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Can Laser Resurfacing and Wrinkle Fillers Be Combined?

asked 3 years ago by awalk
Latest answer by Michael Tomcik, MD
Question viewed 3,472 times
Tags: combination, hyaluronic acid, safety

I am confused about Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane, and laser resurfacing. Are they safe together? I thought Hyaluronic acid and laser are attracted to water, so wouldn't the laser cause more intense treatment in the areas where there are fillers?

15 answers to Can Laser Resurfacing and Wrinkle Fillers Be Combined?

Absolutely!!

In a society of instant gratification, waiting for laser results can take several weeks, and the full results even a few months after. Injectables such as fillers and Botox / Dysport are an excellent choice to couple after a laser skin resurfacing procedure, best about 2 weeks post laser, to compliment an amazing result. The laser will tighten your skin and collagen you already have during this healing but there are other places in your face where... more

Fernando G. Serra, MD
Clermont Plastic Surgeon

Yes to Lasers and Fillers on the same day

The answer is YES! These are two of the best options to combat the signs of aging. You would want to start with a skin resurfacing laser treatment(s), such as the Affirm CO2 laser. This would help erase wrinkles, tighten the skin, even out your skin tone, and also stimulate collagen. After your laser treatment(s) we would then inject the filler of choice, which would give you immediate facial volume. There are several options for fillers these day, we have fillers that could last 6... more

Bruce Katz, MD
New York Dermatologic Surgeon

Lasers and HA's

Most lasers do not go deep enough to cause a problem with HA's. In terms of timing, it really depends upon the laser procedure. If it is an ablative laser, I like to fill in the lines first and then "peel" the skin. Once swelling comes in afte a "peel" it can be difficult to see the areas that you want to fill.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

HA filler safe with laser

With the increased popularity of both laser procedures and fillers such as Juvederm this question as to the suitability of combining the two often comes up. Also I receive questions about the use of fillers with other procedures such as light peels. Such procedures often compiment one another. We use laser and other light based therapies to tighten the skin, the most powerful being the CO2 or carbondioxide laser. Fine line control is complimented by the appropriate use of fills to... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Active FX is safely combined with Restylane or Juvederm

We frequently combine Active and Deep FX, which is a CO2 laser, and is indeed attracted to water, with filler injections such as Restylane or Juvederm. We usually recommend to get the fillers two - three weeks after the laser resurfacing procedure, because some tightening with laser may affect the filler placement. However, we had some patients who had fillers already and then had the laser resurfacing, and it turned out great for all of them. The Active FX beam does not go as deep as the... more

Stella Desyatnikova, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fillers and Laser: Is it safe?

Generally fillers are injected beneath the level at which lasers act. You are correct that some lasers target water but not all. For example KTP lasers are targeted more for blood vessels. Other lasers are targeted for pigment in the skin (many of the hair or tattoo removal lasers). So it really depends on which laser you are using. Consult with your treating physcian and ask what the chromophore (target) is. Even if the target is water there are no strict recommendations of which I am aware... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

HA fillers are not affected by laser resurfacing

True, certain lasers are attracted to water. However, the fillers are placed at a much deeper level than the laser penetrates and won't be affected. There are studies which support this. If given the option to do fillers or laser resurfacing first, I would do the laser first, wait for the healing process, than proceed with the dermal filler because the amount of filling might change after undergoing the laser resurfacing.

Steven F. Weiner, MD
Pensacola Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser resurfacing and fillers

Yes Laser resurfacing, fillers such as Restylane, Radiesse, Juvederm, and Botox can be used together, just not at the same time. We will use Botox/Dysport as well as fillers 2 weeks before Microfractional CO2 laser resurfacing. Botox prevents the patient from bending the new collagen they are producing from the laser. We do "volume replacement" in the cheeks and temple areas because laser resurfacing won"t produce enough collagen or restylane to fill these areas. However... more

Michael Tomcik, MD
San Ramon Dermatologist

They ARE safe together

We find them synergistic and like to laser first, get the collagen stimulated, and use fillers as a finishing element, similar to frosting on a cake and just refining the finished product.

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD
San Francisco Dermatologic Surgeon

www.elitemdspa.com

Laser resurfacing and fillers can be combined but I generally do not do these together

The beauty of advanced aesthetic treatments today is that most can be combined if appropriate and desirable. While laser resurfacing and wrinkle fillers can be safely combined, I would generally not do these two procedures together. You might consider the laser resurfacing treatment first, and reserve any wrinkle filler treatments to address any residual problems that were not completed solved with the laser treatment.

Michael R. Macdonald, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drmmacdonald.com

Laser resurfacing, fillers, and Botox - perfect together

Overall facial rejuvenation is often best achieved with a combination of Fillers, Laser resurfacing,and Botox. For example, I often combine Botulinum toxin treatment for prominent forehead lines, fillers for volume restoration in the midface and smile lines, and Matrix fractional CO2 laser treatments for lines around the mouth and eyes. Fillers can be used in conjunction with laser resurfacing, often on the same day. Occasionally it is best to wait until after recovery... more

Jason Lichtenberger, MD
Bellingham Facial Plastic Surgeon

Can Laser Resurfacing and Fillers be Combined?

Hi awalk. The answer to your question is yes. For the laser resurfacing we perform, it does not penetrate the skin to the same depth as the dermal fillers are placed. Hypothetically, it is possible that the resurfacing (specifically deep fractional) could penetrate to the same depth. In this case, your practitioner should ask you to hold off on the injection treatments until after the deep resurfacing takes place.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Delay laser resurfacing 2 weeks after Botox and fillers for best result

Laser resurfacing results can be dramatically better when combined with Botox or Dysport and fillers like restylane, juvederm, radiesse, perlane or evolence. However, in our practice we find that results are significantly better if we wait 2 weeks after the botox and filler session, the liquid facelift, and then do laser skin resurfacing. The Botox and filler lessen the depth of wrinkles and facial lines, thius the laser can penetrate deeper and provide a better result. The best results are... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Combining Laser Resurfacing and Wrinkle Fillers

The word is still out on the concomitant use of lasers and wrinkle fillers like the H.A.'s. As long as the fillers are injected at the correct depth, and the laser you are talking about is targetting shallower areas, this is not a concern. There are many lasers out there, all of which target tissues at differing depths. The safer approach is to have your wrinkle fillers injected a few weeks after your laser procedure. Hope this helps!

Robert J. Chiu, MD
Pittsburgh Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser resurfacing and filler safety - There is no data to prove otherwise

Some medical professionals have studied this question, and there has been no information to conclude that there is a problem with lasers and hyaluronic acid fillers.