Guide · Polycaprolactone
Ellansé in Singapore: PCL microspheres, versions, nodules and who it suits
Ellansé is a polycaprolactone (PCL) collagen stimulator: microspheres in a gel that gives some shape on the day, then a slower collagen effect. Here is how it works, what is known about its versions and duration, the nodule risk, who it suits, and why it cannot be dissolved.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 9 October 2026
Quick answer
- Ellansé in Singapore is a doctor-only collagen stimulator made by Sinclair: smooth polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres, about 30% by volume, in a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel. The gel gives some shape on the day and is absorbed over two to three months while collagen forms around the microspheres.
- Versions differ by the length of the PCL chains. A manufacturer-linked review gives at least 18 months for the S version and at least 24 months for M, and the manufacturer describes results that can last around 24 months with M. Results vary.
- It cannot be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Nodules are uncommon but are linked to large amounts in one spot and superficial placement, and late granulomas have been reported, so dose, depth and planning matter.
- At SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall, and IN Eternity Clinic, Pacific Plaza, PCL biostimulators are performed by Dr Sin Yong after assessment and priced at consultation. Ask which product would be used.
The basics
What Ellansé is: PCL microspheres in a gel
Ellansé is a brand of injectable collagen stimulator made by Sinclair. It is built on polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polymer first made in the 1930s and used in medicine for decades, including in dissolving sutures. It was CE-marked and introduced in Europe in 2009.
Each syringe holds smooth, round PCL microspheres, about 25 to 50 micrometres across, making up roughly 30% of the volume, suspended evenly in a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel that makes up the other 70%. CMC is a cellulose derivative widely used in medicines. The microsphere size is chosen so that they are not swallowed up quickly by immune cells, which would cause more inflammation.
In Singapore, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) classes all dermal fillers as Class D medical devices, its highest risk class. PCL is injected only by a doctor after a consultation, and it is worth asking which product is used and keeping a record.
Mechanism
Two phases: the gel first, then collagen
PCL works in two overlapping phases. The CMC gel gives a visible correction on the day, much like a soft filler. Over roughly two to three months the gel is absorbed by the body, and in that time collagen forms around the microspheres, which act as a scaffold that holds the support in place.
Collagen formation has been shown in human tissue: biopsies from the temple 13 months after treatment, taken from people who went on to have a temple lift, showed new collagen around the microspheres. Biopsies at six months also showed increased type I collagen.
This differs from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), where the early fullness is mostly water and fades within days. With PCL, part of the early shape is gel that lasts weeks, so the result you see in the first month is not yet the settled result, and it is judged again once the gel has gone.
Versions
Versions and how long the effect lasts
The Ellansé range comes in versions that differ in how long they last. The difference lies in the length of the PCL chains inside the microspheres: longer chains take longer to break down by hydrolysis, so the microspheres persist for longer before being cleared as carbon dioxide and water.
A 2020 review by authors who consult for the manufacturer gives a duration of action of at least 18 months for the S version and at least 24 months for the M version, and also lists an L version. The manufacturer's own website describes results that can last around 24 months with Ellansé M. We have not found peer-reviewed figures for other versions, so we do not quote them.
The main controlled evidence is a randomised trial of 40 people treated for nasolabial folds with two injections a month apart. At 12 months, 90% and 91.4% had sustained improvement with the two versions; at 24 months the longer-lasting version performed better, and satisfaction was 81.7% versus 72.4%. These are small studies in one area, and how long the effect lasts in your face will vary.
Suitability
Who Ellansé in Singapore tends to suit
PCL suits people who want structural support with some shape on the day, and who accept that the product cannot be removed with an enzyme. It is usually considered where volume or support has been lost, rather than for fine skin texture.
Because it lasts longer than many HA fillers and cannot be dissolved, it is generally a second step rather than a first experiment for someone new to injectables.
- Often considered for: hollow temples, flattened cheeks, nasolabial folds, loss of definition along the jawline and chin, and the gaunt look that can follow weight loss.
- Usually not used for: the lips, superficial placement under thin skin such as directly beneath the eyes, or anyone who wants the option to dissolve.
- Not advised: pregnancy or breastfeeding, active skin infection or inflammation in the area, or allergy to any component.
- Discuss first: autoimmune disease, keloid scarring, blood thinners, recent dental infection, and any earlier filler or non-absorbable implant in the same area.
- Marked sagging with excess skin is better discussed with lifting in mind, sometimes with a plastic surgeon.
Main risks
Nodules and granulomas: what is known
The same 2020 review reports that lumps or nodules after PCL were usually linked to technique, such as a bolus larger than 0.2 mL in one spot or injecting too superficially. It quotes manufacturer surveillance data with very low reported rates, but voluntary reporting tends to undercount minor problems, so those figures are a floor rather than a true rate.
Across collagen stimulators as a group, a 2025 meta-analysis of 25 studies found nodules in about 5% of treated people, with pain and bruising common. Late granulomatous reactions to PCL, a firmer inflammatory response that can appear months later, have been reported: a 2026 case series described four people with firm lumps under the skin that did not hurt, and showed how ultrasound helps recognise them.
Prevention comes down to dose, depth and distribution: small amounts per point, the correct layer for the area, and even spreading. Inflammatory nodules or granulomas may need medicines such as steroid injections, and occasionally surgical removal. Any lump that is red, warm, growing or painful should be seen by a doctor promptly.
No dissolving
It cannot be dissolved: what that means in practice
Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid only. It does not act on PCL microspheres or the CMC gel, so if the result is too much or uneven there is no quick enzyme fix. For the first two to three months some of the volume is gel that will be absorbed anyway, which is why it is sensible to wait for that phase to pass before judging or adding more.
If excess or lumps persist, the options depend on the cause: steroid or other injections for inflammatory lumps, surgical removal for a discrete lump, and a plastic surgeon's opinion where surgery is being considered. On drsinyong.com, Dr Sin Yong describes using the Sculpting mode of his Time Freeze Laser LCLR® protocol on PCL nodules after ultrasound mapping. That is his clinical protocol, not something tested in published trials; it can remove more fat in a zone than intended and is not suitable for lean faces, so it is decided case by case.
Earlier filler
Ultrasound, unknown filler and overfilled faces
PCL looks distinctive on ultrasound: the microspheres show as bright spots with small 'comet-tail' artefacts, which helps tell them apart from hyaluronic acid, which looks like dark pockets. This matters for people who have had treatment elsewhere and do not know what was used, because the plan for PCL is different from the plan for HA.
If a face already looks heavy from layered HA filler, the usual order is to map it, dissolve the HA that is causing the problem, and let the tissues settle before deciding whether anything is needed. A 2026 preliminary study of 12 people treated PCL after hyaluronidase in overfilled faces and reported improvement, but it was small, uncontrolled and short, so it does not establish this as a routine approach. Adding a long-lasting, non-dissolvable product to a face that is already overfilled carries obvious risks.
Compared
PCL vs PLLA vs HA filler at a glance
These are general patterns from the studies above and from how the materials work. Technique, the area and your own tissues change every row.
If you are comparing PLLA products specifically, our Juvelook vs Sculptra guide covers poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D,L-lactic acid in more detail.
| PCL (e.g. Ellansé) | PLLA (e.g. Sculptra) | HA filler | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | PCL microspheres in a CMC gel | PLLA microparticles mixed with water | Cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel |
| On the day | Some shape from the gel | Fullness from water, fades in days | Visible change straight away |
| Later | Gel absorbed over 2–3 months; collagen forms around microspheres | Collagen builds over weeks to months | Gel slowly breaks down; can persist for years on imaging |
| Sessions | Often one or two | Usually a course of several | Often one, with a review |
| Can it be dissolved? | No | No | Yes, with hyaluronidase |
| Specific risk | Nodules, late granulomas | Nodules, especially near mouth and eyes | Lumps, migration, Tyndall effect |
Safety
Aftercare, and warning signs that need help at once
Swelling, tenderness and bruising usually settle over several days. Follow the doctor's advice on massage, avoid strenuous exercise, saunas and facial treatments for a few days, and attend the review. Do not book treatment just before an important event.
Any injection into the face can, rarely, block a blood vessel, and collagen stimulators are not exempt: in 2023 HSA reported Singapore's first case of blindness after a dermal filler, involving a poly-D,L-lactic acid product, and found no product quality issue. Seek help immediately if skin near the area turns pale, white, blotchy or dusky, pain keeps increasing, or your vision changes. Contact the treating clinic at once or go to an emergency department.
At SkinRev Lab
What happens at SkinRev Lab
PCL and PLLA collagen biostimulators are performed by Dr Sin Yong after a consultation, at SkinRev Lab, #B1-28 CityLink Mall, 1 Raffles Link, linked underground to City Hall and Esplanade MRT, open daily 11am to 8pm (WhatsApp +65 8266 9585), or at IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, beside Orchard MRT, Monday to Saturday 11am to 8pm (WhatsApp SkinRev Lab on +65 8266 9585 or IN Eternity Clinic on +65 8815 3008).
He reviews your treatment history, examines your face at rest and in motion, and scans earlier filler with ultrasound where it is relevant. He explains the options, including HA filler, PLLA, PCL, lifting, skin-quality treatments and no treatment, and the risks of each. Treatment is priced at consultation. Our pages do not commit to a brand, so ask which product would be used and why it fits your face.
Sources
References & sources
- Christen MO, Vercesi F. Polycaprolactone: how a well-known and futuristic polymer has become an innovative collagen-stimulator in esthetics. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:31-48. PMID 32161484.
- Moers-Carpi MM, Sherwood S. Polycaprolactone for the correction of nasolabial folds: a 24-month, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39(3 Pt 1):457-463. PMID 23350617.
- Sinclair. Ellansé: product information for patients (manufacturer website).
- Smith L, Rahmati M, Pizzol D, et al. Biostimulants in aesthetic medicine: a systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction. Aesthet Surg J. 2025;45(12):1278-1284. PMID 40674466.
- Habibi S, Khorasanizadeh F, Etesami I, et al. Ultrasonographic features of polycaprolactone granulomatous reactions: case series and a literature review. Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2026;8:ojag116. PMID 42488346.
- Murray G, Convery C, Walker L, Davies E. Guideline for the safe use of hyaluronidase in aesthetic medicine, including modified high-dose protocol. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(8):E69-E75. PMID 34840662.
- Xue Z, Kim C, Hwang D. A preliminary study of polycaprolactone filler after hyaluronidase for facial overfilled syndrome. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2026;19:615095. PMID 42371529.
- Health Sciences Authority, Singapore. HSA concludes its investigation into AestheFill. 12 October 2023.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
What is Ellansé made of?
Polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres, about 30% of the volume, suspended in a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel, about 70%. The gel gives early shape and is absorbed over two to three months; the microspheres support collagen formation.
How long does Ellansé last?
Versions differ by PCL chain length. A manufacturer-linked review gives at least 18 months for S and at least 24 months for M, and the manufacturer describes results that can last around 24 months with M. Results vary.
Is Ellansé a filler or a collagen stimulator?
Both, in a sense. The gel carrier gives some immediate volume like a soft filler, while the microspheres act as a scaffold for new collagen, which gives the longer-term effect.
Can Ellansé be dissolved?
No. Hyaluronidase only breaks down hyaluronic acid. Problems with PCL are managed in other ways, such as injections for inflammatory lumps or surgical removal of a discrete lump, so careful planning matters.
Does Ellansé cause lumps?
It can, though not commonly. Nodules are linked to large amounts in one spot and superficial placement, and late granulomas have been reported. Small amounts per point in the correct layer reduce the risk.
How many Ellansé sessions are needed?
Often one or two, sometimes a month apart, as in the main trial. It depends on the area and the degree of volume loss, and is decided at consultation.
Is Ellansé the same as Sculptra?
No. Ellansé is PCL in a gel carrier and gives some shape on the day. Sculptra is PLLA mixed with water; its early fullness fades within days and collagen builds over a course. Neither can be dissolved.
Can Ellansé be used after dissolving filler?
Some doctors have tried PCL after dissolving overfilled HA, but the published evidence is one small preliminary study. Usually the face is mapped, the problem HA dissolved, and the result left to settle before deciding whether anything is needed.
Who performs PCL biostimulators at SkinRev Lab, and how much is it?
Dr Sin Yong performs PCL and PLLA biostimulators after a consultation at SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall, or IN Eternity Clinic, Pacific Plaza. Treatment is priced at consultation, as it depends on the product, the amount and the areas.