Ellacor® - a first in excess tissue removal without heat, lasers or surgery.
What is Ellacor?
Ellacor is different from all other skin-tightening treatments. Rather than relying on tightening up existing skin, this innovative procedure actually removes micro-portions of excess or lax skin. This tissue removal improves the appearance of wrinkles by using hollow core needles to "delete" sagging skin. Think of it as a transitional treatment for tighter skin.
Treatment Areas
The ellacor® System with Micro-Coring™ Technology is indicated for use by medical professionals to treat moderate to severe wrinkles in the mid to lower face.
FDA-cleared for mid & lower face. Results may vary from person to person.
Ellacor FAQs
The ellacor® System is a new technology for treating wrinkles that removes micro-cores of excess skin in the mid and lower face on the microscale, without surgery or the use of thermal energy. (The inspiration for ellacor came from the unexpected results seen in hair transplants. When hair follicle units were extracted, the skin in the area became much tighter. The micro-cored spaces from ellacor immediately close with no potential for scarring.)
How do I know if ellacor® is right for me?
Your consultation with Dr. Ray Jalian or Dr. Helen Fincher will provide suitability and expectations. The most appropriate patient will have mild to moderate laxity and generally be in the 40+ age range.
During a recent webinar, Dr. Jalian took questions. These recorded Q & A's cover a wide range of topics asked by our webinar attendees.
"This is a first of its class tissue microcoring, a device actually aimed to remove up to 7% of the treated surface area in one session. We think this will be a nice complement to other tightening technologies by not only improving some laxity but also helping with fine lines. We are excited to be one of the first practices in the country to offer this service to our patients." Dr. Ray Jalian, FAAD
How does ellacor work?
The ellacor System uses hollow needles to remove micro-cores of excess skin, resulting in an improved appearance of wrinkles without evidence of scarring1,2 and faster healing time than many energy-based procedures. The treatment is somewhat like a punch biopsy that dermatologists have implemented for decades, but the removed cores of skin are vacuumed away via the needle hollows.
How is the ellacor System different from other skin rejuvenation devices?
Ellacor removes micro-portions of excess skin to achieve a tighter and firmer skin architecture. No energy or heat is involved as with lasers, and virtually no potential for scarring.
How is ellacor different from microneedling?
Microneedling uses small needles to injure the tissue, but no skin tissue is removed during this procedure – instead, the tissue is temporarily displaced. Ellacor is the first device to actually remove skin on the micro-scale.
Will having an ellacor procedure mean I won't need dermal fillers?
First, let's define Loose Skin vs Volume Loss. Volume loss displays as hollows and flattened contours. Loose skin may produce folds, jowls and "hanging" skin beneath the chin. Volume loss can cause a downward shift of skin and this sometimes plays into the issue of laxity. Determining what's causing the problem takes expertise. A proper consultation will direct the correction toward dermal fillers or tightening treatment - or perhaps both. But in a proper sequence.
Will having an ellacor procedure mean I won't need a facelift?
The key to Ellacor success will pivot on the degree of skin laxity. Ellacor is not a substitute for surgical intervention for patients with high levels of skin laxity or excess skin tissue. We will steer patients with excessive laxity toward surgical measures as Ellacor is not meant to achieve the same levels of tissue removal as occurs in plastic surgery.
How many treatments will I need?
As every patient has different needs, we recommend you speak with your provider to determine the treatment plan that is right for you. In the clinical trial, most patients underwent a series of three treatments spaced approximately 30 days apart.
Are the treatments painful?
As much as we'd like to say pain-free, there is some potential for pain during the procedure (and tenderness afterward). Depending on the level of treatment decided upon, you may receive a topical anesthetic or injected anesthetic. Our goal is to maintain as much comfort as possible.
What about downtime?
The actual real downtime average is around 3 days, but we're advising patients to plan on a week of social downtime. There will be redness, swelling, and likely bruising. Expect the treated area to be pink a bit longer. Recovery is relatively pain-free and post-procedure care is very simple.
Can I receive treatment with ellacor while pregnant?
No. Like other aesthetic treatments, ellacor is not approved for use in expectant or lactating mothers.
“Cytrellis has created a new treatment option for aging skin. For some patients, we can use this technology instead of lasers or conventional surgery, allowing for faster healing time without burns or scarring,” said Rox Anderson, MD, FAAD, director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at MGH and professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School.
What is the patient satisfaction and improvement rate?
- 90% of patients showed improvement on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale 5
- 86% overall patient satisfaction when considering all treatment sides 5
- 1.3 mean improvement in wrinkles on the Lemperle Wrinkle Assessment Scale 5
- 3 days average downtime2
Important Pre-Treatment Instructions
To reduce the chance of bruising, avoid the following supplements and foods (all of which increase potential for bruising) for 2 weeks prior to your treatment, unless prescribed by a doctor:
- Fish oil / Fish
- Green tea
- Almonds / Almond Milk
- Aspirin
- Pain relievers (Tylenol OK)
- Coumadin (get primary physician approval first)
- Glucosamine
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Vitamin E
- Exotic or herbal supplements
- Have you ever had a cold sore? If so, please call our office and we will write you a prescription for Valtrex (an anti-viral)
- Brand name medications list from Kaiser Permanente
