top of page
Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas Clinic logo: Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Istanbul

Facelift and Laser Resurfacing at the Same Time: Is It Safe?

9 hours ago
7 min read

Quick answer. A facelift lifts sagging tissue but does not change skin texture, fine lines or sun spots. Laser resurfacing treats the skin surface. Studies suggest the two can be done in the same operation with low complication rates, as long as the laser is used more gently on skin that was lifted during the facelift. Skin type, smoking and the extent of the lift all affect the risk.

Key takeaways

  • A facelift repositions tissue; a laser improves the skin itself.

  • A 2026 meta-analysis of 1,361 patients found serious complications were rare when the two were combined.

  • The key safety rule is that skin lifted during the facelift receives lower laser energy than skin that was not lifted.

  • The area around the mouth is a frequent target, because a facelift does little for vertical lip lines.

  • Darker skin types carry a higher risk of pigment changes after ablative lasers and need careful planning.

Why consider laser resurfacing with a facelift?

A facelift pulls sagging cheeks, jowls and neck tissue back into place. It does not remove fine wrinkles, blotchy pigment or rough texture. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) lists skin treatments such as laser, peels and dermabrasion as separate options to improve "the quality and texture of the skin" alongside a facelift (ASPS, n.d.).

One study asked 198 members of the public to guess patients' ages from photographs. A facelift alone reduced apparent age by an average of 4.6 years. Laser resurfacing added an average of 2.5 years on top (Swanson, 2011). The data come from one surgeon's patients.

  • Facelift result: contour after surgery
  • Extended deep plane facelift: before and after

Is it safe to do both at the same time?

Lifting the skin reduces its blood supply for a while, and a laser adds heat injury to the surface, so the two together could cause skin breakdown.

Recent evidence is reassuring when the technique is adjusted. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled 17 studies with 1,361 patients. Patient satisfaction was 98.1%. Complications were rare (Wen et al., 2026):

  • Full-thickness skin loss — Pooled rate: 0.01%

  • Skin slough (superficial skin loss) — Pooled rate: 0.21%

  • Superficial infection — Pooled rate: 0.74%

  • Thickened (hypertrophic) scar — Pooled rate: 0.51%

  • Hematoma — Pooled rate: 0.35%

  • Lasting pigment change — Pooled rate: 0.35%

One warning stood out: lasering the lifted skin at the same energy as the rest of the face was linked to higher rates of skin slough.

In 86 patients having a facelift and fractional CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser, including over the lifted skin, all skin had healed over within a week, and there was no delayed healing or skin loss (Wright and Struck, 2015). A series of 78 facelifts with erbium laser had an overall complication rate of 3.8%. The authors concluded the combination can be done safely in selected patients if the laser is used in its ablative mode only, without extra heating, over the lifted flap (Scheuer et al., 2015).

Which areas are usually treated?

  • Around the mouth. Vertical lip lines respond poorly to a facelift, so this is a frequent combined area. In one series, there were no complications in the group treated only around the mouth (Scheuer et al., 2015).

  • Lower eyelids and crow's feet. Fine crepey skin here often benefits from resurfacing.

  • Full face. Possible, but the energy must be reduced over the lifted cheek and neck skin.

  • Neck. Many surgeons are more cautious on the neck. Ask whether yours will be included and at what settings.

Video: Facelift result: contour after surgery. Watch on YouTube

Which lasers are used?

Ablative lasers (CO2 and erbium) remove a thin layer of skin, with the strongest effect and longest healing. Fractional lasers treat tiny columns and leave healthy skin in between, which speeds healing. Non-ablative lasers heat the skin without removing the surface, with milder effects.

A 2025 study of 169 patients, 105 of whom had a hybrid fractional laser during facelift surgery, reported complications in 7.6% of laser patients compared with 3.0% of facelift-only patients. The difference was not statistically significant, and no burns or pigment problems occurred; almost all patients had skin types I to IV (Sirmans et al., 2025).

Does skin type matter?

Yes. On the Fitzpatrick scale, skin runs from type I (very fair) to type VI (deeply pigmented). Combined facelift and laser studies included mainly fair skin; in the Wright and Struck series, the average was type II.

In darker skin (types IV to VI), the extra melanin absorbs laser energy. A 2023 review notes that energy-based treatments in these skin types carry a higher risk of complications such as hyperpigmentation (dark patches) and scarring. It also notes that non-ablative fractional lasers, which target water rather than melanin, are safer for darker skin (Chao et al., 2023).

Temporary darkening can occur in any skin type. In an older series of 34 patients having combined lifting and fully ablative laser, 20.6% had temporary hyperpigmentation (Alster et al., 2004).

Video: Extended deep plane facelift: before and after. Watch on YouTube

Same day or staged?

There is no single rule. Combining saves a second recovery. Staging, with the laser done after the facelift has healed, avoids adding heat to freshly lifted skin.

Your surgeon may suggest staging if you smoke, have diabetes, have darker skin, have had a facelift before, or need an extensive lift. Ask your surgeon which plan suits your skin.

What should you ask your surgeon?

  • Which laser will be used, and is it ablative or non-ablative?

  • Will the lifted skin be treated at lower settings?

  • Will you treat the whole face or only certain areas?

  • What is my skin type, and what is my risk of pigment change?

  • Will I need antiviral tablets to prevent cold sores?

Contact your surgeon promptly if treated skin becomes very painful, oozes, forms yellow crusts, develops blisters or turns dark in patches.

How Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas approaches this

Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas performs deep plane face and neck lifts under local anesthesia, with you awake and without general anesthesia. He operates on one patient per day and performs each operation personally. If skin texture, lines or pigment bother you as much as the sagging, raise this at your consultation and ask whether any skin treatment should be added, and when. Read more in deep plane facelift and skin quality and deep plane facelift.

Patients stay in Istanbul for about 10 to 14 days. Aftercare includes daily hyperbaric oxygen sessions and a private nurse, and online follow-up continues for one year. The fee is quoted individually after Prof. Dr. Tas has reviewed your photographs or examined you. See facelift recovery timeline and how to speed up facelift recovery.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a facelift remove wrinkles around the mouth?

Only partly. A facelift smooths folds caused by sagging, such as jowls and some of the fold beside the nose. Fine vertical lines on the upper lip come from skin damage and muscle movement, and a facelift barely touches them. Laser resurfacing, deep peels or other skin treatments are the usual options for those lines.

How long is recovery from a combined facelift and laser?

Treated skin is red, raw and crusted at first. In one study of fractional CO2 laser with a facelift, all skin had healed over within a week. Redness lasted beyond two weeks in 4.6% of patients, and all had cleared by five weeks. Makeup is usually possible once the skin has healed over.

Can I have laser resurfacing if I have darker skin?

Often yes, but with more caution. Darker skin types have a higher risk of dark patches after ablative lasers. Gentler, non-ablative lasers at lower settings are usually preferred, sometimes in several sessions. Preparing the skin beforehand and strict sun protection afterwards also help. Ask to see results in people with your skin type.

Is microneedling or Morpheus8 an alternative to laser?

Microneedling and radiofrequency microneedling devices such as Morpheus8 treat texture and mild laxity with less surface injury than ablative lasers. They usually need several sessions and give a milder change. They do not replace a facelift for sagging tissue. Whether to combine them with surgery is for your surgeon to advise.

When can I go in the sun after laser resurfacing?

Freshly resurfaced skin is very sensitive to sunlight, and sun exposure raises the risk of pigment changes. Follow your surgeon's advice closely, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and a hat, and avoid direct sun for several months. This is especially important for travel home from a sunny destination.

About the Author

This article was written and medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas, a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon in Istanbul with over 20 years of experience. He is the author of Rhinoplasty in Practice (CRC Press, 2020), has more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications and five patents, and teaches facelift and rhinoplasty techniques to surgeons at international courses. Read more about Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas.

Individual results vary. Before and after photos and videos are shared with patient consent. This article is for general information and does not replace a personal medical consultation.

See More Before and After Results

Would You Like a Similar Result?

You can send your photos for an online assessment or book an appointment at the Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas Clinic, Terrace Fulya, Şişli, Istanbul. Book an online consultation.

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page