If all it took to see a noticeably more youthful appearance (aka, fewer wrinkles) with minimal issues was a visit to the doctor (not invasive surgery), would you be on board? Happily, there may be a fix you’re looking for: Ellacor®. Here’s everything you need to know about the first-of-its-kind treatment, what it does, how much it costs, and the expected results.
Disclosure: This post is in no way a write-up to tell you what to do with your appearance, only to provide information so you can make an informed decision on whether or not Ellacor is for you. As usual, I adore you just the way you are and want what’s best for you, so please consult your physician or dermatologist to guide you in the right direction.
Kids Say the Darndest Things
True story – and one my mother was more than happy to share anytime she felt it was relevant. I never remember my Nan as anything other than looking old. That’s not to say it’s bad; it’s just how I remember her. And looking back on what I look like at my age versus what she looked like at the same age, the difference is astonishing.
As my mother told it, I was maybe three years old when I put my hands on my Nan’s face, smiled, and proudly stated, “I love you, Nanny, even if you have big wrinkles all over your face.”
Never one to be perturbed at her grandchildren, she simply smiled and went about her day. On the other hand, my mother had a wicked sense of humor and nearly fell off her chair laughing! (There’s a tale about me doing and saying almost the same thing but mentioning her false teeth in her dresser drawer, but that’s for another day.)
She’d bring it up every so often when we’d talk about my mom’s skin changes or when she’d buy a new wrinkle cream that promised results. And while the tale is an innocent one, it’s one that I always wondered if it bothered my Nan even a little.
While some women love the idea of aging gracefully, it’s a non-starter for me. I’ve kept out of the sun as much as possible, don’t smoke, and keep my skin hydrated, and happily, many times over, folks are astounded at my age when I tell them. I know if my family were to say to me what I told my Nan, it would be off to find the new Fountain of Youth. So, when Ellacor hit my radar, you can bet I wanted to know everything about it to have a backup plan.
First, What Is Ellacor?
In a nutshell, The ellacor® System with Micro-Coring™ was created to treat moderate and severe wrinkles in the mid and lower face in adults aged 22 years or older with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV (light to medium-toned skin). Or put another way, Ellacor uses hollow needles to remove micro-cores of skin, resulting in an improved appearance of moderate and severe wrinkles in the mid and lower face without the evidence of scarring.
To make this work, the needles are so small that they’re well below the threshold for causing scarring. In less than three seconds, a 10mm area of tissue can be treated, so it can be quick to use. Additionally, it doesn’t use heat, so there’s no risk of thermal injury.
The removed tissue is then carried up through the microneedles using suction. With the help of our body’s natural healing process, the skin quickly realigns, closing up the pores. This causes a noticeable look in the skin’s appearance, compliments of a smoothing effect. There’s minimal downtime, and results can be seen in a few months.
Taking about 30 minutes per session, appropriate anesthesia (either local via injection or topical) will be given so you’ll stay comfortable. And looking at a pain scale from 1-10, Ellacor’s average was a two.
Ellacor Side Effects & Risks
While guided pre- and post-treatment care will be your best friend to help minimize discomfort and side effects, there are a few you need to know:
- Redness
- Swelling, bruising, and/or burning
- Dryness or roughness
- Tightness/pulling of the skin
- Crusting
- Pain or discomfort
- Tenderness
- Tingling or itching
- Bleeding
- Numbness
- Skin peeling
- Circular marks on the skin
In addition, there may be more severe problems, including pigmentation issues, hematoma, infection, necrosis, and uneven skin appearance. While rare, they should be noted to inform you of the risks.
You’ll also need to avoid the sun and tanning beds before and after treatment, slather on that sunscreen (if you’re not already), and stay in the shade.
Ellacor Cost
If you decide Ellacor is right for you, you’re looking at three treatment sessions, roughly 30 days apart. As for the price, it will cost you a pretty penny. The average price per treatment is anywhere from $2,500 to $7,500. So, yeah, it is one of the more expensive treatments. On the bright side, it is long-lasting (I’d give you a specific time frame, but that’s the only one shown).
And lastly, the better you treat your treated skin, the longer the results will last, so make sunscreen your friend forever.
Read More:
5 Must-Have Benefits In Every Good Skincare Routine
10 Best-Selling Skincare Products To Buy Now
The One Anti-Aging Skincare Ingredient You May Be Overlooking
