He layers filler and laser as one plan, not separate treatments
Bellafill lifts the scar from below, then laser resurfacing smooths the surface. Filler alone leaves texture problems visible; the combination solves both depth and edge in one session.
Jason Emer, MD, FAAD, FACS
Filler lifts the scar. Laser smooths the edge.
Bellafill For Acne Scars: Why Filler Alone Is Not Enough And What Dr. Emer Does Instead
How Dr. Jason Emer uses Bellafill to lift indented acne scars, why he layers it with laser resurfacing to smooth texture, and what subcision does when a scar is tethered.
THE DETAIL IS THE DIFFERENCE.See the results ↓
Dr. Jason Emer MD · FAAD · FACS
- MD, FAAD, FACS: board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon
- Former Chief Resident in dermatology, Mount Sinai, New York
- More than 10,000 patient encounters
- Male facial sculpting longer than anyone in the United States
- The highest filler volume on the West Coast
- West Hollywood and New York
The practice's own photographs
Before. After.
Patients of the practice, from Dr. Emer's published before and after gallery. Each case is one patient. Individual results vary.
Dr. Emer layers Bellafill under acne scars to lift volume, then follows with laser resurfacing to smooth texture, solving both depth and surface in one plan.
Your plan starts with Dr. Emer.
Schedule ConsultationReserve online. West Hollywood and New York.
From the filmed session
Inside the treatment. With Dr. Emer.
Bellafill For Acne Scars: Why Dr. Emer Layers It With Laser Resurfacing | Dr. Jason Emer
Open on YouTubeWhat Dr. Emer did · RE:SKN
Every procedure. In order.
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01
Bellafill injection for acne scars RE:SKN
Acrylic polymer mixed with collagen, placed deeper than micro droplet silicone to push scars up from below; 0.08 cc per two to three scars, injected under the scar floor.
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02
Subcision for tethered scars RE:SKN
Needle breaks apart fibrous tissue pulling the scar down from underneath, releasing the tether so the scar can lift; performed when flattening the scar with a finger shows no improvement.
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03
Laser resurfacing RE:SKN
Smooths the edges of the scar and surrounding skin after filler lifts volume, addressing texture that filler cannot correct.
Why patients fly in
What Dr. Emer does differently.
He places Bellafill deeper than micro droplet silicone
Bellafill is injected under the scar floor to push it up from below, not at the surface. The acrylic polymer mixed with collagen lifts volume structurally.
He uses subcision only when the scar is tethered
If flattening the scar with a finger shows improvement, no subcision is needed. If the scar stays indented, the needle breaks apart the fibrous tissue pulling it down.
He was an investigator in the FDA trial that approved Bellafill for acne scars
Dr. Emer participated in the clinical trial proving Bellafill's efficacy for acne scars, paired with micro needling, showing substantial change.
He plans large initial treatments for long lasting results, then maintains over time
Bellafill is considered permanent, but everything needs maintenance. A large treatment creates longevity; touch ups keep the result as skin changes.
THE THINKING BEHIND THE TREATMENT
The story.
The decisions.
The details.
Follow Dr. Emer’s approach through the stages described in this case.
Back to the video ↗- 01Before
The starting point
Bellafill lifted the scars from underneath, then laser resurfacing smoothed the edges.
The patient in this video had indented acne scars on both sides of his face, some deeper than others. Dr. Emer started with Bellafill, placing it under the scars to push them up from below. You can see the difference side by side in the video: scars that were filled versus scars that were not, visible under angled lighting.
- 02The plan
What Dr. Emer decided to do
Filler lifts volume, laser smooths texture. Both are needed to solve the problem.
- 03The session
In the room, in order
After the filler session, he moved into laser resurfacing to address texture. The filler raised the floor of the scar, and the laser smoothed the edges and the surrounding skin so the whole area reads as one surface.
- Assess and mark
- Place Bellafill deeper than surface filler
- Layer laser resurfacing
- Maintain over time
- 04What comes next
Recovery and what to expect
Bellafill is considered permanent, but Dr. Emer is clear about what that means in practice: everything needs to be maintained. If you stop working out, the muscle you built fades. Skin is the same. A large treatment creates long lasting improvement, but touch ups over time keep the result where you want it.
The patient in this video received filler to lift deeper scars and surface scars on both sides of his face, then moved into laser resurfacing to address texture. The combination is what delivers a result that reads as smooth skin, not just filled scars.
Explore the full treatment details +
Bellafill plus laser resurfacing, built as one plan / Patient story
Volume first. Texture next.
Bellafill lifted the scars from underneath, then laser resurfacing smoothed the edges.
The patient in this video had indented acne scars on both sides of his face, some deeper than others. Dr. Emer started with Bellafill, placing it under the scars to push them up from below. You can see the difference side by side in the video: scars that were filled versus scars that were not, visible under angled lighting.
After the filler session, he moved into laser resurfacing to address texture. The filler raised the floor of the scar, and the laser smoothed the edges and the surrounding skin so the whole area reads as one surface.
Volume lifts the scar, laser smooths the edge
Bellafill is FDA approved for acne scars. Dr. Emer was part of the clinical trial that proved it works, and he uses it regularly. But he does not use it alone, because filler can only do one thing: it lifts volume from underneath. It cannot fix the texture of the skin at the surface.
That is why every Bellafill session in his practice is paired with laser resurfacing. The filler raises the floor of the scar, and the laser smooths the edges and the surrounding skin so the whole area reads as one surface instead of a lifted divot.
How the treatment actually works
Bellafill is an acrylic polymer mixed with collagen. Dr. Emer places it deeper than he would with micro droplet silicone, injecting under the scar to push it up from below. In the video you can see the difference side by side: scars that were filled versus scars that were not, visible under angled lighting.
When a scar is tethered, meaning it is pulled down by fibrous tissue underneath, he performs subcision first: the needle breaks apart the tether so the scar can lift. You can tell whether a scar needs subcision by moving it: if flattening it with your finger improves the look, it does not need subcision. If it stays indented, it does.
How a session is built
Two layers. One result.
Filler lifts volume, laser smooths texture. Both are needed to solve the problem.
- 01
Assess and mark
Dr. Emer evaluates each scar under angled lighting to see depth and texture, then marks the treatment plan.
- 02
Place Bellafill deeper than surface filler
Bellafill is injected under the scar to lift it from below. When a scar is tethered, subcision releases it first.
- 03
Layer laser resurfacing
After filler lifts the scar, laser resurfacing smooths the edges and surrounding skin to address texture.
- 04
Maintain over time
Bellafill is long lasting, but touch ups keep the result where you want it as skin changes.
The treatment, explained
What is Bellafill for acne scars?
Also called acne scar filler, acne scar treatment with laser, Bellafill and laser resurfacing, subcision for acne scars, permanent filler for acne scars, indented acne scar treatment.
- What it is
- Bellafill for acne scars is an injectable treatment that lifts indented scars from underneath. Bellafill is an acrylic polymer mixed with collagen, FDA approved for acne scars. Dr. Emer layers it with laser resurfacing to address both volume loss and texture in one plan.
- How it works
- Bellafill is injected deeper than surface fillers, under the scar floor, to push the scar up from below. When a scar is tethered by fibrous tissue, subcision releases the tether first. After filler lifts volume, laser resurfacing smooths the edges of the scar and surrounding skin so the whole area reads as one surface. The combination solves depth and texture problems that filler or laser alone cannot correct.
- Who it is for
- This treatment is for patients with indented acne scars who want both lift and smooth texture. It fits patients who have tried filler elsewhere and still see visible scars, or who want a layered approach that addresses volume and surface in one plan. Your consultation with Dr. Emer will determine if this approach fits your scars and skin type.
- Recovery
- Recovery depends on the depth of laser resurfacing layered with the filler. Bellafill itself causes minimal downtime; laser resurfacing adds healing time based on the settings used. Your plan and recovery timeline are set at consultation.
- When results show
- Results from Bellafill appear immediately as the filler lifts the scar, with continued improvement as collagen builds around the polymer. Laser resurfacing results develop over weeks as skin heals and texture smooths. Bellafill is long lasting, but touch ups maintain the result over time as skin changes.
Signature procedures
Only at Emer.
Peptides / biologic optimization
RECODEX™
Peptide and biologic protocols for recovery, body composition and longevity, with epigenetic testing. RECODEX™ peptides are available to purchase through the practice after consultation.
Why Dr. Emer
He ran the trial. Now he teaches it.
Dr. Emer was part of the clinical trial that proved Bellafill works for acne scars, and his layered approach is now studied internationally.
Bellafill is FDA approved for acne scars, and Dr. Emer was one of the investigators in the trial that established its efficacy. He has used it for years, always paired with laser resurfacing, because filler alone cannot solve a texture problem.
Patients come to him when they have tried filler elsewhere and the scars still look like scars, or when they want both lift and smoothness in one plan. His approach layers volume correction with surface refinement, and the results are what other dermatologists travel to learn.
- MD, FAAD, FACS: board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon
- Former Chief Resident in dermatology, Mount Sinai, New York
- More than 10,000 patient encounters
- Male facial sculpting longer than anyone in the United States
- The highest filler volume on the West Coast
- West Hollywood and New York
EMER METHOD™×RECODEX™
Bellafill lifts volume
Bellafill is an acrylic polymer mixed with collagen. It raises the floor of the scar from below, but it does not change the texture of the skin at the surface.
Laser smooths texture
Laser resurfacing refines the edges of the scar and the surrounding skin so the whole area reads as one surface, not a lifted divot.
Subcision releases tethered scars
When a scar is pulled down by fibrous tissue underneath, the needle breaks apart the tether so the scar can lift. You can tell if a scar needs subcision by flattening it with your finger: if it improves, it does not need subcision. If it stays indented, it does.
Maintenance keeps the result
Bellafill is considered permanent, but everything needs to be maintained. A large treatment creates long lasting improvement, but touch ups over time keep the result where you want it.
Asked plainly, answered plainly
What patients ask before they book.
Is Bellafill permanent?+
Bellafill is considered permanent because the acrylic polymer does not dissolve, but everything needs maintenance. A large initial treatment creates long lasting improvement, but touch ups over time keep the result where you want it as skin changes.
Why do you layer Bellafill with laser resurfacing?+
Filler lifts volume from underneath, but it cannot smooth texture at the surface. When a scar is indented, the edge of the scar is still irregular even after the floor is lifted. Laser resurfacing smooths the edges and surrounding skin so the whole area reads as one surface, not a lifted divot.
What is subcision and when do you use it?+
Subcision is when the needle breaks apart fibrous tissue that is pulling a scar down from underneath. You can tell if a scar needs subcision by flattening it with your finger: if it improves, it does not need subcision. If it stays indented, the tether must be released first so the scar can lift.
How is Bellafill different from micro droplet silicone?+
Bellafill is placed deeper than micro droplet silicone. It is an acrylic polymer mixed with collagen, and it lifts the scar from below rather than filling at the surface. Micro droplet silicone is injected more superficially.
How much Bellafill do you use per scar?+
Bellafill comes in 0.08 cc syringes. Typically, one syringe can treat two to three scars, depending on depth. The amount used is decided during the treatment based on how each scar responds.
Can I just do filler without laser resurfacing?+
You can, but filler alone cannot improve texture. It lifts volume from underneath, but the edges of the scar and surrounding skin remain irregular. Most patients who want smooth results, not just lifted scars, choose the layered approach.
Will I see results immediately?+
Yes. Bellafill lifts the scar immediately as it is injected. You will see the volume correction right away, with continued improvement as collagen builds around the polymer. Laser resurfacing results develop over weeks as skin heals and texture smooths.
Do I need touch ups?+
Bellafill is long lasting, but touch ups maintain the result over time. A large initial treatment creates longevity, but as skin changes, additional sessions keep the scars where you want them.
Find out what your skin can look like.
A consultation with Dr. Emer covers your scars, your skin type, and whether this layered approach fits your plan.
Schedule ConsultationWest Hollywood and New York City