I Swear This Celebrity-Approved Laser Took a Decade off My Face

If you watch beauty treatment trends closely, as I do, then you might have heard about the latest skin tightening laser that has the celebrity stamp of approval. Stephanie Shepherd, Kim Kardashian West's former assistant, is also a huge fan and has shared the treatment with fans on her Instagram a few times now. When it comes to improving skin health, tightness, pore size, and quality, nothing beats laser, in my opinion. I have had several different types now including IPL for pigmentation, Fraxel for sun damage, Clear and Brilliant with PRP for skin exfoliation and overall anti-aging benefits, and laser genesis for collagen stimulation. I would 100% recommend all of them; it just depends on the results you're after. 

So when I heard about the Forma laser as a non-invasive alternative to injections, I had to test it out for myself. I signed up for a series of Forma sessions at Le Jolie Medi Spa, a celebrity-frequented skincare destination in West Hollywood; Forma is its most popular treatment. Hailed as a "non-surgical face-lift," Forma really does get the results you want, instantly—as in you will walk out of the salon with tighter, brighter, glowing skin in my experience. It's absolutely incredible. My colleagues couldn't believe how good my skin looked when I returned to the office from a session one day. It's really that noticeable.

Read on to read my Forma laser review, what it is, and how much it costs.

How Forma Is Different From Other Lasers

Since my 40th birthday is only two years away, I'm really invested in keeping my skin at peak health. Forma is designed to stimulate the formation of new collagen and improve the skin's elasticity over time. The idea is that the more treatments you have, the more your skin keeps working to produce new collagen. This also means the end result lasts longer over time.

But how does it work exactly and why? Brian Nourian, co-founder of Le Jolie, tells me that Forma is powered by radio frequency and heat, which are what actually stimulate the new collagen production and dramatically improve skin tone and texture. He says it's a great alternative to fillers or traditional plastic surgery methods like face-lifts because it has the potential to tighten the jawline, remove nasolabial folds, raise and lift the brow bone area, sculpt cheekbones, and improve overall skin health.

The main draw for me was the promise of long-lasting results. The spa recommends about five to six sessions total, administered once a week for optimal results, but I honestly saw a noticeable change in my skin from just one laser treatment. It's also safe enough to have weekly if your bank account allows. In fact, Nourian says younger clients can see results for up to six years, and those with more mature skin might get an entire decade of firmer, younger-looking skin.

This is my skin straight after a treatment. My skin looks a little flushed, but this only lasted about 10 to 15 minutes.

My Experience and Results

The best part about this laser is that there's zero downtime and you get immediate results. You can literally step in off the street without any prior skin prep and have this laser, then walk out with tighter, brighter skin. I love how my skin looks and feels after Forma. It's incredibly addictive. 

So what happens during the treatment? Well, the nurse applies a numbing cream on your face (it doesn't hurt but this just helps to take the edge off any heat and allow the laser wand to glide easily across your skin), then she will work the laser across your face in sections. Dividing the face up into sections allows the nurse to really sculpt and tighten your face effectively because she is working on small areas at a time.

This laser is safe enough to use right up under the eye area, which is one spot I was particularly keen to have tightened and brightened. The whole treatment takes about 30 minutes or less and is completely painless. My face had a slightly flushed rosiness for about 15 to 20 minutes after the treatment as though I'd just come back from the gym.

Take a look at some of my before-and-after photos below.

The Cost

Having Forma is definitely an investment but since the results are so long-lasting, you can really think about it in terms of cost-per-wear. One treatment will set you back $600; three treatments (once a week) is $1700; five treatments (once a week) is $2500, and eight treatments (once a week) is $3800. I truly think Forma is worth it if you have a special event coming up, a wedding, or just want to increase firmness, elasticity, and tone of your skin. I really love this laser so much and will definitely be going back in for another session to keep my skin looking and feeling fresh, plump, tight, and healthy.