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Qwo (Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum-aaes)

Dissolve your cellulite with Qwo injections for smoother, more youthful skin without downtime or lengthy, involved treatments.

Dissolve your cellulite with Qwo injections for smoother, more youthful skin without downtime or lengthy, involved treatments.

Qwo Cellulite Injections – Dissolve Your Cellulite with a New Injectable Treatment

In this video, Dr. Chasin explains Qwo, a new injectable treatment that dissolves the deep dimpled cellulite many women struggle with.

Qwo releases deep dimples by dissolving the fibrous bands that cause them, with a simple injection of a safe drug that’s been used for years in other medical applications.

Our patients have loved using Sculptra injections and/or Exillis Ultra, a non-surgical ultrasound and radiofrequency (RF) energy treatment, to fix the orange-peel texture of cellulite, but the treatments for the deep dimples of cellulite have thus-far been pretty invasive, many surgical in nature, since they all included various ways of cutting these high-tension fibers that tether the skin to the fascia below. This exact formulation of collagenase has been used for years to release fibrous bands.

 

Qwo Cellulite Injections Quick Facts

  • No downtime
  • No numbing or anesthesia
  • Improves cellulite dimples
  • Available since 2021

What Can Qwo Cellulite Injections Do?

Qwo can help improve the appearance of cellulite by reducing dimpling. This resulted in a 1-2 grade improvement in cellulite scoring of subjects treated during the clinical trials. In plain English, that’s a visible and significant improvement – the chart of cellulite grading scale below will help you to better understand the magnitude of improvement.

So when we say people can improve by 1-2 grades of cellulite with Qwo, that means Qwo injections can take someone who has visible cellulite all the time to a level where that cellulite is only visible with pressure being applied to the skin – and that’s a really big deal!

How Do Qwo Cellulite Injections Work?

Qwo is made up of 2 collagenase (or collagen-dissolving) chemicals. They specifically target collagen type 1-3 in the areas they’re injected – meaning they don’t affect all collagen in that area, they specifically target the type of collagen that forms fibrous septae, which are the bands that tether the skin to the fascia and muscle below. These septae are what are responsible for deep dimples in your skin that create that type of cellulite. When these bands are released, the skin has a smoother appearance.

Qwo Injections For Cellulite Reduction Treatment Process

First, you’ll be evaluated at our offices (or through private video chat consultation) by one of our cosmetic physicians who specializes in cellulite treatment evaluation. This is critical because this free consultation with someone who provides not only Qwo, but a range of treatments, and who is familiar with the anatomy (and potential underlying medical conditions and nuances of treatment) will be able to give you the honest feedback you need to make an informed decision about your cellulite treatments. At Reflections, only physicians who specialize in cosmetic injections will be injecting QWO, not nurses (RNs and ARNPs), physician assistants (PAs), aestheticians, or technicians.

 

  • Recovery & Downtime: None required
  • Numbing: Lidocaine mix-in optional
  • Cost: $2,100 for up to 12 dimples; $3,000 for up to 24 dimples
  • Candidacy: People who are not pregnant, breastfeeding, do not have active infections in the area, and who have moderate to severe cellulite dimples
  • Duration: Permanent improvement
  • Why We Love It: Painless, simple injections with no downtime leading to improvement in the appearance of dimples

View Qwo Cellulite Injection Before & After Images

Patient Stories About Qwo Cellulite Injections

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“If you have issues and want to your appearance improved Dr. Wix-Harris is the Doctor to go to. ”

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“It sounded too good to be true. But after meeting with you and understanding your knowledge of this miracle procedure I became convinced that this procedure might actually work, and it has!!”

View My Story

“I had the treatments and I am very happy, the cellulite is about 70 percent better and that is fine with me.”

View My Story

Why Choose Reflections Center For Qwo Injections

Qwo is an injectable procedure, but that doesn’t mean that anyone who performs cosmetic injections is going to be skilled at or qualified to provide Qwo. Since we’re using an enzyme that dissolves collagen, you want to ensure it’s injected only in the exact right places, and that requires a physician or advanced practitioner who understands the anatomy and who has been trained in this specific procedure.

Find a Doctor Who Performs More Than One Type of Cellulite Treatment

Beyond that, you don’t want someone who only has 1 treatment option to tell you whether you’re a candidate for that treatment – you want someone who’s experienced using all of the best treatments for your concern, so they can tell you which treatment(s) will work best for you based not just on clinical studies, but also on the learned nuances that only experience can provide. And

Schedule Your Consultation Today

When the consultation to learn more about Qwo is free, like ours are, well it’s just a no-brainer. If you’re a new patient interested in Qwo, we recommend filling out our online form. Existing patients should give our office a call to begin next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Qwo Cellulite Injections

  • Am I a candidate for Qwo?

    Candidates for treatment with Qwo:

    • Are not allergic to collagenase or to any of the ingredients in qwo
    • Do not have active infections (including pimples) in the treatment area
    • Are not currently pregnant – and do not plan to become pregnant during the next 90 days
    • Are not currently breastfeeding
    • Do not have bleeding disorders or diseases
    • Have moderate to severe individual cellulite dimples, as opposed to or in addition to diffuse, all-over orange-peel or wavy skin texture, which is a different type of cellulite, for which we offer other cellulite treatments.
  • How much does Qwo cost?

    The price for Qwo at our New Jersey practices is:

    • $2,100 up to 12 dimples for all 3 injection sessions needed ($700 per treatment)
    • $3,000 up to 24 dimples for all 3 injection sessions needed ($1,000 per treatment)

    Right now, you can save on Qwo treatment at our practice, during our limited-time introductory pricing offer.

  • When will I start to see reuslts from Qwo cellulite treatments?

    Most patients start to see some improvement in the month after the first treatment and before the second treatment session, and results typically improve with each session – making 1 month after the final session the full and final result, which is expected to last many many years, if not forever.

    A Note on Bruising With Qwo

    Most patients will experience some bruising with Qwo. The patient shown above sent us a selfie of her bruising after her first treatment. This type of bruising is very common – it’s not painful, but it is visible. It generally lasts a week or two after the first injection session, and if you have bruising after sessions 2 and 3, it will be far less severe and shorter in duration. Those with skin that’s darker in color seem to have more severe bruising from Qwo – we’re unsure why this is, but clinical studies showed this across the board.

  • Does Qwo hurt? Will I need anesthesia or numbing?

    No, Qwo doesn’t hurt any more than any other similar injection. It’s on-par with a vaccination or filler injection – and those are just a smidge more than Botox. Unlike some other popular injections, Qwo does not come pre-mixed with any numbing medication in it.

    If you’re worried, though, there’s always the option to use injection numbing of lidocaine (the topical cream won’t really be enough to help, here, since the injections are deeper).

  • Are there side effects from Qwo? What should I expect after injection?

    Qwo is relatively painless and the immediate side effects after are what you’d expect from any injection: mild redness, potential swelling (sometimes felt as spot-firmness) in the area injected. You can potentially also experience discoloration, pain, warmth, hardness, or itching at the injection site.

    Because of the way this enzyme works, you will likely have bruising that develops over the first day and lasts for 2 weeks or so. This is expected. It will look like bruising, but it probably won’t feel tender like a traumatic bruise. This tells us the enzyme has worked at dissolving those bands.

    It shouldn’t keep you from going to work or working out, and you shouldn’t expect to be in real pain from it.

  • Can I treat the same day as my consult?

    Some patients may wish to treat the same day – and that’s fine provided you don’t plan on showing off the area to anyone who might mind seeing a bruise for the next 9 weeks (or 2.5 months).

  • Planning for your recovery after Qwo

    Diffuse, visible bruising in the treated areas is the one side effect you should be aware of and plan for. Technically you’ll only have bruising for about 2 weeks following your treatment, but then at week 3 you need to treat again (twice), so that you get 3 treatments across 9 weeks, and you’ll essentially expect to be re-bruised at each. The first bruising is the worst, and then each subsequent bruising diminishes.

    While the overall bruising time sounds long – it’s actually approximately the same amount of time we’ve seen patients experience bruising from Cellulaze, which is one of the most popular alternatives to Qwo, although patients who have Cellulaze tend to report significant tenderness and discomfort with their bruising as well as duration, as opposed to Qwo users who have said that it’s less of a pain and more of an inconvenience.

  • Qwo vs. Cellulaze

    Both Qwo and Cellulaze are effective procedures for cellulite but often a patient is a better candidate for one versus the other. Qwo is better at spot treating individual cellulite dimples, Cellulaze is better for treating diffuse cellulite symptoms across a larger area, the typical all-over wavy “orange peel” texture issue.

    Qwo has the definite advantage being very comfortable, quick, and easy. Cellulaze is a more involved process that generally causes tender bruising, some downtime, and is more expensive, as well.

    Now, Cellulaze does have a few advantages over Qwo – it treats both fibrous septae that cause deep dimples AND the all-over wavy “orange peel” texture type of cellulite – and it does this not just by cutting the fibrous bands, but also by lasering the skin from underneath with a much more powerful laser than we would be able to use in a traditional top-of-skin laser treatment. This builds dramatic new collagen and remodels the texture of the skin. Cellulaze is a part of the SmartLipo laser liposuction system, so you also have the ability to remove fat from the treated area at the same time – which is something patients often want and need to achieve their goals.

  • Qwo vs. Cellfina

    Qwo and Cellfina both treat individual cellulite dimples, but Cellfina is more invasive and traumatic than Qwo.

    Cellfina uses blades to sever the fibrous strands causing dimples, whereas Qwo uses a gentle series of injections for a similar outcome.

  • Can Qwo and Sculptra be done at the same time?

    No, because the two products could interact and potentially negate each other. However, if the dimples are in a different area, they can be both done at same session.

    Sculptra and hyperdilute Radiesse are often used in our practice to treat the all-over wavy “orange peel” type of cellulite – this is the type caused by weak collagen support. Since Sculptra and Radiesse are stimulatory agents that cause the body to build new collagen, they’re particularly good at smoothing out cellulite.

    Combining different procedures that attack the various forms of cellulite in a treatment regimen can improve the final outcome and your ultimate satisfaction, and helping you to feel happier about your appearance is our goal.

  • Can you have Exilis Ultra and Qwo at the same appointment?

    Yes, you can have Qwo the same day as an Exilis Ultra treatment, so long as the Qwo is done afterwards, to prevent the heat of the Exilis treatment from interfering with the Qwo’s efficacy.

    Exilis Ultra is a non-invasive treatment that utilizes ultrasound and radiofrequency (RF) energy to smooth out cellulite. It is both effective and inexpensive, but it does require maintenance.

Comparing & Contrasting Qwo To The Competition

Qwo is certainly not the only cellulite treatment, and it’s not the only one we offer, either. The best way to explore the options that are best for you is to schedule a free consultation – either in-person at our New Jersey offices or over secure video chat – with one of our cosmetic physicians.

Planning For Your Qwo Cellulite Injection Treatment

  • Before Treatment
  • There’s really not too much prep work involved with Qwo. Prepare for your Qwo treatment by doing the following:

    Avoid Blood Thinners

    Avoiding blood thinners as much as you can (without violating your doctor’s orders) – including: Fish Oil (Omega Fatty Acids), Vitamin E, Glucosamine, Chondroitn, Ginkgo Biloba, Green Tea, etc. – taken as large quantities, not used simply in cooking, which is a much lower dose.

    Take Tylenol – Stop NSAIDs

    Swap your over-the-counter pain meds called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — include such drugs as Advil, Aleve, Bufferin, Excedrin, Motrin, Aspirin, and Nuprin (take tylenol instead).

    Stop Other Cellulite Treatments

    stop any massages, creams, scrubs, etc. that you’re currently using to treat cellulite – these can irritate the area and cause inflammation that might interfere with Qwo

  • Treatment Timeline
  • The actual treatment will follow this format:

    Document with “Before” Photos

    We start out by documenting your start of this journey with photos and marking the treatments with a surgical marker so that we have good documentation and agreement between doctor and patient about what exact spots are being treated.

    Preparing For Qwo Injection

    You’ll relax, tummy down, on one of our exam tables while we inject the treatment areas: There will be several injections – into the exact dimples being treated by Qwo.

    Immediate Return To Life

    Right away you’ll be ready to head back to your life – work, working out, or whatever else you’ve got scheduled for that day: there’s no need to worry about how you sit, stand, move, or go about your day.

  • After Treatment
  • Results start to appear around week 2 or 3 and they improve throughout each treatment, and for up to 90 days following the start of this treatment (which should be about 1 month after your last injection).

    3-4 Sessions Will Build Improvements

    Most patients start to see some improvement in the month after the first treatment and before the second treatment session, and results typically improve with each session – making 1 month after the final session the full and final result, which is expected to last many many years, if not forever.

    Results Expected To Last

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    Bruising With Qwo

    Most patients will experience some bruising with Qwo. The patient shown above sent us a selfie of her bruising after her first treatment (please forgive the poor quality, she took this on her own in a mirror, so we’re thankful that we have it to show to you, but it’s not the best quality). This type of bruising is very common – it’s not painful, but it is bright. It generally lasts a week or two after the first injection session, and if you have bruising after sessions 2 and 3, it will be far less severe and shorter in duration. Those with skin that’s darker in color seem to have more severe bruising from Qwo – we’re unsure why this is, but clinical studies showed this across the board.

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    Dr. Michelle Ellern’s skillful hands, artful techniques, and warm and caring personality as a cosmetic physician make her a wonderful addition to Reflections. She is certified in Aesthetic Medicine by the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.