In 2001, she was listed on Tear Sheet Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful list. Carlson was also listed at #43 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 of 2005 list ranked #41, and ranked #94 on their Hot 100 of 2007 list.

Outside of Nip/Tuck, she has appeared in several feature films, including Paparazzi (2004), The Marine (2006), the direct-to-video sequel Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004) and a supporting role in the comedy film Made of Honor (2008) alongside Patrick Dempsey. She has also made guest spots on Everwood, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, Monk and The Finder. She is now working on her first project as a Producer.

She was initially cast in the 2007 horror film Dead of Winter (later retitled Killer Movie) alongside stars like Leighton Meester and Kaley Cuoco, but was replaced by former Pussycat Doll turned Actress Cyia Batten before filming began, due to creative differences with the Director. After completing work on the final episodes of Nip/Tuck in 2009, Carlson segued into a recurring role on The CW sequel of Melrose Place, playing a Hollywood madam. She also had a short appearance in the Canadian television movie Degrassi Goes Hollywood. She can next be seen in Ghostfacers, an online spin-off of The CW series Supernatural.

She is a spokesperson for Smile Network International, a Minnesota-based humanitarian organization that provides reconstructive surgeries and related health care services to impoverished children and young adults in developing countries. An enthusiastic Equestrian since the age of seven, Carlson lobbied for a bill to prevent both inhumane transport of American horses to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada as well as roundups of wild horses by government authorities in January 2010.