With more patients than ever before requesting skin-tightening treatments (the GLP-1 boom is a big factor), readers are asking for ways to optimize their procedures for the best overall result. Skin tighteners are great for firming up lax skin, but they can’t change the quality of the skin, which is where lasers come into play. For comprehensive rejuvenation, many patients are opting for the dual approach, and doctors tell us they absolutely love the way they look and feel. “Pairing lasers with skin-tightening treatments consistently elevates results, helping patients achieve smoother, firmer and more radiant skin,” says New York dermatologist Blair Murphy Rose, MD. Here, the best lasers to pair with skin-tightening treatments, according to leading dermatologists.
Featured Experts
- Blair Murphy Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Robert Finney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
The Best Laser Treatments After Skin-Tightening Procedures
New York dermatologist Robert Finney, MD has lots of experience with skin tighteners, and says they can safely be combined with most lasers. “I had Ultherapy at my former practice, and I have Sofwave at my current practice. I often do this treatment alone, per patient preference, and the nice thing is that there is no downtime. That being said, vascular lasers, IPL/BBL, Clear + Brilliant, Fraxel, LaseMD and Moxi are all fine to do right after Sofwave. The best lasers to pair with skin tightening treatments are patient dependent.” Scroll through to see which laser is best for your specific concerns.
The Laser: BBL Heroic
“I love stacking procedures with skin tightening!” says New York dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD. “My trademark is ‘Preservation Aging,’ which is to age as well as we possibly can and look like our best selves as naturally as possible, for as long as we can. I stack Ultherapy, Thermage and SkinTyte skin-tightening procedures with BBL Heroic for sun-damage spots.”
The Laser: Fraxel
Dr. Murphy Rose uses Sofwave, which she likes to pair with the Fraxel laser. “When it comes to optimizing results from noninvasive skin-tightening procedures, pairing Sofwave with Fraxel can deliver powerful, synergistic benefits,” she says. “Sofwave uses next-generation high-frequency ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen and elastin production deep within the dermis, making it a gold standard for lifting and tightening without downtime.” Fraxel, on the other hand, is ideal for patients seeking more dramatic improvements in texture, tone and pigmentation (often the result of sun damage) and it also provides some additional tightening on its own. “It targets the skin’s surface layers with fractional laser energy, refining pores, softening lines, and fading discoloration and visible sun damage, making it an excellent pairing for Sofwave’s deeper dermal tightening,” Dr. Murphy Rose adds. “The downtime for Fraxel is about five to seven days and usually involves redness, mild swelling and roughness, with or without peeling.”
Dr. Marmur also combines Ultherapy, Thermage and SkinTyte procedures with Fraxel for wrinkly, porous skin. “And after those two treatments, many patients also opt for a saturating chemical peel like Jessners to make their skin super soft,” she says.
The Laser: Clear + Brilliant
For those who are new to lasers, patients with more sensitive skin or those looking for subtle refinement and radiance, Dr. Murphy Rose recommends pairing your skin-tightening procedure with Clear + Brilliant. “It pairs beautifully with Sofwave,” she says. “It enhances skin clarity and smoothness while complementing Sofwave’s firming effects without adding significant downtime. There is very minimal downtime with Clear + Brilliant, but the results are not as significant as with Fraxel.”
If you have melanin-rich skin, Dr. Murphy Rose says it’s important to note that neither Fraxel or Clear + Brilliant is a good option. “For those with darker skin who wish to tighten and lift with ultrasound, but also achieve surface effects to improve complexion, they should opt for a non-laser method like a radio-frequency microneedling or a chemical peel.” Click here to read about the best lasers for melanin-rich skin.
The Laser: Tixel 2
Dr. Marmur also likes to utilize the Tixel 2 laser after skin tightening on the face and neck. “I often polish the crepey skin under the eyes, above the upper lip and on the neck with Tixel 2, a very superficial, thermal, mechanical laser treatment that essentially thickens the skin’s appearance so it doesn’t look so thin and wrinkled.”
The Laser: Vbeam/Vascular Lasers
“If the patient has rosacea or broken blood vessels, vascular lasers [like Vbeam, etc.] in combo are very helpful,” says Dr. Finney.
The Laser: CO2
“When I do heavier-duty fractional lasers, especially when CO2 is in the mix, I prefer to separate the treatments [the laser and skin tightener] rather than performing them back to back in one session,” says Dr. Finney. “This is because I would have to dial back the settings in order to avoid bulk-heating the dermis, and thus patients wouldn’t get as much improvement from each individual treatment.”
