Because the process requires three sets of injections spaced 21 days apart, I cleared my calendar and hurried to see Dr. Katz for my shot at smoother skin.
Qwo Treatment & Recovery
During my first appointment with Dr. Katz, I was assessed and told that I was indeed a candidate for Qwo™ (cue the sigh of relief). He had been a part of the clinical trials for Qwo™ and had glowing reviews from his patients, who, two years post-treatment, were still happy with their results. After getting marked up and having my ‘before’ pictures taken (see below), I laid down for the first set of injections.
As somebody unphased by needles, the process was seamless, and Dr. Katz went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable. Unlike Botox®, which is injected into the muscle, Qwo™ requires a different technique. When the needle is inserted, collagenases (the enzyme that breaks down peptide bonds in collagen) are released as the needle is moved around to dissolve the collagen bond. While, from the outside, it appears as though the needle is being moved around, Dr. Katz explained that this is the necessary method to ensure the bands dissolve and release, thereby reducing the dimpling appearance. The overall pain level was no more than that of other injections, and the entire process was done in under 10 minutes. I was instructed to stay on my stomach for another 10 minutes to allow for the injectable to get to work on the fibrous septae.
Now, although I did my research on the treatment — reading up on aesthetics is, after all, my job — I was unaware of the dramatic impact the first round of injectables would have on me. During my initial appointment with Dr. Katz, I was reassured that bruising and swelling were to be expected. In fact, they’re a sign that the treatment is working. “That is indicating that the fibrous bands have been dissolved by the Qwo™,” he explained. I am prone to bruising, so I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the bruises would look like on me. However, I wasn't prepared for what happened a mere 11 hours post-injection.
As the first day progressed, I started to experience a feeling of soreness as though I’d done a glute-heavy workout, and my skin felt raw as if I had a sunburn. Not knowing what I would experience that day, I wore jeans and soon found myself feeling irritated by the denim fabric. By the end of day one (and after constant inspection of my derriere), the small injection sites had blossomed into deep purple, baseball-sized circles. Nothing could have fully prepared me for the shock factor of the bruising, but having the forewarning from Dr. Katz allowed me to sleep easy — albeit somewhat uncomfortably — the next few nights. By my second set of injections three weeks later, the bruising had disappeared and I was ready to do it all again.
Qwo Results & Recommendations
Once the swelling and bruising from the first set of injections went down, I noticed a slight improvement in the appearance of my skin. The real change, however, came at the three-month mark. After the third set of injections, the bruising was barely there — though it did linger for a few weeks (Dr. Katz assured me that this was perfectly normal).
As far as the timeline for how long the results should last, there’s no specific answer. Dr. Katz has patients who participated in the trials two and a half years ago and are still happy with their appearance. Even if there is a shelf life to my results, I would gladly go back and do it all again as needed. I would also recommend it to anybody who wants a minimally invasive solution that produces visible results.
