Ellacor – Micro-Coring
Discover a new, revolutionary way to rejuvenate your skin
Meet the latest innovation in skin care: the ellacor® system. This novel device is a Micro-Coring™ treatment that works by removing tiny portions of excess skin to fight the signs of aging and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging. Unlike other revitalization methods, which use heat from lasers, radiofrequency or ultrasound energy to achieve similar results by causing intentional injury to the skin, ellacor® removes tiny portions of tissue to trigger the body’s natural healing process, reduce sagging skin and boost collagen production for a smoother, tighter complexion.
Ridenour Plastic Surgery is proud to be one of St. Louis’ first ellacor® providers. This cutting-edge treatment belongs to an entirely new class of aesthetic devices that use fractional Micro-Coring™ technology to remove loose, excess skin without invasive surgery or scarring. Book a consultation today to find out what makes ellacor® one of the most effective treatments available for minimally invasive skin tightening and wrinkle reduction.
HOW ELLACOR® WORKS
The ellacor® system is a Micro-Coring™ treatment that uses small, hollow needles to remove skin on the microscale to rejuvenate your complexion and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and mild to moderate sagging. Each needle is below the threshold for scarring at less than 0.5mm in diameter, so no visible marks will be left after your procedure.
The ellacor® device rapidly moves these needles in a precise, grid-like pattern across the treatment area, creating micro-cores in the skin as it goes. At the same time, a built-in vacuum system provides suction to immediately remove the skin from the needles. These tiny cores extend through the full thickness of the dermis to permanently eliminate loose, excess skin without a single stitch, cut or incision.
The percentage of skin treated can vary, but doctors can safely remove between 6,000 and 12,000 micro-cores in a single treatment with zero scarring. That’s up to 8% of the skin’s volume, leaving it noticeably smoother, softer and firmer when it heals.
IS ELLACOR® RIGHT FOR ME?
If you’re interested in ellacor®, this nonsurgical treatment is ideal for reducing the appearance of wrinkles or sagging. It is FDA-cleared for adults aged 22 or older with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. In clinical trials, 90% of patients saw significant rejuvenation as measured by the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and 86% were satisfied with their results.
Countless dermatologists and skin care experts have praised the treatment for providing a natural-looking outcome without scarring. However, it’s important to note that ellacor® may not be suitable for everyone. It shouldn’t be performed on those who:
- Are pregnant or nursing
- Take certain blood thinners or NSAIDs
- Have a history of keloids
During your initial consultation, Dr. Ridenour and his team will evaluate your skin to help determine if ellacor® is right for you. Then, an individualized treatment plan will be developed based on your needs and the severity of your concerns to ensure the best results.
ELLACOR® BENEFITS
- Treatments are done in-office with local anesthesia
- Light sedation is available if needed
- Removes excess skin without incisions or scarring
- Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Minimizes mild to moderate sagging
- Results are visible yet natural-looking
- Takes only about 30 minutes to treat the face and mouth area
- Minimal downtime and recovery
- No thermal injuries to the skin
- Perfect for those who want to rejuvenate their appearance without surgery
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING TREATMENT
During your ellacor® treatment, your provider will start by injecting a local anesthetic to numb the area and ensure your comfort. Then, they’ll move the device’s handpiece across the face, mouth or other areas in a grid-like pattern to remove tiny micro-cores of skin with fine, hollow needles. As these cores are removed, a vacuum system will suction out the tissue. Depending on your needs, the device can be dialed up or down to gain your desired results.
Similar to fractional laser treatments, Micro-Coring™ leaves small bridges of normal tissue intact between the removed portions, allowing the skin to contract as it heals to provide a noticeable lifting effect. In fact, this technology was developed due to observations of the surrounding skin-tightening and shrinking that occurs with similar techniques. The remaining skin between the cores also helps treated areas heal more quickly.
As the device is moving across your skin, pinpoint bleeding is common, but it is relatively minor and stops quickly when light pressure is applied with a damp, sterile cloth. The micro-cores will begin to close before you even leave our office, so there’s no need for stitches or bandages following your treatment. You’ll be free to return home immediately afterward to begin the recovery process, which typically lasts about three days.
ELLACOR® RESULTS
Your ellacor® results won’t be immediately obvious, but you may notice a significant difference in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging after just one treatment. Improvements will develop in the weeks following your procedure as the skin tightens and collagen production goes into overdrive, especially on the cheeks, jawline and chin.
Typically, most patients undergo two to three procedures to achieve their goals, with final results developing three to six months after the last treatment. Once they appear, the results from ellacor® are long-lasting and can be maintained with a good skin care regimen, daily sunscreen use of 30 SPF or higher and ongoing follow-up treatments.
ELLACOR® DOWNTIME & RECOVERY
After an ellacor® treatment, most patients are comfortable going out into public and returning to work after about three days. However, recovery times may vary from person to person. Some people prefer to take more social downtime, as mild side effects like redness, bruising, swelling or dryness may still be present during the first week of recovery.
To keep the skin protected and improve healing, you’ll be asked to apply an occlusive, such as Aquaphor or petroleum jelly, for the first 24-48 hours after treatment. You may also be advised to forego wearing makeup for 3 to 5 days until the cores have completely closed, which can in rare cases take up to a week. After your treatment, Dr. Ridenour and his team will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to promote healing and ensure optimal results.
Schedule a Consultation
If your skin is aging and you want to restore a more youthful appearance but aren’t ready for invasive surgery, ellacor® can provide the dramatic results you want with no incisions and minimal downtime. This one-of-a-kind treatment uses cutting-edge technology to permanently remove excess skin to reduce sagging and minimize unwanted wrinkles.
Ridenour Plastic Surgery is proud to offer ellacor® to the residents of St. Louis and surrounding areas. If you’d like to learn more about this cutting-edge treatment or schedule your consultation today, contact us or call our office at 314-501-7946 to get started.
Schedule NowFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DOES ELLACOR® COMPARE TO MICRONEEDLING?
Microneedling is a rejuvenation technique that involves using small needles to cause injury to the skin tissue to stimulate the natural healing process. However, it does not remove the skin, but instead causes a temporary displacement of the tissue. In comparison, ellacor® is a groundbreaking device that is the first of its kind to actually remove the skin on a microlevel, providing a more effective solution for improving the appearance of wrinkles.
IS ELLACOR® PAINFUL?
In clinical trials, patients rated the pain associated with ellacor® at a two on a scale of 0-10. During treatment, a local anesthetic is used to minimize discomfort. The treatment is generally reported as tolerable, with a relatively pain-free and simple recovery.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED TO SEE RESULTS?
Every person is different, so our experienced team of aesthetic nurses and skin care specialists will work closely with you to determine how many ellacor® treatments you’ll need to achieve your goals. Most patients start with a series of three procedures spaced one month apart.
IS ELLACOR® SAFE FOR DARKER SKIN?
The ellacor® system is FDA-approved for Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV, which includes light to medium skin tones. Because darker skin types (V and VI) can react differently to aesthetic treatments, separate clinical studies are needed to determine the device’s safety and effectiveness for light brown, brown and black skin tones.