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HydraFacial and ClearLift can be combined because they work on different levels of the skin: HydraFacial cleanses, exfoliates and hydrates the surface, and ClearLift is a fractional, non-ablative Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser that works beneath it. At Santé Madrid, whether both are done in the same visit or in separate appointments is decided by the medical team after assessing your skin. In this guide we explain what each one does, why they are sometimes planned together, the order they usually follow and when it is better to wait or choose another plan.
Key points
- HydraFacial is a hydradermabrasion: it works on the most superficial layer of the skin with cleansing, exfoliation, extraction and hydration.
- ClearLift is one of the heads of the Alma Harmony XL Pro platform: a 1064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser, fractional and non-ablative, according to the manufacturer.
- They are sometimes combined because they complement each other: one cares for the surface and the other works in depth without breaking the epidermis, according to Alma's description.
- When they are done on the same day, HydraFacial usually comes first to leave the skin clean. Whether to combine or separate them is decided by the medical team.
- It is not for everyone: tanned skin, pregnancy, active infection or melasma are reasons to wait or plan something else. Results vary from skin to skin.
What each treatment does: surface and depth
HydraFacial is the brand name of a hydradermabrasion system. A study using optical coherence tomography describes it as an exfoliative procedure for skin rejuvenation and observed changes mainly in the stratum corneum, the outermost layer, with no visible differences in dermal collagen during follow-up (Razi et al., 2024). It is a preliminary study with few volunteers, but it fits what is expected of HydraFacial: cleaner, more hydrated skin at the surface, not a collagen stimulus. If you want to know its steps and protocols, we explain them in our HydraFacial in Madrid guide.
ClearLift is one of the heads of the Alma Harmony XL Pro platform. The manufacturer presents it as its Q-Switched Nd:YAG solution, which delivers nanosecond pulses to treat different types of pigmentation and for rejuvenation treatments that Alma describes as compatible with your daily routine. On the same page, Alma explains that its Q-Switch pixel technology offers fractional, non-ablative treatments at five depths, and that ClearLift has an automated roller to treat the face, neck and body. In its guide to summer treatments, Alma adds that ClearLift is a 1064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser that works through a photoacoustic effect and keeps the epidermis intact (Alma Lasers).
Why they are sometimes combined
The main reason is that they do not compete with each other: they work on different layers. HydraFacial removes dead cells, sebum and debris from the surface and adds hydration. ClearLift, according to Alma's description, works in depth without breaking the outer layer. That is why they are planned together when the same skin shows both a dull or congested surface and signs of photoageing, such as uneven texture, fine lines or an uneven tone.
The HydraFacial manufacturer itself states that its treatment can be used before, alongside or after other aesthetic procedures, that it is often used as a pre-treatment before lasers, peels and injectables to cleanse and prepare the skin, and that it can also be used afterwards to support recovery (HydraFacial). On that page it also cites its own combination studies with lasers, which the manufacturer describes as limited.
For ClearLift, there is evidence from the same technology family. A split-face trial in people with photoageing compared a fractional 1064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser with a picosecond laser and described improvement in wrinkles, pores and texture on both sides after several sessions, with mild adverse effects (split-face study, 2025). It was not done with ClearLift or with HydraFacial, so it serves as context, not as proof of the combination. Results vary from skin to skin.
In what order, and whether they are done on the same day
When the medical team decides to do both treatments in the same visit, HydraFacial usually comes first. The logic is simple: the laser is applied to clean skin, free of make-up, sebum and product residue, and cleansing beforehand is exactly the use the HydraFacial manufacturer describes as preparation before a laser. In addition, the exfoliation can be softened so as not to sensitise the skin before ClearLift.
Combining them is not always the right option. If your skin is reactive, if it is your first laser session or if the plan prioritises pigmentation, the team may prefer to separate them into different appointments and observe how the skin responds to each one. This table summarises the order when they are done together:
| Stage | What is done | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Assessment | Review of the skin, medication, recent sun exposure and history | Decide whether the laser is indicated and whether to do it on the same day |
| 2. HydraFacial | Adapted cleansing, gentle exfoliation, extraction and hydration | Leave the surface clean before the laser |
| 3. ClearLift | Fractional Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser with the settings chosen by the medical team | Work in depth without breaking the epidermis, according to the manufacturer |
| 4. Aftercare | Sun protection and instructions for the following days | Protect the skin after the laser |
The number of sessions and their pace are set at the consultation and adjusted according to how your skin responds.
Who it may make sense for
The combination is usually considered for adults whose skin looks dull or has congested pores and, at the same time, shows signs of photoageing: uneven texture, fine lines or an uneven tone caused by the sun. In Madrid, the continental climate, indoor heating in winter and urban pollution can leave the skin feeling tight and lacking radiance, and sun accumulated over the years often shows in tone and texture.
It can also fit when you are looking for a care plan with little interruption to your routine. In its patient information, Alma describes ClearLift as a treatment with no downtime (Alma Lasers, rejuvenation), although every skin reacts differently and temporary redness may appear.
There are cases in which this combination is not the right tool. Marked laxity, spots that need a diagnosis first or inflammatory acne need a medical assessment and often a different approach. The Harmony XL Pro platform has other heads designed for other indications; we go through them in our Harmony XL Pro laser guide. The aim is not to add treatments, but to choose what your skin needs.
Who should not have it or should wait
A laser requires more precautions than a cleansing treatment. Before ClearLift, the medical team reviews your skin, your medication and your sun exposure, and may decide to postpone the laser and do only HydraFacial, or the other way round. A review on post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation notes that it is more frequent and more intense in darker skin and that any treatment that irritates the skin, including peels and lasers, should be used with caution so as not to make it worse (Davis and Callender, 2010). That is why, in skin prone to marks after irritation, the medical team weighs the settings and the pace of sessions more carefully.
In all these cases, mention it at the consultation. The medical team will decide whether to postpone the session, adapt it or choose another option.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Santé Clinics Madrid is at C. de Amador de los Ríos, 1, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00; the clinic is closed on Sundays.
We offer HydraFacial with the Signature, Deluxe and Platinum protocols, and the Alma Harmony XL Pro platform with the ClearLift head, as well as other heads for pigment, vessels, acne and texture. We do not offer a fixed HydraFacial and ClearLift package: each plan is designed for your skin.
The process starts with a free aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach, in which we review your skin, your routine and what concerns you. As ClearLift is a laser, the indication is assessed by the Santé Madrid medical team in a medical consultation, which costs €50. In that assessment we decide whether rejuvenation laser is indicated, which HydraFacial protocol suits you and whether both are done in the same visit or in separate appointments.
We make no promises about results: results vary from skin to skin, and we prefer to explain what you can expect in your case before starting.
After the visit: aftercare and sun protection
After the session, mild and temporary redness may appear, and the team will tell you whether to adjust your plans that day. In its guide to summer treatments, Alma notes that after ClearLift the usual measures are recommended, such as wearing sunscreen and avoiding prolonged sun exposure for a few days (Alma Lasers, summer guide).
These guidelines are usually recommended for the following days, and the team will give you specific instructions for your case:
- Use sunscreen every day, also in winter and on cloudy days.
- For a few days, avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning beds and saunas.
- Postpone exfoliants, strong acids and retinoids until the team tells you otherwise.
- Use a simple moisturiser, especially if you spend many hours with the heating on.
- If you notice irritation that does not settle or a new spot, write to us and we will check it.
Autumn and winter usually make this part of the plan easier, because it is simpler to avoid strong sun. Even so, daily sun protection remains the basis of skin care all year round.
Frequently asked questions
Can HydraFacial and ClearLift be done on the same day?
In some cases yes, but not always. The Santé Madrid medical team decides after assessing your skin: if it is reactive, if it is your first laser or if pigmentation needs to be prioritised, it may prefer to separate them into different appointments.
Which comes first, HydraFacial or ClearLift?
When they are done together, HydraFacial usually comes first so that the laser is applied to clean skin. The HydraFacial manufacturer describes that use as preparing the skin before a laser.
Is ClearLift an ablative laser?
No. According to Alma Lasers, ClearLift is a 1064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser, fractional and non-ablative, that works through a photoacoustic effect and keeps the epidermis intact.
Does this combination replace other treatments for laxity?
No. HydraFacial works on the surface and ClearLift is aimed at texture, tone and signs of photoageing. Marked laxity needs a medical assessment and often a different approach.
Can I have it if I have melasma?
Melasma needs a specific plan. It is first assessed in a medical consultation, and the team decides which treatment makes sense in your case, which may be different from this combination.
Does it hurt?
HydraFacial uses no needles and the intensity is adapted to your skin. With the laser, the sensation varies from person to person, and the settings are adjusted by the medical team; if anything bothers you, you can say so during the session.
How many sessions are needed?
It depends on your skin and your goals. The number of sessions and their pace are set at the consultation and adjusted according to how your skin responds.
If your skin looks dull and you also notice the effects of the sun on its tone or texture, a consultation at Santé Madrid will help you find out whether this combination suits you, in what order and over how many visits. We will explain it calmly before starting.
