Change the Status Qwo of Your Cellulite

Do you have cellulite that makes you self-conscious? You no longer have to keep the status quo of your cellulite. Qwo is a safe and effective new treatment for cellulite.

What is cellulite?

Cellulite is the appearance of a dimpled skin surface. It occurs most commonly on the thighs and buttocks and is much more common in women than in men. In fact, about 90% of women in the United States have cellulite.

What causes cellulite?

Cellulite is a complex condition. Although fat is a component of cellulite, even people who are in shape and not overweight can have cellulite. Cellulite is not caused by what you eat or whether or not you get enough exercise. There are multiple factors involved in the appearance of cellulite. Under your skin you have a layer of fat, and under the fat you have muscles. In the fat layer, there are fibrous bands called septae that connect the skin to the muscle. These are perpendicular to the skin, so you can imagine that they go straight down. When these bands get firm and tight, they can pull down on the skin. This leads to an indentation or dimple in the skin, which is what cellulite is. Another factor is thinning of your skin that occurs naturally as you age. You have a layer of collagen in your skin that keeps it firm and youthful in appearance. Over time, your body stops making as much collagen so the layer gets thinner. When this happens, the fibrous bands can pull down on your skin easier to form cellulite. The fat under your skin can bulge out between the bands to make the skin surface even more irregular.

What treatments are available for cellulite?

Before now, there have been a few treatments for cellulite. But most are not too effective. Manual subcision is where a blade is place under the skin to directly cut the fibrous bands. Celfina is a device that uses this method. Lasers and other energy-based devices are used in this way as well as externally to treat cellulite. Now Qwo is available as a new way to get rid of your cellulite.

What is Qwo?

Qwo is the first and thus-far only FDA-approved, non-surgical, injectable treatment for cellulite. The active ingredients in Qwo are enzymes called Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) that degrade the collagen in the fibrous bands in the fat layer under your skin. When these bands are degraded, they can no longer pull down on the skin. This will smoothen out the skin surface and improve the appearance of cellulite. Qwo also helps redistribute the fat so you don’t see the bulges between the dimples. Qwo also stimulates the formation of new collagen to firm the skin.

Where can Qwo be used?

The clinical trials studied Qwo for cellulite on the buttocks. There are currently ongoing trials for treatment of cellulite in other areas such as the thighs. Qwo can be used off label in the thighs as well.

What happens during a Qwo treatment?

Dr. Alex will examine your skin to determine if you’re a good candidate for Qwo. If so, we’ll take baseline pictures of your skin to monitor your progress. The area to be treated with Qwo will be marked. Qwo is placed directly into the dimples using a tiny needle. Dr. Alex uses a painless injection technique to make it easy. Most people find the Qwo treatment very comfortable. Your Qwo treatment will take just a few minutes.

How many Qwo treatments will I need?

Dr. Alex recommends a series of three Qwo treatments done once every three weeks.

When will I see results from my Qwo treatment?

The clinical trials on Qwo showed that people will see their full results approximately one month after the third treatment. So the process takes about two and a half months from your first treatment to when you’ll see full results. Therefore, it’s important to plan your Qwo treatment well in advance of important events or the summer season.

How long do the results of a Qwo treatment last?

The clinical trials demonstrated that the results with Qwo will last at least one year. Current studies are ongoing to see if the results last longer than that.

Is Qwo safe?

Yes, Qwo has been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials. Over 1,800 women participated in the clinical trials for Qwo. Bruising in the area occurs almost all of the time, although women find less bruising after their first Qwo treatment. Other side effects are uncommon but include pain, areas of hardness, itching, redness, discoloration, and warmth in the treatment area.

Who should not have a Qwo treatment?

Do not have a Qwo treatment if you have an active infection in the area that is to be treated. People with a bleeding disorder are cautioned when receiving Qwo. If you take aspirin 81 mg daily, you can have a Qwo treatment, but people taking higher doses or those take other blood thinners should not have a Qwo treatment.

How much does a Qwo treatment cost?

The pricing for a Qwo treatment varies for each person. Qwo comes in vials. Each vial can treat up to 12 dimples per session and three sessions are required. So if you have more dimples, more Qwo will be needed and the cost will vary.

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Dr. Alex has performed over 10,000 cosmetic treatments with many satisfied patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Alex in our Encino, CA office.

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