Summer is here and we’re all ready for some long-awaited time at the beach or pool. It’s also the time of year when we hear more women complaining about a common culprits: cellulite. And while most women have it (it’s estimated that about 93% of all women have cellulite), those pesky dimples seem to be something women tend to fixate on.
The good news? We are excited to be one of the only dermatology practices in Charlotte to offer a brand new treatment for cellulite: QWO.
What is QWO, exactly?
QWO is the first and the only FDA-approved injectable product for moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of women. QWO, collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes, are enzymes that break down the structures under the skin that cause cellulite.
How does it work?
QWO works to treat cellulite by targeting structural components under the skin. QWO is thought to break down the collagen in the fibrous bands that cause the dimpling appearance of cellulite. As the fibrous bands break down this then helps to redistribute the fat cells as well as stimulating the growth of new collagen.
What is treatment like? Does it hurt?
The treatment itself is quick and relatively painless. Baseline pictures are taken to help compare your results. The treated areas is marked out and cleansed. And the injections take less than 10 minutes. Small needles are used to minimize pain at the injection site, and there is no pain with injecting the medication. Some patients report a slight tenderness next day but this tends to be mild.
Is there any downtime or recovery?
After a QWO treatment there can be some injection site bruising that typically resolves in less than three weeks. In most cases the bruising is less with each treatment. Other than injection site bruising there is no downtime with QWO. Other potential side effects include injection site pain, areas of hardness, itching, redness, swelling and warmth.
How long do results last?
QWO requires a total of 3 treatments, with one treatment every 21 days. Full results take up to 10 weeks, though some patients report seeing results fairly immediately and a significant improvement after the second treatment. Unlike Botox or other injectables though, QWO is expected to last for years before follow-up treatments are required.
What are some patients saying?
“I would recommend this for all of my friends!”
“I can’t wait for this to be approved for other parts of the body because it worked so well on my buttocks”
“Injections and treatment were painless, I didn’t feel the injection or the medication going in”
Ready to learn more about QWO? Call us today for a consultation!