QWO (“collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes”) Injection Treatments to Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
Thanks to a recently FDA-approved treatment, it’s possible to reduce cellulite and smooth the appearance of buttocks or thighs with a simple, non-surgical solution. QWO (pronounced kwhoa) is an injectable treatment to reduce dimpling for those suffering from moderate to severe cellulite. A typical treatment consists of a series of injections delivered about 21 days apart. Some patients have seen noticeable differences in as little as 90 days.\
What is cellulite?
Having cellulite is a perfectly normal condition. In fact, 85% to 90% of women have cellulite, regardless of their weight. No known treatment for cellulite will remove it permanently, but patients receiving QWO treatments have reported positive and long-lasting results.
Cellulite is easily identified as a dimpling of skin around pockets of fat. Contrary to popular thought, cellulite is not the result of sagging skin or skin laxity.
To understand how cellulite forms, picture your body as having three layers: a covering of skin, a layer of fat, and a structure of muscles. There are also thin collagen membranes called septae that serve to connect the skin to the muscles. As fat builds up between the layers of skin and muscle, the septae become thicker and tighter, resulting in dimples. Cellulite becomes more visible as the body ages because the skin becomes thinner and is more easily pulled inwards by the septae.
Here’s another simple illustration. Think of septae like the thread used in tufted upholstery. In this case, there are three layers: fabric, structure, and foam in between. Strings connect the fabric to the structure and create dimples in the layer of foam. The same thing happens to your body.
Women tend to be more susceptible to cellulite than men because men’s septae bands form in a criss-cross pattern. However, men who receive medical estrogen hormone treatments may begin to develop cellulite as septae begin to form vertically instead.
How does QWO work?
QWO is injected into the target area by a medical professional. Depending on the area of concern, one single treatment can consist of up to 12 injections and take an average of 10-20 minutes.
QWO contains an enzyme believed to target Type 1 and Type 3 collagen and works to reduce the thickness of septae or release them entirely. This process will lessen or eliminate the dimples and make the skin smoother. Many patients require three treatment sessions with 21 days between each session to achieve noticeable results.
Can I get QWO treatments for cellulite on other parts of my body?
We can currently treat the buttocks, as well as the front of thighs and back of thighs in adult women.
Are there any side effects?
As with other injection treatments, QWO does have a few common side effects. Patients may experience bruising, pain, itching, redness, swelling, areas of hardness, discoloration, or warmth in the injection areas. Some patients have reported more serious side effects such as allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Bruising decreases with each subsequent treatment. Patients in clinical trials reported zero downtime and indicated that residual bruising was typically resolved within 21 days.