Why Skin Quality Comes Before Botox and Filler
Many patients come in asking about one line, usually the “11s” between the brows. Sometimes the bigger story is the skin itself: breakouts, acne scars, brown spots, or dullness that no amount of Botox or filler will change.
Here is why Candice Roberts, NP, often starts with skin quality before Botox and filler at our Houma, LA office, and how the two work together once your skin is healthy.
Healthy skin is the foundation every other treatment sits on. Botox softens lines and filler restores volume, but neither one improves acne, scarring, pigment, or texture. When skin quality is the main concern, we restore skin health first, then fine-tune with injectables, lasers, or peels.
Candice Roberts, NP, on skin quality.
“What Are We Doing?”
“Skin quality matters, honestly, more than anything,” Candice says. A patient may point to her 11s, but if her face is full of uncontrolled acne, acne scars, or brown spots, those are what people notice first.
“Yes, I can chase a line. I can chase a wrinkle. But if the skin quality isn’t healthy, what are we doing?” The answer is to go back to basics and help you feel confident in your skin first.
“That’s almost like baking the cake. The injectables, the laser, the peels, all that other stuff, that’s all icing on the cake.”Candice Roberts, NP
What Injectables Can’t Change
Botox and filler are excellent at what they do. They just don’t do everything. Here is which concerns belong to which tool:
| Concern | What helps | What won’t |
|---|---|---|
| Breakouts and congestion | Medical-grade skincare, peels | Botox or filler |
| Brown spots and uneven tone | Medical-grade skincare, peels, laser | Botox or filler |
| Acne scars and rough texture | Microneedling, laser, skincare | Botox alone |
| Lines from muscle movement | Neurotoxins like Botox | Skincare alone |
| Lost volume and hollowing | Filler or collagen-building treatments | Botox |
That’s why skin comes first in many plans. Once the skin is healthy, we can soften lines with neurotoxins and restore volume with filler, and the results look better on a healthy canvas.
How We Restore Skin Health
“We gotta get the skin cells functioning right,” Candice says. In practice, that usually means:
Medical-grade skincare at home
Candice is a ZO Skin Health brand ambassador, and a consistent medical-grade skincare routine is usually step one. Our guide to building a skincare routine that protects your results walks through the basics.
In-office treatments for texture and tone
Chemical peels and laser and microneedling help with pigment, scarring, and texture. If you’re deciding between them, read Chemical Peels vs. Laser.
Then the fine-tuning
Once you feel confident in your skin, we can “chase the fine lines” and restore volume loss with injectables, using far less product than if we were trying to cover up a skin concern.
Not sure whether to start with skin or injectables? We’ll tell you honestly.
Schedule a ConsultationWhen Skin May Not Need to Come First
Skin first isn’t a rule for everyone. You may be ready for injectables now if:
Your skin is already healthy
If you have a steady routine and no active concerns, we can go straight to softening lines or restoring volume.
Your main concern is muscle movement
Deep frown lines or crow’s feet from expression respond to neurotoxins regardless of skin type.
You’re treating both at once
Some plans run skincare and injectables side by side. We’ll sequence them so each one supports the other.
You’re pregnant or breastfeeding
Injectables and some skincare ingredients are typically postponed. We’ll recommend options that are appropriate for now.
Your Questions, Answered
Why should I work on skin quality before Botox and filler?
Because injectables can’t improve acne, scarring, pigment, or texture, and those are often what people notice first. Working on skin quality before Botox and filler gives you a healthy foundation, so softened lines and restored volume look their best.
Can Botox help with acne or acne scars?
Botox relaxes the muscles that cause expression lines. It isn’t a treatment for acne or acne scars. Scarring and texture usually respond better to microneedling, laser, and medical-grade skincare.
How long does it take to improve skin quality?
It depends on your skin and your concern. Many patients notice their skin looking healthier within the first few weeks of a consistent routine, while scarring and pigment usually take a series of treatments over several months.
Do I have to stop my skincare before injectables?
Usually not, but some products and treatments are paused right before or after certain procedures. Your provider will tell you exactly what to adjust before your appointment.
What skincare line do you use?
Candice is a ZO Skin Health brand ambassador and trained with Dr. Zein Obagi, and ZO is the foundation of most skincare plans here. Your regimen is customized to your skin type and goals.
Can I do skincare and injectables at the same time?
Often, yes. Many plans run a skincare routine alongside neurotoxin or filler treatments. The key is sequencing them so each supports the other, which we map out in your plan.
Bake the Cake. Then the Icing.
Bring your skin concerns to a consultation at our Houma office. We’ll tell you whether to start with skin, injectables, or both, and why.
Prefer to talk first? Call or text 985-247-0115