To really put the injectable (which already has a lengthy waiting list) to the test, I visited board-certified dermatologist Dr. Bruce Katz at the Manhattan-based JUVA Skin and Laser Center a few weeks ago.
How Does QWO Work?
When I walked into the office, I was met with smiles and excitement from the staff. I changed into a dressing gown and stood in an illustrated box within the borders of the tile floor. Dr. Katz and his nurse moved me into various poses, all with my derriere on display, as they took photos of my forever-there cellulite. Then, I carefully laid on the exam room table as they sterilized needles and cleaned off the circled areas. Dr. Katz injected a small amount of QWO (via a needle and a small vial) into each dimple, which felt like a small — but quick — pinch. Before I knew it, the treatment was over.
“The injections work to dissolve the buildup of collagen in the fibrous bands,” Dr. Katz says, “which are bands under the skin that thicken and cause tension and the ‘dimpled’ look of cellulite.” He went on to explain that QWO works by merging two collagen-targeting enzymes that occur naturally in the body. When inserted under the skin, these enzymes break down the accumulation of collagen in the fibrous bands that lead to cellulite formation — something that has never been accomplished before with either an in-office or over-the-counter treatment.
Dr. Katz explains that, “QWO requires three sessions and patients see results quickly — in as little as three to six weeks.” When I went home after the first round of injections, I noticed my bottom bruising pretty rapidly. Bruising and tenderness is a pretty standard side effect of dermal fillers, so this wasn’t necessarily a surprise. Small lumps appeared on my skin and over the course of the next week, dark bruises began to emerge that were a bit tender to the touch but didn’t require compression, laying down, or changing my day-to-day schedule.
For many cellulite treatments, even surgical options, the results fade after just a few months as the septae fibers grow back (and they will always grow back) — which can be extremely discouraging when you consider the price tag on in-office invasive procedures. I asked Dr. Katz this very question. “I was part of the clinical trials for QWO, and so far patients have seen results lasting two and a half years [after completing all three rounds of injections],” he says. “While we are in the process of testing it for five years, it seems as though results are long-lasting, though we can’t say for sure without the scientific data after the new trials.”
