At The Krochmal Center for Plastic Surgery
Watch Dr. Daniel Krochmal, MD, FACS review Ellacor Scarless Skin Removal at The Krochmal Center for Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Daniel Krochmal, MD, FACS answers your most common questions about Ellacor Scarless Skin Removal.
Ellacor is a cutting-edge device that removes skin without scars. Lift jowls, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and rejuvenate your skin texture. It’s the first-to-market device using Micro-Coring Technology to remove small circles of skin. The circles heal by shrinking inward, so the net result is a loss of skin with tightening! But isn’t it true that if you cut skin you always leave a scar? Nope. If you make a cut that’s below a certain size, it heals without a visible scar (if you’re curious, that size is about 400 microns). See the video above to learn more about the technology.
Ellacor begins by cleansing the skin with alcohol. Dr. Krochmal then numbs the area with a series of injections to block the nerves, and then places numbing fluid underneath the skin for maximal comfort. The device is then used to remove the skin without scars. Afterwards, a layer of protective gel is applied. And that’s basically it! From start to finish, the procedure usually takes about 45 minutes.
A good candidate for Ellacor is somebody with a bit of excess skin where surgery (e.g. a facelift) would just be too much to solve the issue. Ellacor treatments can be repeated (theoretically there is no limit) so even more skin can be removed if multiple sessions are performed! But at some point, if you have too much excess skin, a traditional facelift is just the better option due to the money and time spent to get the ultimate result. Patients should be in generally good health without problems with excessive bleeding. It’s also important to go to somebody who can offer multiple options for your area of concern. If they are a “one trick pony”, then they will only offer what they can offer, not what may actually be the best thing for you!
The recovery time for Ellacor isn’t bad at all. You’ll be a bit sore for a few days, but the discomfort is easily controlled with medications. You’ll apply Aquaphor or Vaseline to the area for several days while the holes are closing. Then it’s important to keep the area out of the sun for about a week. Depending on the “aggressiveness” of the treatment, and how sensitive your skin is, patients have some pink/redness that takes 2-4 weeks to fade. After about 5 days you can apply coverup makeup though.
While a single Ellacor treatment can be done, most patients would benefit from 2-3 treatments to see more dramatic results, including an improved skin texture. It’s ideal to allow the skin to fully heal before the next session, so we recommend waiting 4-6 weeks between treatments.
There is no “best” doctor for any procedure. But, there are some qualifications and credentials that improve the chance that you will achieve your desired result safely. Make sure your doctor is Board Certified. Make sure they practice in a reputable facility. Make sure they have completed an accredited residency or fellowship program. Read their reviews to get a sense of what other patients have experienced. Check out their before/after pictures to get a sense of their technical and artistic style, and see if they treat patients who appear similar to you.
And most importantly, schedule a consultation with that doctor to see if they are a good “fit” for you. Every doctor has his or her own personality and approach to patient care, so you will want to see if you like that particular approach. Do they inspire confidence and trust? Are they calming and reassuring? Do they take the time to answer your questions? Do they discuss alternative approaches and say why those approaches may or may not work? Do they seem like they will continue to care for you after the procedure?
There is no “best Ellacor doctor”, but there is a “best” doctor for you. You just may need to consult with several to find the right one. Hopefully Dr. Krochmal is on your “short list” of Chicago and Hinsdale plastic surgeons to interview. We’re happy to help Shape Your Future!
Ellacor Scarless Skin Removal costs between $2,000 and $4,000.
The Ellacor result is permament in the sense that the lower facial skin excess will always be improved compared to if you had never done the procedure, even if the skin does become a bit more lax with time.
You should get Ellacor if you desire improved contours of your lower face along with wrinkle reduction, but aren’t a better candidate for a surgical procedure such as a Facelift.