If you look at beauty trends, it may seem like there’s a new cosmetic treatment hitting the market every few months. But the reality is that most of these are simply variations or upgrades of existing technologies. It’s hard to find something that is revolutionary in the truest sense of the word. But there is one exception: Ellacor.
Ellacor is a skin-tightening solution unlike anything else we’ve seen so far. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind treatment that removes a portion of the skin’s surface without surgery. The result is tighter skin with less sagging and diminished wrinkles, just like what you would get from surgery but with less risk and downtime.
However, because this treatment is relatively new, there is quite a bit of skepticism regarding its efficiency. Does Ellacor really deliver what it promises, and is all this talk backed by science?
What Is Ellacor?
Ellacor is a nonsurgical treatment for mid-to-lower face wrinkles and skin sagging. Developed at Massachusetts General Hospital and marketed by Cytrellis, Ellacor features proprietary Micro-Coring™ Technology that received FDA approval in 2021 for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles in the mid to lower face.
Ellacor tightens the skin by removing tiny portions of it using hollow needles — similar to what is done during punch biopsies but on a much smaller scale. It’s almost like a mini surgery in this way but without the risks and downtime associated with surgical facelifts. Removing portions of the skin jump-starts the skin’s natural healing process, which includes neocollagenesis and neoelastinogenesis (the production of new collagen and elastin fibers). The result is younger-looking skin with fewer wrinkles and less prominent sagging.
The system itself features a reusable handpiece connected to a console with a touchscreen user interface. It comes with single-use cartridges containing one to three hollow needles. The device allows providers to choose from a single or three-needle array, the percentage of skin removal and the depth of penetration into the skin.
What Makes This Treatment Unique
Ellacor is also referred to as “micro-coring” and is somewhat similar to microneedling. It utilizes needles just like microneedling and works by boosting collagen and elastin production, which is also the primary benefit of microneedling.
But unlike microneedling, Elacor does not just puncture the skin but, rather, removes portions of it (up to 8.5%). The surrounding skin ‘collapses’ into the core to reduce excess skin. This also makes it fundamentally different from many other minimally invasive treatments, like laser skin resurfacing, radiofrequency skin tightening and chemical peels. These treatments injure the skin by using thermal energy or chemicals to promote collagen production.
When comparing it to surgery, Ellacor does not involve incisions, anesthesia or long recovery periods. However, just like surgery, it does involve the actual removal of portions of the skin to achieve tightening and lift.
But Does It Work?
Ellacor had to undergo vigorous testing to receive FDA approval, so there has already been plenty of research showing that it does work.
The idea for Ellacor came from observations of hair transplant patients. Providers noticed that the skin where the follicular units were extracted became smoother and tighter. Clinical trials on dozens of subjects found the following:
A 1.5 Ranking on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS)
GAIS is a five-point scale that assesses improvement in appearance, with 1 being the highest ranking, meaning excellent improvement.
A 1.3-Grade Change on the Lemperle Wrinkle Severity Scale
This grading system is used by plastic surgeons to assess the severity of wrinkles, with grade 1 wrinkles being visible with slight indentation. Ellacor achieved visible improvement in wrinkles by more than 1 grade on this scale.
High Patient Satisfaction
The study participants said they were satisfied with 85.6% of treatment sites. Besides that, an independent review panel correctly identified 84.2% of the post-treatment photographs.
Similar results can be seen in findings presented at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) in Chicago. Study subjects had an 80% improvement in moderate to severe wrinkles and a 1.1 grade improvement on the Lemperle Wrinkle Severity Scale.
What About Safety?
So far, Ellacor seems to be safe, and there are studies to prove it. The clinical trial mentioned earlier noted that procedure pain and bleeding were mild with good healing responses. The many subjects who underwent this trial reported only three days of downtime, which is significantly less than with many other skin-tightening treatments.
Three prospective clinical safety trials by Cytrellis found that the treatment resulted in scarless skin removal that many patients seem to tolerate well. Healing occurred rapidly after treatment, and there were very few side effects.
However, this is a novel treatment, and we don’t know yet if it’s safe for all skin types. Ellacor treatment is currently approved for fair to light brown skin (Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV) since there may be a risk of pigmentation changes post-treatment. It is also not intended for anyone with an active skin infection, medical conditions that lead to poor wound healing, bleeding disorders and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
So, Should I Give Ellacor a Try?
The best way to see if this treatment is right for you is to book a consultation with a provider. At Ridenour Plastic Surgery, we are proud to be one of the first practices to offer this treatment in St. Louis, MO. We are also one of the top 10 practices in terms of Ellacor treatments in the US. Our providers have been trained in using the Ellacor device to address mild to moderate wrinkles and sagging in the mid-to-lower face.
If you want to learn more about Ellacor or have any questions about what is involved with this treatment and what you can expect, feel free to contact us today. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have and offer alternatives if we believe this treatment may not provide the results you’re after.
