Scalpel and Skin

Are Cosmetic Lasers Worth It? Skin Resurfacing, Downtime, and What Patients Should Know | EP 04

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Are cosmetic lasers actually worth it?

Cosmetic lasers can improve skin texture, wrinkles, pigmentation, sun damage, redness, rosacea, scars, and overall skin quality—but not every laser is designed to do the same thing, and not every treatment is right for every patient.

In Episode 4 of Scalpel and Skin, Dr. Algie LaBrasca, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and Mystica LaBrasca, a cosmetic dermatology Physician Assistant, break down cosmetic lasers, laser skin resurfacing, energy-based treatments, and what patients should actually know before getting treated.

They explain the difference between non-ablative and ablative lasers, why CO2 laser resurfacing has more downtime, how RF microneedling fits into the conversation, and why some patients may benefit from several lighter treatments instead of one major resurfacing treatment.

They also discuss treating:

• Skin texture and wrinkles
• Pores
• Sun damage and pigmentation
• Redness and rosacea
• Broken blood vessels
• Scars
• Skin laxity
• Unwanted hair

And they answer some of the questions patients actually ask:

Can you get laser treatment with a tan?
Can lasers erase scars?
Can lasers shrink pores?
How much downtime will I have?
When is a laser enough—and when do you need surgery?
Are at-home laser devices worth it?

The conversation also gets into laser complications, including burns, pigment changes, infection, and why proper patient assessment and choosing an experienced provider matter.

Because at the end of the day, the question isn't just:

“Does this laser work?”

It's:

“Is this the right treatment for me—and is it worth it?”

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Send us the treatments, trends, or questions you want Dr. Algie and Mistica to break down next.

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Is Filler Actually Worth It? Hyaluronic Acid Filler, Overfilling, and What Patients Should Know | EP 03

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Is filler actually worth it?

Filler is one of the most talked-about aesthetic treatments of the last 20 years, but it is also one of the most misunderstood.

In Episode 3 of Scalpel and Skin, Dr. Algie LaBrasca, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and Mystica LaBrasca, a cosmetic dermatology Physician Assistant, break down hyaluronic acid filler, how dermal fillers evolved, why filler became so popular, and why it developed such a bad reputation.

They discuss the history of filler, from early options like collagen and silicone to the rise of hyaluronic acid filler, and how today's fillers are designed differently depending on where they are used—from softer fillers for the lips to firmer fillers for the cheeks.

They also get into overfilling, the changing aesthetic around lips and cheeks, the influence of social media, and what they call the “Maleficent cheeks” look.

Most importantly, they talk about what good filler should actually do: restore volume, structure, and balance without making it obvious that you had filler.

The conversation also covers:

• Who is actually a good candidate for filler
• Why being a candidate doesn't always mean you should get filler
• Why skin health should come first
• When lasers, skincare, or surgery may be better options
• Why patients should avoid bouncing between multiple injectors
• Common filler myths
• What happens when you stop getting filler
• Whether filler stretches your skin
• What happens when filler is dissolved
• Why overfilling happens
• What “Instagram Face” means
• Whether hyaluronic acid filler is actually worth the investment

And at the end, Algie and Mystica give their Scalpel and Skin “Is It Worth It?” rating for hyaluronic acid filler.

So... is filler actually worth it?

Listen to the full episode and find out.

#ScalpelAndSkin #HyaluronicAcidFiller #DermalFiller #CosmeticDermatology #AestheticTreatments

Why Are There So Many Med Spas? The Truth About Aesthetic Providers | EP 02

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Why are there so many med spas—and with more aesthetic providers, treatments, and trends than ever before, how can patients know who to trust?

The aesthetic industry has exploded in popularity, but with more med spas, social media trends, injectables, lasers, and cosmetic treatments than ever before, it has also become harder for patients to know who to trust.

In Episode 2 of Scalpel and Skin, Dr. Algie LaBrasca, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and Mistica LaBrasca, a cosmetic dermatology Physician Assistant, talk about what worries them most about the current state of aesthetics, how social media has changed patient expectations, and why not every trending treatment is worth your time, money, or face.

They break down what makes a great aesthetic provider, from understanding anatomy and knowing when to say no, to thinking long-term and putting patient goals ahead of trends.

This conversation is for anyone considering Botox, filler, lasers, skin treatments, plastic surgery, or med spa services and wondering how to make safer, smarter aesthetic decisions.

In this episode:

• Why med spas are suddenly everywhere
• How social media changed the aesthetic industry
• Why it is hard to know who to trust
• Red flags when choosing an aesthetic provider
• Green flags patients should look for
• Why good providers should be able to say no
• The importance of anatomy, safety, and long-term thinking
• What aesthetics may look like in the next 10 years
• How to decide if a treatment is actually worth it

#ScalpelAndSkin #AestheticIndustry #MedSpa #AestheticProvider #PlasticSurgery #CosmeticDermatology #AestheticTreatments

The Problem With the Aesthetics Industry: Who Can You Trust? | EP 01

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:00:00 -0400

How can patients tell what is legitimate, what is overhyped, and who they can actually trust in the aesthetics industry?

In the first episode of Scalpel and Skin, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Algie LaBrasca and cosmetic dermatology Physician Assistant Mistica LaBrasca share the professional journeys that brought them together and explain why they decided to start a plastic surgery and skin health podcast.

Algie and Mistica look back at how cosmetic dermatology, injectables, provider training, and med spas have changed over the years. They discuss why training and real-world experience matter, how the rapid growth of aesthetic medicine has created more confusion for patients, and why not every treatment being marketed is necessarily worth the investment.

They also explain the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon, one of the most common misconceptions patients encounter when researching a procedure or provider.

With more than 30 years of combined experience, Algie and Mistica bring honest opinions, medical insight, and sibling chemistry to conversations about plastic surgery, skin health, cosmetic dermatology, patient safety, and the aesthetic treatments everyone is talking about.

In this episode, they answer:

•⁠ ⁠How has the aesthetics industry changed?
•⁠ ⁠What should patients know about provider training?
•⁠ ⁠What is the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon?
•⁠ ⁠Are all med spa and injectable training programs created equally?
•⁠ ⁠Why do some cosmetic treatments make patients look unnatural?
•⁠ ⁠How can patients make smarter aesthetic decisions?
•⁠ ⁠What can listeners expect from Scalpel and Skin?

#ScalpelAndSkin #PlasticSurgeryPodcast #SkinHealthPodcast #CosmeticDermatology