Qwo® the First and Only FDA-Approved Injectable Treatment for Cellulite Is Now Available at CaloSpa Rejuvenation Center's Louisville Office

    LOUISVILLE, KY, April 12, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- CaloSpa Rejuvenation Center announced today that it is now offering QWO—the first and only FDA-approved injectable for the treatment of moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of adult women.1 Dr. Bradley Calobrace and Dr. Chet Mays of CaloAesthetics Plastic Surgery Center and CaloSpa Rejuvenation Center will be among the first to offer QWO in their Louisville, KY office. QWO is thought to address a primary structural cause of cellulite by targeting the fibrous septae.1,2 The exact mechanism for the treatment of moderate to severe cellulite is unknown.

"Many of my female patients want to address the appearance of cellulite on their buttocks," stated Dr. Chet Mays, board certified plastic surgeon "That is why I am thrilled to be able to offer them QWO, an FDA-approved injectable, as an option."

Together, there are three things that cause cellulite's signature dimples: over time, skin thins, fat cells enlarge and push against the skin, and the fibrous bands under the skin's surface thicken and cause tension.

QWO is made from enzymes called collagenases that are thought to target the structural causes of cellulite under the skin. 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.

QWO is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to collagenase or to any of the ingredients, or if there is an active infection in the treatment area. QWO may cause serious side effects, including: allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis and, injection site bruising. Common side effects: bruising, injection site pain, areas of hardness, itching, redness, discoloration, swelling and warmth in the treatment area. Please see Important Safety Information below for more details.

WHAT IS QWO?

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

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not receive QWO if you are allergic to collagenase or to any of the ingredients in QWO, or have an active infection at the treatment area.

QWO may cause serious side effects, including:
• Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have hives, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, swollen face, chest pain, dizziness or fainting after receiving QWO;
• Injection site bruising
Before receiving QWO, tell your healthcare provider if you:
• have a bleeding problem
• are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing or plan to nurse. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will receive QWO or breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take a medicine that prevents the clotting of your blood (antiplatelet or anticoagulant).

The most common side effects of QWO include: injection site bruising, pain, areas of hardness, itching, redness, discoloration, swelling and warmth in the treatment area.

These are not all the possible side effects of QWO. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Click for Full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information for QWO.

To determine if QWO is right for you, or to make an appointment, please visit www.calospa.com.

About Cellulite
Cellulite is a localized alteration in the contour of the skin that has been reported in over 90 percent of post-pubertal females and affects women of all races and ethnicities.3,4 The presence of cellulite is associated with changes in dermal thickness and in the fat cells and connective tissue below the skin.5 A primary factor in the cause of the condition is the collagen containing septae which attach the skin to the underlying fascia layers.6,7 The septae tether the skin which, with additional contributing protrusions of subcutaneous fat, causes the surface dimpling characteristic of cellulite.8,9 These fibrous septae are oriented differently with varying thickness in females than in males, which informs our understanding of cellulite as a gender-related condition.10 Cellulite clinically presents on the buttocks, thighs, lower abdomen and arms.

It is known that cellulite is different from generalized obesity.11 In generalized obesity, adipocytes undergo hypertrophy and hyperplasia that is not limited to the pelvis, thighs, and abdomen.4 In areas of cellulite, characteristic large, metabolically stable adipocytes have physiologic and biochemical properties that differ from adipose tissue located elsewhere.12 An anatomical study in 2019 found that women have increased fat lobule height compared with men, which may also contribute to the mattress-like appearance seen as a result of the tension of the fibrous septae.10,12 Weight gain can make cellulite more noticeable, but cellulite may be present even in thin subjects.14

References:
1.QWO [prescribing information]. Malvern, PA: Endo Aesthetics LLC.
2.Hexsel D, Mazzuco R. Cellulite. In: Tosti A, Hexsel D, eds. Update in Cosmetic Dermatology. Vol 1. 1st ed. Berlin/Heidelberg.
3.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.
4.Khan MH, et al. Treatment of cellulite: Part I. Pathophysiology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62:361-70.
5.Querleux B, et al. Anatomy and physiology of subcutaneous adipose tissue by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy: Relationships with sex and presence of cellulite. Skin Res Technol. 2002;8(2):118-24.
6.Zhang YZ, et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2015;81(18):6098-6107.
7.Rossi AM, Katz BE. Dermatol Clin. 2014;32(1):51-59.
8.Edkins TJ, et al. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2012;19(4):562-569.
9.Kaplan FT. Drugs Today (Barc). 2011;47(9):653-667.
10.Rudolph C, et al. Structural gender-dimorphism and the biomechanics of the gluteal subcutaneous tissue – Implications for the pathophysiology of cellulite. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019;143(4):1077-86.
11.Avram MM. Cellulite: a review of its physiology and treatment. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2005;7:1-5.
12.Pierard GE, et al. Cellulite: from standing fat herniation to hypodermal stretch marks. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000;22(1):34-7.

Dr. M. Bradley Calobrace, and Dr. Chet Mays of CaloAesthetics Plastic Surgery Center specialize in cosmetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Calobrace and Mays are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. CaloSpa Rejuvenation Center, their full-service medical spa, features advanced non-surgical treatments for the face and body. For more, visit www.caloaethetics.com or www.calospa.com

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