One of the biggest aesthetic trends that continues to evolve are nonsurgical treatments. The rise of these in-office options has changed the approach to skincare, and even surgery. The result: quick, effective treatments offering payoff that is beyond the reach of skincare alone, providing a facial tweak that perks you up in an indefinable way.
ellacor has entered the game and has the aesthetic beauty community talking. ellacor with Micro-Coring® Technology[CS1] is a cosmetic procedure that repeatedly punctures the skin with small needles that remove micro-cores of excess skin in the mid to lower face. Removing the excess skin, without an incision or thermal energy, unwinds years off the clock on skin laxity.
Who Is the Best Candidate?
Before we get into the procedure let’s first define the difference between loose skin and volume loss to clarify who may be ideal for this type of procedure. Volume loss displays as hollows and flattened contours. Loose skin may produce folds, jowls and hanging skin.
The most appropriate patient will have mild to moderate laxity and generally be in the 40+ age range. I am 45, the skin laxity was starting to show and jowls were creeping in. The approach of non-invasive treatments to slowly stave off future facelifts or to steady the hand of Mother Time, is the progressive approach to aging that I subscribe to.
The Procedure
The procedure itself is relatively quick, lasting about 30 minutes. My pre-procedure process began with topical and then local anesthesia to make the procedure much more comfortable and essentially pain-free. Once your skin is prepped, the facilitator will begin the procedure on your lower face. The handheld piece stamps, then suctions the skin in a grid-like pattern. The procedure is completely tolerable but pain tolerance is subjective and you may feel a prickly feeling, while other parts of the face had no sensation from the numbing.
Recovery Time
Post procedure, my face was swollen and the marks where the micro-coring occurred were noticeable. Your skin is entering into healing and recovery mode, so no active skincare is allowed.
Day 2-5 are the more challenging days of recovery as the bruising appears, the swelling is still present and there is a residual of the red grid from the micro-coring. Continuing past those days to day 14, I kept a low-profile as there was residual puffiness, redness and bruising. The downtime varies based upon how your skin heals.
Results
The most significant results from this skin-removal procedure will be seen at 3 months post procedure. Throughout this time, your body is ramping up internal collagen production. The premise behind this procedure is to remove the columns of the skin and leave surrounding tissue intact to assist with healing. The intention of the procedure matched the results I saw. My skin laxity greatly improved, the firmness of my skin greatly increased and overall skin reduction was visible.
To maximize results, the recommendation is 3 sessions over three months. As much as 8% of the skin’s volume can be removed in a single procedure with a series providing more significant skin removal and smoothing. To put it into perspective, typically only one to three centimeters of skin is removed during a face lift.
It is important to consult with a physician on the best treatment for you and to research the pros and cons to align expectations and understand any potential side effects. With ellacor, its signature trait is to improve moderate to severe wrinkles in the mid to lower face. If this is a concern, I would recommend this procedure. The visible results speak for themselves.
