What is QWO?

QWO is the only FDA approved  prescription medicine used to treat moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of adult women.

Gemini Plastic Surgery now offers QWO, the first and only FDA-approved injectable for moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of adult women. Is it time to get to the bottom of your cellulite? Schedule a consultation and see if QWO is right for you.

How does QWO work?

Enzymes called collagenases target the structural causes under the skin, where cellulite starts. It’s thought that QWO works by releasing fibrous bands, redistributing fat cells, and stimulating the growth of new collagen. How QWO works in moderate to severe cellulite is not fully understood.

Is QWO a surgical procedure?

No. QWO is an injectable treatment option that is thought to target a primary structural cause of cellulite—the fibrous septae.1,2 The exact mechanism for the treatment of moderate to severe cellulite is unknown.

How do I know if QWO is right for me?

Your doctor will determine if you are an appropriate candidate for QWO.

Can QWO be used to treat cellulite in other areas besides the buttocks?

QWO is only approved for treatment of moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of adult women. Endo Aesthetics is continuing to investigate additional areas of treatment.

How many treatments will I need?

Each treatment visit may include up to two treatment areas. QWO injections will be given three weeks apart for a total of three treatment visits.

Are there side effects of QWO?

There are risks associated with this product. QWO may cause serious side effects including: allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis, and injection site bruising.1 These are not all the side effects of QWO. Please see Important Safety Information on the next page for more details.

Cellulite Faqs

What is cellulite?

Cellulite is a localized alteration in the contour of the skin that has been reported in approximately 90% of adult women of all races and ethnicities.

What causes cellulite?

Over time, three completely normal things can happen. Fat cells get larger, skin gets thinner and a little looser and the fibrous bands under the skin’s surface get thicker, leading to a dimpled appearance.

Who gets cellulite?

Women are more likely to have cellulite than men, 3 and it affects women of all shapes, sizes, ages and races.

Why aren’t men prone to developing cellulite?

Men have thicker skin than women do, and their collagen bands are
oriented in a crisscross fashion, essentially eliminating the ability of the fat lobules to bulge through. If a man is given estrogen hormones (as in some cancer treatments), they can develop cellulite if there is enough fat.

Are fat and cellulite the same?

Fat is not cellulite and does not cause it, but fat cells getting bigger between fibrous bands under the skin can contribute to a bumpy appearance.

Can weight loss help get rid of cellulite?

Weight loss might reduce the appearance of cellulite but won’t get rid of it since it doesn’t address the fibrous bands under the skin’s surface. In some cases, weight loss can actually make cellulite look worse because of resulting skin laxity.

Do topical treatments help decrease the appearance of cellulite?

Topical treatments such as lotions, creams and scrubs have been used to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite.

What body parts are most prone to cellulite?

In an online Harris Poll survey of 2,006 women with cellulite, respondents said their cellulite was most commonly present in certain areas: 81% thighs, 66% butt, 42% stomach, 33% hips, 24% arms, 11% calves.8 Although cellulite can develop in various areas of the body, it mainly affects women and the predominant localization is on thighs and buttocks. This is because women tend to have more fatty deposits in these areas.

How does age impact the appearance of cellulite?

Skin laxity happens as you age and can impact the appearance of cellulite.

Cellulite isn’t just a superficial problem—it’s actually quite deep. According to a recent Harris Poll online survey of 2,006 women, nearly half said they are bothered “a great deal” or “a lot” by their cellulite.

References:
1. Hexsel DM, et al. Side-by-side comparison of areas with and without cellulite depressions using magnetic resonance
imaging. Dermatol Surg. 2009;35(10):1471-7.
2. Khan MH, et al. Treatment of cellulite: Part I. Pathophysiology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62:361-70.
3. Hexsel, 2010, p. 62, Col 1, ¶5
4. Avram, 2004, p. 2, Col 1, ¶2; Hexsel, 2010, p. 1, Col 1, ¶1, p. 19, Col 2, ¶2
5. Hexsel, 2010, p. 25, Table 5.1, Col 1, ¶6, p. 33, Col 1, ¶5; Khan, 2010, Part II, p. 2, Col 1, ‘weight loss.’
6. Hexsel, 2010, p. 95, Col 1, ¶2, ¶10
7. Rossi AM et al. Dermatol Clin. 2014;32:51-59.
8. Endo Pharmaceuticals Data on File DOF-EA-01 2020.
9. Hexsel, 2010, p. 22, Col 2, Section D, E, p. 30, Col 1, ¶5; Medline, Aging changes in Skin, p. 2, ¶5