticular veins and spider veins of the leg.

Brown spots, sun damage and uneven tone

Those brown spots are often years of sun saying hello. For sun spots and freckles I often start with light: the Stellar IPL and BBL are both cleared for benign pigmented lesions, including dyschromia, melasma and freckles. The Stellar's Q-switched Nd:YAG handles stubborn pigmented lesions in a nanosecond pulse. Ultraclear, at 2910 nm, and Moxi, with the gentle 1927 nm wavelength, treat brown spots and early sun damage. With melasma I go gently, and I always pair treatment with a home routine. Patience pays off here.

Texture, pores and dullness

When your skin feels rough or looks tired, I usually reach for gentle fractional work first. Clear + Brilliant and ResurFX are cleared for skin resurfacing with little time off, and Sciton describes Moxi as improving tone and texture. A light UltraClear pass is another quick refresh. Microneedling is another option for rough texture, an off-label use, since the FDA has authorized microneedling devices for acne scars and wrinkles rather than texture. I also use EndyMed Intensif, which pairs microneedling with radiofrequency, for rough texture, an off-label aim since its clearance is for electrocoagulation and hemostasis. Pore size isn't named in these clearances, so improving the look of pores is an off-label aim, and I'll tell you what to expect.

Lines and resurfacing

If you're ready for a bigger change in lines and sun damage, UltraPulse CO2 has an FDA clearance for resurfacing that names wrinkles and furrows, and is the treatment I choose when a patient can plan for recovery. UltraClear can be set deeper for lines. Fine lines around the eyes and mouth often respond to Tixel, whose Tixel 2 clearance includes wrinkles around the eyes, or to Fotona 4D. Thermage FLX is cleared for wrinkles, including the eyelids. The FDA has authorized certain microneedling devices for facial wrinkles in adults 22 and older, and some EndyMed radiofrequency handpieces are cleared for mild to moderate facial wrinkles.

Acne scars and other scars

Acne scars can stay with you long after the acne is gone, in the mirror and in how you feel, and there are good options that can help. I've learned that scarring that looks mild in your teens can look deep when you hit your 40's, as estrogen declines and collagen starts to break down easier than it builds up. UltraClear's clearance covers acne scars and other scar revision. CO2 and ResurFX resurface scarred skin as part of a series. Vbeam's clearance includes scars, which I use to calm red, raised scars. The FDA has authorized certain microneedling devices to improve the look of facial acne scars. I also use EndyMed Intensif on acne scars, which is off-label. Active acne can also be treated: Vbeam, the Stellar IPL and BBL are each cleared for inflammatory acne.

Loose skin and lift

If your jawline or neck has softened, or your brows sit a little lower than they did, let's talk about lift. Two of my devices are FDA-cleared to lift, Ultherapy and Sofwave, and a third, Thermage, is cleared for wrinkles. Each one works a little differently. Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound and shows the layers under the skin on a screen during treatment. Sofwave uses parallel beams of ultrasound that heat the dermis. Thermage uses monopolar radiofrequency with built-in cooling and vibration, and its clearance covers wrinkles, including the eyelids, and the temporary look of cellulite. I also use Thermage to firm loose skin, and that use is off-label. EndyMed's 3DEEP radiofrequency and Intensif are other tools I use to firm skin, also off-label. The section below explains how I choose among Ultherapy, Sofwave and Thermage.

Skin health and maintenance

Not every visit needs to be a big one. Between bigger treatments, I keep skin on track with gentle, regular care. HydraFacial is a cosmetic facial that cleanses, exfoliates and hydrates. Clear + Brilliant and Moxi are made for the same maintenance rhythm. Hair thinning is a separate conversation. See Fotona hair restoration and my hair loss page.

Which device for which day

Swipe to see more →

Watch: a Fotona treatment on Good Day New York

Summary: On Fox 5's Good Day New York, I talked about treatments for active acne and acne scarring, and the segment showed a live Fotona Dynamis treatment, first for active acne and then for scarring.

Results, and what patients say

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

Request a consultation, in person or virtual · (212) 772-0740

Ulthera, Sofwave and Thermage: how they differ

People ask me about these three all the time, and it's a fair question. All three deliver heat below the surface, but they reach it in different ways, and their clearances differ.

• Ulthera (Ultherapy) sends microfocused ultrasound to set depths below the skin. Its DeepSEE transducer shows the tissue up to 8 mm down, so the depth can be confirmed and bone avoided. Its clearance covers brow lift, lifting loose skin beneath the chin and along the neck, and smoothing lines on the décolleté, and its latest clearance adds skin laxity on the abdomen, arms and knees.
• Sofwave uses what the company calls SUPERB technology, many parallel ultrasound beams that heat a thin band of the mid dermis while the surface is cooled. It's cleared for facial lines and wrinkles, brow lift and lift of the submental area and neck.
• Thermage FLX uses monopolar radiofrequency, not ultrasound, delivered through a cooled, vibrating tip. It's cleared for wrinkles, including around and on the eyelids, and, with vibration, for the temporary look of cellulite. It isn't cleared to lift or tighten, so when I use it to firm loose skin, that's off-label. A dedicated eye tip is designed for delicate eyelid skin.

For lift, I choose between Ulthera and Sofwave. Which one fits depends on where the looseness is, how thick your skin is and what else is in your plan. Many people need only one. Some do well with two, spaced apart. You don't have to figure this out alone. That's what our conversation is for.

Every device, and what makes each one different

UltraPulse CO2 (Lumenis)

The CO2 laser's wavelength is well absorbed by water, and skin is mostly water. That lets it remove a very thin layer precisely, while the heat at the edges starts the skin's remodeling and new collagen. Its clearance is for resurfacing the skin with laser, wrinkles and furrows included. I can use it fully or fractionally, from the whole face to just a few scars. It's a serious treatment, and I'll be honest about the recovery.

Research also suggests that resurfacing may help older skin respond to sun damage in a healthier way. In older volunteers, ablative fractional laser treatment at 2,790 nm restored a more youthful response to UVB light. In a randomized trial of 48 people aged 60 and older, a single treatment on one forearm was followed by fewer actinic keratoses and fewer skin cancers on that arm than on the untreated one, 2 compared with 24 over three years. In a Massachusetts General Hospital study of 95 people with past facial skin cancers, new ones appeared in 20.9% of those treated with non-ablative 1,550 nm or 1,927 nm lasers, the wavelength Moxi uses, compared with 40.4% of those who weren't. These are small studies that point to a lower risk rather than prevention, and research on the wavelengths in UltraClear, Fotona and ResurFX is still ongoing.

UltraClear

UltraClear is a fractional laser at 2910 nm. What sets it apart is how widely I can adjust it: a cool, light setting for a refresh with almost no downtime, or a deeper setting for lines and acne scars. Its clearance covers dermatological procedures requiring skin resurfacing, including scar revision.

Lumenis Stellar M22: four tools on one platform

Think of the Stellar M22 as a toolbox with four tools in it. Lumenis lists four technologies on the Stellar M22: its expert pulsed light (IPL), the ResurFX 1565 nm module, Multi-Spot Nd:YAG and Q-switched Nd:YAG. Each has its own clearance.

• IPL uses a broad spectrum of light, shaped by filters, for brown spots, melasma and freckles, for facial redness, rosacea and broken vessels, for inflammatory acne, and for hair reduction.
• ResurFX is a non-ablative fractional laser at 1565 nm for resurfacing, with recovery usually counted in hours to days.
• Multi-Spot Nd:YAG at 1064 nm reaches deeper vessels, including leg veins, and is also cleared for non-ablative treatment of facial wrinkles and for hair reduction.
• Q-switched Nd:YAG delivers nanosecond pulses for pigmented lesions and dark tattoos.

Vbeam (Candela)

Vbeam is a pulsed dye laser at 595 nm, built for vascular conditions. A cooling spray protects the surface with each pulse. Beyond redness and rosacea, its clearance includes scars, stretch marks, warts, benign pigmented lesions and inflammatory acne. I use it often for broken capillaries on the face.

Sciton mJOULE: BBL and Moxi

The mJOULE runs two very different treatments.

• BBL (BroadBand Light) is Sciton's intense pulsed light. Its clearance covers brown spots, melasma and freckles, facial redness, rosacea and small vessels, inflammatory acne, scars and stretch marks, and hair reduction. Sciton describes it as suitable for skin types I to V.
• Moxi is a gentle 1927 nm fractional laser similar to Fraxel. Its clearance covers benign pigmented lesions such as age spots, sun spots and freckles, as well as actinic keratoses. Sciton describes it as reaching about 100 to 200 microns into the skin, with little to no downtime.

Clear + Brilliant (Solta)

Clear + Brilliant is the gentlest fractional laser I have. It comes with two handpieces, 1440 nm and 1927 nm (Perméa). Its clearance is for general skin resurfacing and soft-tissue coagulation. Solta designs it for regular maintenance with little to no downtime, which suits patients who want to keep skin even and smooth between bigger treatments. Using the 1927 nm handpiece mainly for uneven tone goes beyond the wording of the clearance, so I call that an off-label aim.

Fotona (4D and 5D)

Fotona combines Er:YAG light, which water absorbs strongly so it acts close to the surface, with Nd:YAG light, which reaches deeper. That pairing lets one platform resurface, warm deeper layers and treat redness. Fotona 4D is a treatment protocol I use for lines and redness, run on the FDA-cleared Dynamis platform.

Tixel

Tixel isn't a laser. A heated titanium tip touches the skin for milliseconds. I like it for the thin skin near the eyes and lips, and the Tixel 2 clearance includes wrinkles around the eyes.

Sofwave, Ulthera and Thermage

I compare these three side by side just above.

Microneedling

Microneedling uses many fine needles to make tiny, controlled channels in the skin. The FDA has authorized certain microneedling devices to improve the look of facial acne scars and facial wrinkles, and abdominal scars, in adults 22 and older. I choose the depth by area and by what we're treating. My microneedling pen is SkinPen, which received FDA authorization in 2018 for acne scars on the face in adults from age 22.

EndyMed (3DEEP radiofrequency)

Here's where I want to be straight with you about labels. EndyMed calls its radiofrequency technology 3DEEP and lists uses from wrinkle reduction and acne scars to jawline and neck contouring. The FDA clearance for its current PRO MAX platform covers mild to moderate facial wrinkles for certain handpieces, resurfacing with its FSR handpiece, and electrocoagulation and hemostasis with Intensif. Tightening and contouring aren't in that clearance, so when I use EndyMed to firm skin, that's an off-label aim. My practice uses the EndyMed PRO platform.

EndyMed Intensif (radiofrequency microneedling)

Intensif delivers radiofrequency through fine needles, with a maximum treatment depth of 3.5 mm in its FDA clearance. Its clearance is for electrocoagulation and hemostasis in dermatologic procedures. Using it for acne scars, texture or firmness is off-label, and we'll weigh the evidence together first.

In October 2025 the FDA reported serious complications with radiofrequency microneedling used for dermatologic and aesthetic skin procedures, including burns, scarring, fat loss and nerve damage. I go over these risks with you before we decide.

HydraFacial

HydraFacial is a cosmetic facial treatment, not a medical one. Its steps cleanse, exfoliate, extract and hydrate. I think of it as skin upkeep, not treatment for a medical condition. It fits nicely into a bigger plan, and it's a lovely thing to do before an event.

What I look at before I recommend a device

• The qualities I see in your skin that are worth keeping, and the ones you love
• What you want to change, in your words
• Your skin type and any history of dark spots or scarring
• Recent sun exposure and the products you use at home
• The time you can set aside for recovery, and the dates that matter to you

Deeper skin tones need extra care in the choice of device and settings, because pigment shifts after treatment happen more readily in darker skin.

Then we sit down with your calendar, the wedding, the trip, the big meeting, and plan around the dates that matter to you.

The skin care routine I design around your treatment

A device visit is a few hours of your life. What you do at home is every day. That's why every device plan I make comes with a home routine written for you and for that specific treatment. Before a laser or energy treatment, we create a specific routine to prepare your skin and to treat it on the days following the treatment. Afterward it changes as you heal, from very gentle cleansing and barrier care in the first days to sun protection and active ingredients once your skin is ready. I design it to support healing, help keep downtime short, and help your results last. It's written down, so you always know what to use and when.

What affects the cost

• The device, and whether one pass or a series is right for you
• The size of the area, from the eyes alone to the face, neck and chest
• How many sessions your plan needs, and how they're spaced
• Maintenance visits later, if you'd like to keep results going

We quote at consultation, once your plan is set, so there's nothing to guess.

Where my laser work began

Lasers and I go back a long way. As a resident I studied how CO2 lasers treat psoriasis, work that won an award in a 1998 regional dermatology resident competition. In 2011 I gave NYU dermatology Grand Rounds on laser treatments for burns and scars. Today I lecture on lasers at meetings in the US and abroad, and my recent talks on longevity and skin health include the South Beach Symposium (2026) and the Derm Aesthetics Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico (2026). Before medical school I earned a master's degree in journalism with a certificate in science writing from NYU. That's why I'll always explain the science to you in plain language, and why I love questions.

Devices build on skin you care for every day

The sun drives much of the visible aging on the face. Sun protection and a topical retinoid remain the foundation of long-term skin care. I build device treatments on top of that, and often alongside Botox, Dysport and the other neuromodulators and dermal fillers on the Upper East Side, so skin quality, structure and movement are treated together. My longevity dermatology page explains how I plan for the long run, and my Upper East Side dermatology practice page tells you about the office.

Coming from out of town

If you're flying in, let's plan your trip around your recovery. Sofwave, Ulthera, Thermage, HydraFacial and Fotona fit a short visit. Deep CO2 resurfacing means about 7 to 10 days of redness, swelling and flaking, so build some of that time into your stay here and plan no social events for at least the first 5 days. Sun avoidance before and after treatment can affect beach or ski plans. Series treatments can be spaced across return visits. My traveling for treatment page has more on planning.

Start the conversation

Tell me what you notice in your skin, what worries you about downtime, and what your calendar looks like. Call the office at (212) 772-0740 to book your consultation, in person or virtual. Every plan is built around you, and I'll walk you through the cost when we meet. Please bring your questions, because that's what the visit is for.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get Fotona, UltraClear, CO2 or Sofwave treatment in Manhattan?

At Day Dermatology & Aesthetics, 10 East 70th Street, across from The Frick Collection. You'll find all four at my office, with every other device on this page, and I design each plan.

Which laser is right for me?

Honestly, it depends on you: what you want to change, your skin type and how much downtime you can manage. You don't need to arrive with an answer. Tell me what you notice and what your calendar looks like, and I'll match the device and settings to you.

Which device helps melasma or rosacea?

For rosacea and facial redness, Vbeam, the Stellar IPL and BBL are all cleared. For melasma, the Stellar IPL and BBL list it in their clearances, and I add gentle fractional work and a home routine.

How many laser sessions does a plan usually include?

It depends on the device and your goal. Deep CO2 is often a single treatment. Light-based and gentle fractional treatments usually come as a series, with maintenance visits later. I'll give you a plan with the number at your consultation.

Which season suits laser treatment?

I often plan treatments that leave skin sun-sensitive for fall and winter, when strong sun is easier to avoid. Ulthera, Sofwave, Thermage, HydraFacial and some gentle lasers fit any season. Whatever the month, sun protection afterward matters.

What's the difference between Ultherapy, Sofwave and Thermage?

Ultherapy is microfocused ultrasound with on-screen imaging, and Sofwave is parallel-beam ultrasound in the mid dermis. Both are FDA-cleared to lift the brow and the submental and neck area. Thermage is monopolar radiofrequency, cleared for wrinkles, including the eyelids, and the temporary look of cellulite. Using it to firm loose skin is off-label.

How do lasers improve skin?

In short, the idea is to get your skin to repair itself. Many work by creating controlled zones of heat or injury that start the skin's healing response, followed by new collagen and remodeling.

What's the difference between ablative and non-ablative lasers?

Ablative lasers such as CO2 and UltraClear remove thin layers of skin and usually need more downtime. Non-ablative lasers such as ResurFX and Moxi heat the skin without removing the surface.

Are lasers safe for darker skin?

Many can be used with care. Darker skin can react to some treatments with pigment changes, so device choice and settings matter.

Is HydraFacial a medical treatment?

No. It's a cosmetic facial for cleansing, exfoliation and hydration. Think of it as good upkeep, and a nice treat before an event.

How much downtime should I plan if I'm traveling?

From little or none for HydraFacial, Ulthera, Sofwave and Thermage to about 7 to 10 days for deep CO2 resurfacing. Microneedling and radiofrequency microneedling fall in between, and I'll give you a time frame for your plan. Many of these treatments involve no social downtime at all.

Is a virtual consultation possible before I choose a device?

Absolutely. Ask the office to book one, and we'll narrow down the device and timing together before you travel.

What are your office hours?

Monday 9:30 AM to 6 PM. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 AM to 5 PM. Thursday 9 AM to 4 PM. Saturday and Sunday: Closed.

Where can I stay nearby?

The Surrey, The Carlyle, The Mark and The Lowell are within about a 10-minute walk. We have no partnership with them.

Related treatments: Fotona 4D · UltraPulse CO2 · Sofwave