Dr. Kimberly N. Mascia grew up in Newport News, Virginia, and received her Biology and Chemistry degrees at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. While there, Dr. Mascia became immersed in the sciences and enjoyed helping other students as a Chemistry tutor. She received the Pre-Doctoral Research Training Award at NINDS, NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, and authored multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications. She received her medical degree and training in Internal Medicine (Adult Medicine) at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and continued to publish. After moving to Erie, she practiced for several years as an Internist where she introduced many Dermatologic procedures into practice. She also practiced Palliative/Hospice Care to help fill a need in the community. Later, Dr. Mascia became certified in Botox and filler injections and practiced as a concierge MedSpa for several years before making her services available to the public at her current location. 

Photo Credit: SpaGo MedSpa

Have you hit the point where you are just sick and tired of looking at the “cottage cheese,” on your buttocks? As a matter of fact, these dimples or “cottage cheese,” that you are seeing are the cause of cellulite. Cellulite is the hardening of the fibrous septae, which provide support to our skin. Due to cellulite being bothersome to many, Dr. Kimberly N. Mascia was the first to bring QWO treatment for cellulite reduction on your buttock to Erie, Pennsylvania. Haute Beauty sat down with Haute Beauty expert Dr. Mascia to review the QWO facts.

Haute Beauty: Are there any benefits of QWO treatment beyond cellulite reduction?

Dr. Kim Mascia: Currently, there are no additional benefits to QWO. It is just used for cellulite reduction.

HB: Where can QWO treatment be used anywhere on your body?

KM: QWO is only FDA-approved for use in the buttocks. However, some practitioners will offer off-label use for the thighs, a common site for cellulite.

HB: Can QWO be combined with other treatments?

KM: At SpaGo MedSpa, we do combine QWO with our Emsculpt Neo treatments, which tighten skin and enhance muscle mass. I usually recommend an Emsculpt Neo buttock and/or thigh treatment one week prior to any QWO treatment. This is a powerful combination for a natural and comprehensive make-over. I advise patients to start treatments at least 3 months prior to any planned events as QWO causes significant bruising, especially following the first treatment.

HB: Can the results of the treatment be enhanced by any at-home methods?

KM: Not really! There are some temporary measures such as rolling, which elongates the collagen fibers and very briefly reduces cellulite. However, this procedure does not improve the effects of QWO as far as I know.

HB: When would you not use QWO treatment on a patient? If there are no visible signs of cellulite?

KM: Patient choice is very important. A good way to determine if you are a candidate for QWO is to lift the skin in the affected area.  If the dimpling disappears, that is not cellulite. It is just loose skin for which we use the Emsculpt Neo to enhance muscle mass and tighten skin with gentle radiofrequency. There are contraindications to QWO such as allergy to mannitol, sucrose, tromethamine, hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride dehydrate, and clostridium histolyticum from which the collagenase enzyme is derived. I also wouldn’t treat anyone with an active infection or significant bleeding disorder. Additionally, I would be extremely cautious with anyone who takes anticoagulation therapy.

SpaGo is excited to offer QWO! Watch Dr. Kimberly N. Mascia inject QWO cellulite treatment:

https://youtu.be/F9eIsL3FXcA