Cellulite Injections: What Is QWO?
Cellulite affects 90% of women and 10% of men, according to Scientific American. Cellulite refers to collections of fat that push against connective tissues under your skin. It can make the skin look lumpy and puckered, or, as many people describe it, like cottage cheese.
Treating cellulite has always been a challenge, but now there are QWO cellulite injections that can deliver the results you want. But what is QWO? Read on to learn more about this treatment and the results you can expect.
What Is QWO?
QWO cellulite injections are FDA-approved injectables that use collagenase enzymes to target the structural causes of moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks. To understand how QWO works, it’s useful to know how cellulite forms.
Bands of collagen, also called septae, connect your skin to your muscles and are responsible for cellulite. Fat growing between these bands makes the septae tighten the skin to the muscles. This creates a dimpled look. Although it may seem like the problem is excess fat, the collagen bands are the real issue.
Women are more prone to cellulite, regardless of weight, because the connective tissues in female bodies are perpendicular. In men, they form a crisscross pattern that offers better support to the fat and skin. Women also have a higher degree of fat distribution in the legs, waist, and buttocks.
QWO goes right to cellulite’s cause. The enzymes in the injectables break down the collagen in those bands, breaking them apart. This releases their hold on your skin and allows it to look smooth once again.
The enzymes in QWO also redistribute fat cells, while at the same time encouraging new collagen growth. With redistributed fat, your skin can look much smoother, while new collagen can help improve skin laxity.
The best candidates for QWO cellulite injections are adult women who have moderate to severe levels of cellulite in their buttocks. It’s a good treatment option for people of all skin types. It is not a treatment for skin laxity, however, which can sometimes look like cellulite.
QWO cellulite injections are not the right treatment if you:
- Have a bleeding problem
- Are allergic to the ingredients
- Are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant
- Are nursing
- Have an infection in the treatment area
If you are not an ideal candidate, we will assess your cellulite and offer alternative treatments.
Preparing for QWO
The first step is to schedule an appointment with us. We will get your full medical history and assess the treatment area to ensure that cellulite injections are the right option.
Let us know about any medications you take, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs, as well as supplements and vitamins. We particularly need to know if you take any medications that affect blood clotting.
To prepare for the injections, we recommend you stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and any other blood-thinning medications at least two weeks before the injections. This includes supplements like St. John’s Wort, vitamin E, and fish oil.
Two days before the procedure, stop drinking alcohol and stop smoking.
QWO Injections and Aftercare
On the day of the injections, you want to avoid waxing, shaving, laser hair removal, and the use of depilatory creams. Do not apply lotions or creams to the treatment area. We recommend you wear loose clothing and that you opt for thong underwear to make the process easier.
We will take photos before the injections and we will mark each cellulite dimple. We will then have you lie on your stomach as we begin to inject the QWO into the fat. During each treatment session, we have a limit of treating 6 to 12 dimples per buttock.
The injections can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. We will ask you to stay still for five extra minutes. After the procedure, you can resume most of your regular activities.
After the injections, we recommend not exercising for 24 hours or engaging in any activities that raise your core temperature and increase your heart rate. Post-treatment, avoid shaving your legs for at least four days. You also want to avoid sun exposure or tanning beds for two weeks. Wait 24 hours to shower after the injections and do not take baths for a week.
We will schedule a follow-up appointment three to four weeks after the injections. The number of treatment sessions and injections you need will depend on the degree of cellulite you have.
We typically recommend three treatment sessions, spaced 21 days apart.
QWO Results
The results will appear gradually. Although some people see results within a month, it takes time for the enzymes to break down the collagen bands, so a more realistic expectation is to see results about three to four months after treatment.
For most people, the results will last for at least six months, though some people benefit from them for up to a year.
You can also pair QWO cellulite injections with other treatments to achieve the results you want.
Get Cellulite Injections in Hendersonville, TN
If you’re struggling with cellulite in your buttocks, QWO might be the perfect treatment option. This minimally invasive procedure can redistribute fat cells and get right to the root of what causes cellulite: collagen bands.
At Impressions Skin Solutions in Hendersonville, TN, we offer QWO for women who want to get smoother buttocks without going through a surgical procedure like liposuction.
We offer innovative cosmetic solutions at our state-of-the-art facilities to help you get the look you’ve always wanted. Call us right now to schedule your first appointment.
