Whoa! – Let’s Talk About QWO & Cellulite

It’s unlikely to come across someone who hasn’t heard the old cliche, “No pain, no gain.” But with all the new and recent advances in aesthetics, that statement is further from the truth these days. With so many minimally-invasive, virtually painless treatments now available, you can actually see gains and improvements in the skin, overall youthfulness, and now even cellulite, with little to no lasting pain or discomfort. That’s why we are huge fans of Qwo.

Because it’s one of the newest injectables on the market, you may not have heard of it yet, but you definitely will. In short, Qwo is the first (and only) FDA-approved injectable treatment that targets moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of adult women. Sounds like a dream come true right? For most women, that’s a huge yes… But does it really work and how??

Let’s start with what cellulite is and how this injectable treatment is designed to address it. To put it in basic terms, cellulite is the dimpling of skin around fat pockets. Cellulite is caused by collagen bands, called fibrous septae, that attach skin to muscle and tighten around the fat that’s deposited between, causing the dimples or divots we see on the surface of the skin. And while we all hate it, it’s more common among women than you may even realize. No matter your age, weight, diet, or exercise habits, chances are you are part of the 90% of women who experience some degree of cellulite. It can be stubborn, frustrating and resistant even to consistent healthy habits. And to date, while it’s been addressed with things like lasers, small incisions and radio frequency treatments (with results lasting only up to 3 years), there is no permanent cellulite-eliminating treatment….yet.

But while we are still waiting to see long-term results, we do know that Qwo is both a quick and simple in-office treatment and has shown great effectiveness in both clinical trials and aesthetic use. (Yes, we’ve tried it ourselves and have personally seen noticeable results!) Qwo works by utilizing enzymes called collagenases that are believed to target the structure under the skin, helping to break down excess build up in fibrous collagen bands, redistributing fat cells and promoting new collagen growth.

All that from an injection? Yes. Three injections spaced three weeks apart to be exact. Here’s how the process works: Qwo is injected directly into dimples and, depending on the degree of cellulite, you could receive up to 12 injections in one 10-15 minute treatment. Then we will schedule you to come back for two more quick appointments, each 21 days apart, and results may be seen in as little as 10 weeks…. Pretty amazing right? Just imagine wearing that cute little swimsuit on your next beach vacation (minus the sarong or cover up) and feeling extra confident.

(Please do keep in mind that while Qwo has been clinically proven to reduce and improve the appearance of cellulite, it may not eliminate it completely and, at W, we always encourage patients to continue with a healthy diet and exercise for overall wellness and to encourage even greater results.)

As with all of our W treatments, we are very careful to try and minimize any negative side effects, but with any  aesthetic service, you may experience some bruising, swelling or discoloration in the injected area, minor pain or itching, nodule formation and redness or warmth. However these should be minimal and not cause for concern.

So will Qwo work for you? If you’re an adult woman with moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks (and realistic expectations), you’re likely a good candidate. However, as always, we want to consultation with you first to hear your concerns and make sure Qwo will be safe and effective for you. At your consultation we will also discuss the number of injections we recommend for your best individual results as well as the cost per treatment that you can expect. We’ve personally seen wonderful results and are excited to offer this cellulite-reducing treatment to our patients! It really is gain without the pain, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

If you’re interested in learning more about Qwo or visiting us to see if it could make a difference for you, we encourage you to call our office to set up your Qwo consultation. It’s never too late to build body confidence (or too early to start prepping for next summer’s swimsuit season).