The aesthetic community is abuzz with excitement about an innovative technology that tightens skin and improves skin laxity, all without the need for surgery! Does it seem too good to be true? Let's delve into the details.

Micro-coring is a new technology brought to us by the bright minds at Harvard, who have also developed groundbreaking technologies in laser hair removal, fractional lasers, and fat freezing, to name a few! Micro-coring, as the name suggests, uses a small hollow needle to remove tiny full-thickness cores of tissue. Then, as the skin heals, it tightens up, kind of like shrink-wrapping the skin. The outcome? Reduced laxity, improved moderate to severe fine lines, and enhanced skin texture. The best part? It's an office procedure, and you won't need general sedation! The current device on the market is known as Ellacor, and it is FDA approved for the treatment of skin tightening on the lower face only at this time.

Let's break it down. So who's a good candidate for micro-coring?

1)  Someone with loose skin, also known as skin laxity, is a good candidate. While micro-coring doesn't serve as a substitute for a facelift, it can delay the need for one or improve the lower face and jowls for someone who doesn't want to undergo a surgical procedure. In fact, it can remove between 4-8% of the skin in an area, creating a noticeable tightening effect.

2) Micro-coring is effective for addressing 'smoker's lines' around the mouth, which are known for being notoriously difficult to treat. A nice perk of micro-coring is that people usually get a little lifting of the upper lip which makes the face look younger...again, without the need for surgery!

3) Micro-coring is a game changer for crepey skin! This innovative approach easily removes the wrinkled and collagen-depleted skin through micro cores, resulting in a tightening and firming effect.

4) Someone looking for a non-surgical approach would benefit from micro-coring. Since the micro-cores of tissue removal are below the threshold for scarring (500 microns), no scarring occurs when the device is used correctly without stacking.

Who isn't a candidate for micro-coring?

1) Someone with a lot of loose skin may not achieve the desired results through micro-coring alone. In such cases, surgery is often the most effective and only solution for removing excess skin.

2) If someone pulls their face back with their hands, a surgical procedure is likely a more suitable option. While micro-coring can remove up to 8% of the skin surface area, it cannot achieve a 100% removal as surgery can.

3) Micro-coring does require downtime even though it is minimally invasive. That's because the tiny cores of skin take 2-4 days to close up. And then after that time it can leave 'stamp marks' on the skin with redness that can take 7-10 days to fade. 

4) It's still unclear if this device is safe in darker skin types. The studies performed did not include the two darkest skin types (5 and 6), so it's unclear if it can be safely used in this population. As the device does not create heat, it is conceivable that it can be safely used without the risk of hyperpigmentation or complications, but we just don't have the data right now.

While micro-coring is minimally invasive, it does require thorough numbing to ensure the painless and effective removal of micro excisions. If you've seen this device in action, it looks much like a sewing machine on the skin, which can seem super painful! Thankfully, with nerve blocks and injected numbing medicine, the procedure is quite comfortable.

Some people think this is like microneedling on steroids, but the technology is actually much different. Unlike microneedling, which creates micro injuries through needle punctures, micro-coring involves the removal of actual tissue cores, creating a much more impactful result with tightening.

So how does this compare to other tightening devices such as ultrasound or radiofrequency microneedling? While both of these technologies can tighten the skin, their results can vary, and they tend to rely heavily on the operator's skill, especially for individuals with mild skin laxity needs. With micro-coring, actual skin is removed, so you know it's going to tighten and contract!

As with all devices, proper training and technique is imperative for the best results! This device is currently only available in your plastic surgeon or dermatologist's office.

 www.ellacor.com

Join this week's podcast episode featuring Dr. Lina Kennedy as we delve into the world of micro-coring. Dr. Kennedy addresses common questions, such as the key differences from microneedling, ideal candidates for micro-coring, patient expectations, a detailed walkthrough of the procedure, and its associated downtime. 

Follow Dr. Lina Kennedy here:-

https://www.instagram.com/linakennedy_md/

A new podcast episode drops every Monday!