Methods for treating cellulite

Abstract

The invention relates to the discovery that collagenase injections are effective in dissolving and lysing the collagenase septa network in the skin that comprises cellulite. As such, the invention relates to methods of treating cellulite in a patient in need of such treatment comprising injecting or otherwise delivering the effective amount of purified collagenase to the collagenase septa network of cellulite in the skin. The invention also relates to the use of collagenase in the manufacture of a medicament to treat cellulite of the skin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating cellulite in a subject in need of such treatment, the method comprising delivering an effective amount of purified collagenase to the collagenous septa network of cellulite. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the collagenase (Clostridiopeptidase A) is derived from the bacterium  Clostridium histolyticum.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is administered alone. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is administered in an absence of traimcinolone or other corticosteroids. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is injected in a dose comprising at least about 700 SRC units, applied in one or more injections. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is injected in a dose comprising at least about 1000 SRC units, applied in one or more injections. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is injected in a dose comprising at least about 1500 SRC units, applied in one or more injections. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is injected in a dose comprising at least about 10000 ABC units, applied in one or more injections. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is injected in a volume of about 1.0 ml. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is injected at multiple sites. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is comprised of collagenase I and collagenase II. 
     
     
         12 . The method, according to  claim 9 , wherein the injection is delivered in the area of cellulite, characterized by skin dimpling. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human patient. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is repeated after about four to six weeks. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein after one month of receiving at least one administration of collagenase, the patient achieves a significant visual reduction in the appearance of cellulite. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the purified collagenase is injected in a dose comprising from about 500 SRC units/mg to about 15,000 SRC units/mg, applied in one or more injections.