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Dr. Chua Cheng Yu: Will Ellansé (少女针) render hyaluronic acid fillers obsolete?
It is no longer a secret that celebrities turn to aesthetic medicine to keep their faces supple and youthful looking. Dermal fillers, specifically hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, have been the go-to anti-ageing treatment for many A-list superstars for years due to their fast and immediate results. For the average person, they can leave the clinic with a younger, fresher overall look in less than an hour – that’s how fast dermal fillers can deliver results.
However, as consumers become more savvy and are more in tune with the sustainability zeitgeist, their preference for treatments that produce instant, dramatic results have shifted towards treatments that are also more natural looking, longer lasting and cost-efficient in the long run.
The same goes for fillers.
Ellansé, a new generation collagen stimulator injectable, fulfills this need.
What is a collagen stimulator and how does Ellansé work?
Collagen is a natural protein created by the body responsible for our skin’s structure, elasticity, and strength. Our body’s ability to abundantly produce this protein begins to decline once we hit the age of 251. Following this, you will start to notice changes in your skin – fine lines and wrinkles start to show on your forehead or the sides of your lips, and your cheeks may look saggy as they lose volume.
Collagen stimulators combat these ageing symptoms by restoring the skin’s volume and improving its elasticity; collagen production is triggered as the stimulators are injected into the dermal tissue.
Ellansé, also known as the Needle of Youth (少女针), is a collagen-stimulating filler. Its efficacy in producing excellent anti-ageing results can be credited to its main ingredients: 30% biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres and 70% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel carrier.
When injected into the skin, Ellansé works in two stages.
- First, the CMC gel fills hollow areas of the face caused by volume loss. This process improves the skin’s suppleness, resulting in the diminishing of fine lines and wrinkles while providing a subtle and natural-looking face lift.
- Next, the PCL is activated and stimulates the production of Type 1 collagen2 in the skin, which allows the skin to preserve the effects of the collagen stimulator for a long time. Results of an Ellansé treatment can last anywhere from 18 months to 3 years, depending on the type of Ellansé used. After which, the PCL molecules are degraded and reabsorbed by the body.
What can an Ellansé collagen stimulator do for me?
The reason why a lot of my patients have diverted their anti-ageing preference to Ellansé is because of the benefits that this product has in store for them.
- Continuous collagen production, which makes results last longer;
- Cost-effective, as the effects of one treatment can last from 6 to 18 months depending on the type of the Ellansé used;
- Immediate results;
- Improved skin volume on sunken areas on the face;
- Reduction of fine lines and wrinkles
Ellansé can be used to treat and enhance the skin over your chin, cheeks, eyebrows, forehead, nose, temples, and jaw.
How is Ellansé different from hyaluronic acid fillers?
There are several differences between Ellansé and HA fillers, aside from their ingredients. The table below shows a summary of these dissimilarities.
Expected results | Ellansé | Hyaluronic Acid Fillers |
Reversibility | Partially | Yes, using hyaluronidase |
| Longevity | 18 months to 4 years, depending on the type of Ellanse used | 6 to 18 months |
| Migration or spreading | Minimal to none | Minimal to none |
| Possible adverse reactions? | No | Yes, can cause skin necrosis or lumps |
| Volume Restoration | Yes | Yes |
| Volume Maintenance | Yes | Decreases gradually |
The differences presented does not mean that HA fillers have completely no purpose. Personally, HA fillers may be a better choice if you need last minute touch ups and want to achieve immediate results for, say, an event. However, all of these can also be achieved by Ellansé, and the results are much longer-lasting.
Ellansé vs Radiesse vs Sculptra – Why I personally prefer Ellansé
Ellansé is not the only collagen stimulating dermal filler available in Singapore. You may have heard of Radiesse and Sculptra, two very worthy competitors.
But among the 3, my personal preference is still Ellansé because it is safer and more cost-effective as compared to Radiesse and Sculptra.
Ellansé | Radiesse | Sculptra | |
Composition and ingredients | 30% polycaprolactone (PCL) 70% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel carrier | 30% calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres 70% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel carrier | Poly-L-Lactic acid (PLLA) |
| Cost | $1200-$1800 per treatment | $800-$1000 per 0.75ml syringe | $1000-$2000 per treatment |
| Longevity | 18 months to 3 years depending on the type of Ellansé used | 12 to 18 months | 2 to 3 years after 3-4 sessions |
| Number of Treatment Sessions Needed | One-off treatment | One-off treatment | Monthly treatments for the first 3 to 4 months, top up at 6 to 9 months, then yearly |
| Expected time to see results appear | Instantaneous | Instantaneous | Gradual |
| After treatment complications or side effects | Minimal swelling | Moderate to high swelling | Possible swelling |
| Aftercare | Typically does not need massaging | Typically does not need massaging | Treatment area needs to be massaged twice a day, for 5 days in a row to achieve optimum results |
| Product range | Ellansé S Ellansé M Ellansé L | Radiesse Radiesse (+) | Only 1 type |
| Treatment areas | Brows, cheek, chin, forehead, jawline, Marionette lines, nasolabial folds, nose, temples, eyelids and under eye | Cheeks, chin, hands, jawline, Marionette lines, nasolabial folds, temples | Cheeks, chin, jawline, Marionette lines, nasolabial folds, tear trough, temples |
| Approval from FDA/CE | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Why the doctor matters when doing Ellansé collagen stimulator in Singapore
One very crucial thing to remember before getting an Ellansé treatment is to confirm that your chosen doctor has sufficient experience and knowledge on Ellansé. g.
Why is this important?
As an official Ellansé trainer in Singapore, I have encountered many doctors who are intimidated by or are reluctant to use Ellansé despite its many virtues over HA fillers. This fear stems from its semi-permanent nature that’s not easily reversible compared to traditional HA-fillers.
Semi-permanent simply means that the results of the product cannot be easily reversed once the fillers have been injected. This sets Ellansé apart from HA fillers which can be dissolved with the use of hyaluronidase.
When using Ellansé, doctors must take extra caution not to overfill the treatment area due to its semi-permanent nature. To ensure that my patients get the safest and highest quality results, I usually schedule a complimentary review session that involves some touch-ups when necessary.
Similar to other procedures, side effects may be experienced following an Ellansé treatment. The most common side effects include slight bruising, infection, minor swelling, and minimal pain, especially during the administration of the collagen stimulator. These side effects are only temporary.
What can I do at home to ensure the safest results?
Your doctor should be able to give you more detailed aftercare instructions following your Ellansé treatment. In general, these are what you should do and not do after your procedure to help your skin heal and avoid side effects.
DO:
- Remember to wash your hands prior to touching the treatment area
- Treat the bruised or swollen area by gently applying an ice pack
DO NOT:
- Apply intense pressure on or massage the treatment area
- Consume alcohol or take aspirin for the next 12 to 48 hours following your treatment
- Engage in strenuous activities, such as tough exercise routines in the next 3 days
- Expose yourself to heat and the sun without proper protection in the next 3 days
- Use makeup in the next 24 hours
On that note, some individuals may not be a perfect fit for an Ellansé treatment. It is best to let your doctor know if:
- You are under cortisone treatment
- You are hypersensitive to any of the ingredients that make up Ellansé
- You are prone to developing keloid or hypertrophic scarring
- You currently have (or history of) autoimmune disorders
- You currently have active sepsis or infection
- You have skin diseases that are acute or chronic
How much do Ellansé fillers cost in Singapore?
Ellansé fillers have 3 variations (Ellansé S, M, and L). Their main difference lies in the number of PCL molecules they each contain, which affects the longevity of results.
| Ellansé S | At least 18 months |
Ellansé M | At least 2 years |
Ellansé L | At least 3 years |
The longer the results last, the higher the cost. Other factors that may also affect cost are the doctor’s experience and skills. You can expect to pay around $1800 to $2700 for one Ellansé treatment, depending on the longevity chosen.
Conclusion
While we have seen that Ellansé surpasses the efficacy of hyaluronic acid fillers in a lot of ways, only time will tell if the former can replace the latter. After all, each patient will always choose the treatment that they are most comfortable with. Although, as a doctor that is knowledgeable and experienced in administering both treatments, I highly recommend using Ellansé if you qualify for this treatment and want to achieve natural, youthful results that are immediate, long-lasting, and do not require you to book multiple return trips to your aesthetic doctor. .
Do you have a question for me?
I am more than happy to answer them at ask@veritas.com.sg and +65 6283 3885
References
- Reilly DM, Lozano J. Skin collagen through the lifestages: importance for skin health and beauty. Plast Aesthet Res 2021;8:2 . http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2020.153
- Sharif, S., Ai, J., Azami, M., Verdi, J., Atlasi, M. A., Shirian, S., & Samadikuchaksaraei, A. (2018). Collagen-coated nano-electrospun PCL seeded with human endometrial stem cells for skin tissue engineering applications. Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials, 106(4), 1578–1586. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.33966