How safe is Bellafill? Would I be able to get laser in the area where it is injected?

Question

I am 73 Caucasian/Asian and I am interested in Belafil as the fillers never seem to last very long. I was worried about the safety of this product and would it pose a problem if I get lasers in the areas where this is injected.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

These are excellent questions, especially since Bellafill is very different from the hyaluronic acid fillers that most people are familiar with.

Bellafill is generally considered safe when used in appropriate candidates by an experienced injector. It is FDA-approved for the correction of certain facial wrinkles, including the nasolabial folds, and for the treatment of some acne scars. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, Bellafill contains tiny polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres suspended in a collagen gel. The collagen provides immediate volume, while the PMMA acts as a scaffold that stimulates your body to produce its own collagen over time. Because of this, the results can last for several years.

The trade-off is that Bellafill is considered semi-permanent. If you are unhappy with the result, it cannot simply be dissolved the way hyaluronic acid fillers can. This makes proper patient selection and conservative treatment especially important.

As for lasers, having Bellafill does not automatically prevent you from receiving laser treatments. Many non-ablative lasers and light-based treatments can still be performed safely over areas treated with Bellafill. However, more aggressive resurfacing procedures, particularly deeper ablative lasers, require additional planning. The physician performing the laser should always know that Bellafill is present so the treatment settings can be selected appropriately and the skin monitored closely during healing.

At 73, it's also worth considering your overall goals. If your main concern is restoring lost facial volume from aging, Bellafill can be a good option for carefully selected areas. However, if skin laxity is the primary issue, a filler alone even a long-lasting one may not provide the lifting effect you're hoping for. In those cases, combining collagen-stimulating treatments, skin resurfacing, or other rejuvenation procedures may produce a more natural and balanced result.

One additional point is that Bellafill requires a skin test before treatment because of its bovine collagen component, although allergic reactions are uncommon when the test is negative.

For someone who has been disappointed by short-lived fillers, Bellafill can certainly be an appealing option. The key is understanding that its longevity is both its greatest advantage and its greatest limitation. Taking a thoughtful, conservative approach is the best way to achieve results that remain attractive for years.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Bellafill is usually injected under the surface of the skin and deeper than a laser treatment would normally reach, so in my opinion, you could have a laser treatment after having had Bellafill treatment.

How safe is Bellafill? Would I be able to get laser in the area where it is injected?

Answers (2)

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