What is Ellanse and is it reliable?

It is not FDA approved/used in the US as of now. Are you writing from outside of the US?

What is Ellanse (“少女针”)
Ellanse is an injectable dermal filler and collagen biostimulator that restores facial volume, smooths out facial lines and firms skin. Ellanse contains30% polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres suspended in a 70% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) gel carrier. Popular in Europe and Asia, it has been nicknamed “少女针” aka young woman’s injection.

How does it work
Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a medical polyester which has been used for medical purposes for over 50 years- found in sutures, orthopaedic implants and wound dressings. In the body, PCL is gradually broken down by hydrolysis into carbon dioxide and water by the body. The PCL microspheres used in Ellanse are designed to offer optimal biocompatibility. They have a smooth surface, a spherical shape and a size of approximately 25–50 μm
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is a natural material derived from cellulose that is often used as a gel carrier for injectable collagen biostimulators (Ellanse, Sculptra, Radiesse). It functions to act as a medium for collagen biostimulator particles, and to provide short term volume replacement for 2-3 months.
Working together, the CMC gel delivers immediate results, while the PCL microspheres act as a biostimulator, to ramp up production of your own collagen over the next 2-3 months. This improves skin elasticity and creates a more youthful appearance.

Ellanse stimulates the natural production of collagen in the body. That is to say, Ellanse is designed to engage the body over time, unlike Hyaluronic Acid injections which only provide a temporary filling effect. Ellanse does not contain Hyaluronic Acid. I find the product to be very reliable, especially for clients that are looking for long term results.

Hello there, in our practice Ellanse makes up over 75% of the fillers we use. When it is used by the right practitioner on the right patient in the right place it is as safe if not safer than HA dermal fillers. As a collagen stimulator it not only volumises but also will improve the quality of your skin. In practice we use the product that lasts for two years so is extremely good value for money.  Some patients swell a little post treatment but this subsides within 24-48 hours. 
The main contraindication to treatment is if you have any autoimmune diseases, as the skin sometimes behaves in an unpredictable manner
Would i recommend this product? Absolutely

It is similar to Sculptra but works better, according to Dr Nick Lowe. He spoke about Ellanse this weekend at the AACD meeting in LA. He works in London but used to teach at UCLA . Likes it right after Subcision for acne and traumatic scars and for hand rejuvenation. Not FDA approved. We will keep our eye on it. 

This product is not currently approved/used in the US. I would make sure to ask your physician their experience with the product, if you are outside of the States. Best of luck.

Ellanse is not approved for use in the United States, so it can not be used in this country. If you live outside the US, it is possible to receive this filler. If this is your first time receiving a filler, I would start off with a reversible product (i.e. hyaluronic acid) in case you are not pleased with the outcome. Ellanse is a long lasting product that can last years. If you like the results from the hyaluronic acid filler, you can consider proceeding with Ellanse, if you live in a country that allows this product.
 

Ellanse isn't available in the U.S. though it has been used extensively in Europe for several years. As such we cannot comment on the reliability and safety of the product because we can't use it here.