Histologic Study of Abdominal Skin Treated With Mechanical Dermal Micro-Coring Technology for Minimally Invasive Skin Removal.

[BACKGROUND] Mechanical Dermal Micro-Coring Technology (MCT; Ellacor System) achieves skin tightening and wrinkle reduction through direct mechanical excision of skin cores using hollow needles and collagen stimulation via the wound-healing response.

[AIMS] To evaluate histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the skin and subcutaneous tissue after a single and multiple treatments with MCT.

[PATIENTS/METHODS] In this single-center pilot study, 6 female patients scheduled to undergo abdominoplasty were divided into 2 cohorts. Subjects in cohort 1 (safety cohort) received 1 MCT treatment at a depth of 4 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm, each administered at 1 of 3 unique test areas, with tissue sampling/abdominoplasty 30 days after treatment. Subjects in cohort 2 received 1, 2, or 3 4 mm-depth treatments at 1 of 3 unique test sites, with 30-day intervals for > 1 treatment. Tissue sampling/abdominoplasty occurred 90 days after initial treatment. Histopathology was performed at a central laboratory, and biopsies were evaluated using H&E, Herovici, and Movat stains by blinded evaluators.

[RESULTS] A robust increase in new collagen compared to the control tissue was observed for 1 to 3 treatments in all samples. There was no evidence of inflammation or scarring, consistent with earlier preclinical and clinical histology.

[CONCLUSIONS] MCT-associated histological changes confirm that in addition to skin removal, treatment results in an increase in collagen and homogenization of the dermis in the treated area.