Ellacor Microcoring in Austin TX
Ellacor is an FDA-cleared microcoring device that tightens skin in the mid and lower face by removing tiny cores of skin tissue, prompting the surrounding tissue to contract as it heals. No heat. No ablation. No cutting, no anesthesia, and no surgical recovery.
The Only Plastic Surgeon in Austin Performing Ellacor
Dr. Robert Whitfield is the only board-certified plastic surgeon in Austin performing ellacor. Every other Austin provider offering ellacor is a dermatologist or med spa. Dr. Whitfield brings surgical-level anatomical knowledge to the treatment — including precise understanding of the facial tissue layers ellacor is working in and how treatment depth, pattern, and sequencing affect the result.
Ellacor is one component of Dr. Whitfield's No Cut Facelift protocol — a three-technology non-surgical facial rejuvenation approach combining ellacor, SoftWave, and IPL.
What Is Ellacor (Microcoring)?
Ellacor uses a handheld device equipped with hollow microneedles approximately the diameter of a human hair. During treatment, the device removes micro-cores of skin — tiny cylindrical samples of tissue — from the treatment area. Each core is a controlled, precise extraction. The removal is complete: unlike microneedling, which creates channels that close, ellacor removes tissue entirely. The surrounding skin responds by contracting to close the gaps, producing visible tightening as healing progresses.
The procedure is sometimes called microcoring — a term that describes the mechanism. “Ellacore” is also a common alternate spelling patients use when researching the treatment. The device is manufactured by Cytrellis Biosystems and is FDA cleared specifically for skin laxity of the mid and lower face.
Because ellacor does not use heat or light energy, it does not carry the pigmentation risks associated with laser or radiofrequency treatments. It is effective on all skin tones. The micro-core removal is limited to the dermis — the structural layer of the skin — and does not affect the fat or muscle layers beneath.
What Ellacor Treats
Jowl Laxity
The jowls develop as the structural support of the lower face descends over time and skin loses its elasticity. Ellacor tightens the skin of the lower face and jawline, reducing the appearance of jowling and restoring definition to the jawline contour.
Neck Skin Laxity
The neck is one of the first areas to show skin laxity. Ellacor can be applied to the neck to tighten loose skin, reduce the appearance of horizontal neck lines, and improve the overall texture and tautness of the neck skin.
Lower Face and Perioral Area
Skin loosening around the mouth, softening of the nasolabial fold, and general lower face laxity all respond to ellacor treatment. The device can be used precisely in these areas to address localized skin changes.
Pre-Jowl and Marionette Area
The pre-jowl sulcus and the marionette area benefit from the skin contraction effect of microcoring. This area is difficult to address with injectable treatments alone. Ellacor is one of the few non-surgical options that produces structural improvement in this zone.
Ellacor Before and After: What Results Look Like
Results from ellacor develop progressively rather than immediately. The micro-core removal prompts a healing and contraction process that continues for several weeks after each session. Most patients begin to notice visible tightening at two to four weeks post-treatment, with results continuing to develop through eight to twelve weeks.
Jowl and jawline results:
The most commonly photographed ellacor before and after results show reduction in jowl volume and improved jawline definition. Patients with early to moderate jowling typically see the most visible improvement.
Neck results:
Before and after photos of ellacor neck treatment show improvement in skin texture and tautness. Horizontal neck lines soften. The neck-to-jawline transition becomes more defined.
Lower face results:
Improvement in perioral laxity and marionette area definition is visible in most before and after comparisons, though results are more subtle in this zone than in the jowl and neck.
Patients considering ellacor should review before and after photos during consultation and discuss realistic expectations based on their specific anatomy, skin quality, and degree of laxity.
How the Procedure Is Performed
Consultation
The treatment plan is established during consultation. Dr. Whitfield assesses the patient's facial anatomy, skin laxity, skin tone, and goals. The number of sessions, treatment areas, and sequencing with other No Cut Facelift technologies (SoftWave, IPL) are determined based on this assessment.
Preparation
A topical numbing cream is applied to the treatment area approximately 45 minutes before the procedure. Ellacor does not require injectable anesthesia or sedation.
Treatment
The ellacor handpiece is moved systematically across the treatment area. The hollow microneedles remove micro-cores of tissue with each pass. Treatment time varies by the size of the area being treated — a lower face and neck treatment typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. Patients feel mild pressure and a pinching sensation during treatment.
Immediately After
The skin shows small pinpoint marks across the treated area following the procedure — this is where each micro-core was removed. The marks are visible for several days and typically resolve within one to two weeks. There is no open wound and no bleeding beyond minor spotting at the treatment sites.
Ellacor Cost
Ellacor treatment cost depends on the number of areas treated, the number of sessions in the treatment plan, and whether ellacor is performed alone or as part of the No Cut Facelift protocol combined with SoftWave and IPL.
Pricing is provided during consultation after a complete treatment plan is established. Patients traveling from outside Austin for the No Cut Facelift protocol can discuss scheduling and treatment sequencing to minimize the number of trips required.
Recovery Timeline
The First Week
Pinpoint marks from the micro-core removal are visible for several days after treatment. The skin may appear reddish and feel tight in the treated area. Most patients find this manageable with their normal daily activities — ellacor does not produce the significant downtime associated with ablative laser treatments or surgery. Makeup can typically be worn over the treatment area within a few days once the pinpoint marks have closed.
Weeks Two Through Eight
The healing and contraction process continues during this period. Results develop progressively. The skin tightening becomes more visible as weeks pass. Sun protection is important during recovery to protect the healing tissue.
Optimizing Recovery
Dr. Whitfield integrates the SHARP Method — Strategic Holistic Accelerated Recovery Program — into post-treatment care for patients who want structured support for their recovery. The SHARP Method addresses nutritional status, gut health, and inflammation management — biological systems that directly influence how efficiently tissue heals.
Why Choose Dr. Whitfield for Ellacor in Austin
Every other Austin provider offering ellacor is a dermatologist, nurse practitioner, or aesthetician at a med spa. The device works the same regardless of who operates it — but the clinical judgment that goes into the treatment plan does not.
Dr. Whitfield understands the facial tissue layers ellacor works in from direct surgical experience. He performs surgical facelifts, fat transfer to the face, and the full range of facial procedures. When he assesses a patient for ellacor, he is doing so with the same anatomical knowledge he applies in the operating room.
- Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, FACS
- 2,000+ procedures performed
- Published research in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal
- Patients from 40+ states and 15 countries
- Austin office: 2530 Walsh Tarlton Lane, Suite 100
Frequently Asked Questions About Ellacor
What is the difference between ellacor and microneedling?
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Microneedling creates channels in the skin that close as they heal, stimulating collagen production through a wound-healing response. Ellacor removes tissue entirely — hollow needles extract micro-cores of skin, and the surrounding tissue contracts to close the gaps. The mechanism produces a different category of result: visible tightening from physical tissue removal and contraction rather than from collagen stimulation alone.
What is the difference between ellacor and radiofrequency microneedling?
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Radiofrequency microneedling (devices like Morpheus8) delivers heat energy into the skin through needles. Heat contracts collagen and stimulates new collagen production. Ellacor does not use heat — it removes tissue mechanically. Because there is no heat, ellacor carries no risk of heat-related pigmentation changes and can be used safely on all skin tones. The two devices address similar concerns through different mechanisms.
How many ellacor sessions are needed?
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Most patients complete one to three sessions depending on the degree of laxity and the result they want to achieve. Sessions are typically spaced four to six weeks apart to allow the healing and contraction process from each treatment to complete before the next session.
Is ellacor painful?
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Topical numbing cream is applied before treatment, which significantly reduces discomfort. Patients typically describe the treatment sensation as mild pressure and a pinching feeling. No injectable anesthesia is required.
Can ellacor replace a facelift?
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For patients with early to moderate laxity, ellacor can produce meaningful improvement and delay the need for surgical intervention. For patients with significant jowling, deep nasolabial folds, or advanced facial descent, surgical correction achieves a degree of result that ellacor cannot replicate. Dr. Whitfield performs both and will give an honest assessment of which approach fits each patient's anatomy.
How is ellacor different from SoftWave?
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Ellacor works in the dermis — the structural skin layer — to tighten surface laxity through tissue removal and contraction. SoftWave delivers acoustic wave energy to the deep tissue at the level of the SMAS, stimulating collagen remodeling and lifting at the foundational layer of the face. The two technologies are complementary: ellacor tightens the skin, SoftWave lifts the underlying tissue. The No Cut Facelift protocol combines both for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
Who is not a candidate for ellacor?
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Patients with active skin infections or inflammatory skin conditions in the treatment area are not candidates during a flare. Patients on certain blood thinning medications require evaluation before treatment. Patients who are pregnant are not candidates. These specifics are reviewed during consultation.
You Deserve a Surgeon Who Prepares You, Not Just Operates on You.
Dr. Robert Whitfield has guided thousands of patients through surgical decisions with clarity, data, and a personalized plan. Your consultation is where that plan begins.
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