Introduction

The way your skin looks is directly related to the way your skin is supported.  As we age, the natural support layers in the skin break down resulting in the formation of wrinkles.  Captique gel, a clear gel containing a purified form of hyaluronic acid, adds volume lost during the aging process by temporarily smoothing out facial lines and wrinkles.

Captique gel is injected just under the skin's surface in order to temporarily correct wrinkles.  Treatment results are immediate.  Over time, the gel with gradually break down and be naturally absorbed by your body.  After the initial treatment, an additional treatment of Captique gel may be necessary to achieve the desired level of correction.  The need for an additional treatment may vary from patient to patient.  Your physician will work with you to develop a treatment program to meet your individual needs.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar.  It is found in the human body in the skin, cartilage, joints and the eye. 

In skin tissue, hyaluronic acid fills the space between collagen and elastin fibers.  The role of hyaluronic acid in skin is to deliver nutrients, hydrate the skin by holding in water, and to act as a cushioning agent.

What is Captique gel?

Captique gel is a sterile, clear, colorless dermal (skin) filler gel implant made of chemically modified hyaluronic acid.  Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the fluids surrounding cells and tissues.  It is chemically, physically and biologically similar in the tissues of all species.  Captique gel is made from highly purified natural hyaluronic acid that is gradually absorbed by your body through natural mechanisms. 

What are dermal (skin) fillers?

Dermal fillers are substances that are injected just below the surface of the skin temporarily adding volume, thereby filling lines, wrinkles and folds from the inside out.  Dermal fillers can temporarily restore a smoother appearance.

What is Captique gel used for?

The gel is injected into skin tissue for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds).

Where does Captique gel come from?

Captique gel is produced from materials of bacterial origin and contains extremely small amounts of bacterial protein.  Because of this, you should speak to your plastic surgeon and you should not use Captique gel if you have any know allergies to bacterial protein.

How does Captique gel work?

Captique gel is injected just beneath the skin surface temporarily adding volume to the layers of the skin that have deteriorated due to age and other factors.  Captique gel, when injected, is used to raise depressions in the skin, providing temporary correction of wrinkles and folds.

What is involved in Captique gel treatment?

In general there are three steps: a consultation with your plastic surgeon, a series of treatments (injections), and periodic touch-up treatments, as described previously.

Do the Captique injections hurt?

In general, Captique injections may cause some discomfort.  Captique gel is injected directly into the skin using a fine needle to reduce injection to discomfort.  Plastic surgeons may choose to anesthetize the treatment area to further minimize discomfort.  Please consult your physician. 

Is Captique safe?

Yes for most people.  The primary ingredient in Captique gel is hyaluronic acid (a component of skin) produced from materials of bacterial origin.  By comparison, Hylaform is produced from materials of avian (bird) origin.  Captique and its counterpart Hylaform have undergone extensive testing including scientific studies to establish safety and effectiveness.  The Captique gel has been approved for injection into the skin for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  

Can anyone be treated with Captique gel?

Your plastic surgeon will ask about your medical history to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for treatment.

Are there any reasons why I should not receive Captique?

• Captique gel must not be injected into blood vessels; doing so could cause the blood to stop flowing in that area.  A blocked vessel could result in temporary discoloration of the treated area or in tissue death leading to a scab and/or scar formation.
• Captique gel must not be injected into areas where any infection or skin eruptions such as cysts, pimples, rashes, or hives, are present.
• The majority of reactions to the injections are redness, bruising, swelling and pain that begin early after the injection and last less than 7 days.

What else should I know about Captique?

• Captique gel is indicated for injection into the skin for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds, the lines that run from the nose to the corner of the mouth).
• The safety and effectiveness of Captique gel use longer than one year has not been evaluated in clinical trials.
• As will all injections into the skin, the injection of Captique gel has a risk of infection.
• The safety of Captique gel for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding females or in patients under 18 years has not been studied.
• Captique gel should not be used in patients with a known potential for keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring (heavy scarring) or pigmentation disorders. 
• Captique gel should be used with caution in patients on immunosuppressive therapy.
• Patients who are using substances that can prolong bleeding, such as aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and warfarin may, as with any injection, have increased bruising or bleeding at injection sites when using Captique gel.
• After receiving injections of Captique minimize exposure of the treated areas to excessive sun, UV lamp exposure, and extreme cold weather, initial any swelling an redness have disappeared.
• If laser treatment, chemical peeling or similar procedure is considered before or after treatment with Captique gel, there is a possible risk of an inflammatory reaction (such as redness, swelling) at the Captique injection site.

What are the potential concerns when using Captique?

It is possible for the needle to be accidentally placed through a blood vessel during injection, which could result in a temporary change in color or in tissue death in the treated area leading to a scab and/or scar formation.

How will my skin look and feel immediately after a treatment of Captique?

Most people feel comfortable in resuming their normal activities following treatment.  Temporary puffiness of the treated areas, however, should be expected.

As with any injection, you may also notice temporary redness, slight bruising, and tenderness around the Captique treatment sites.  Like the puffiness, these are normal occurrences, and all should clear up within a few days.  Although the injected material is generally not visible through the skin, some people have reported that they were initially able to feel the outline of the injected Captique material.

When should I notify my physician?

 Be sure to report any redness and/or visible swelling that lasts for more than a few days or any other symptoms that cause you concern to your plastic surgeon.

 What concerns should I have after treatment?

 Your physician will review with you what to expect following treatment with Captique gel.  If there is swelling or redness after the injection you should minimize your exposure to sun and UV lamp.  Within the first 24 hours, patients should avoid strenuous exercise, extensive sun or heat exposure and alcoholic beverages as exposure to these may cause temporary redness and swelling at injection sites.  Make-up may be applied a few hours after treatment if no complications are present (ie: open wounds, bleeding and infection).

When may I apply make-up after my Captique treatment?

Make-up may be applied a few hours after your Captique treatment if no complications are present such as open wounds, bleeding and infection. 

Does the Captique correction last forever?

No.  Correction is temporary; therefore, touch-up injections as well as repeat injections are usually needed to maintain optimal correction.  The need for touch-ups will be influenced by ongoing mechanical forces (such as smiling or other muscle activity) and biological changes (such as aging) that caused the original skin depressions.

How often will I require treatments of Captique? 

Everyone's skin is different.  That is why the timing of any additional treatment varies from person to person.  Over time Captique gel will be absorbed by your body; this is why you may want ongoing treatments.  If you choose not to continue with your treatment, any remaining Captique gel is simply absorbed by your body over time and your skin gradually returns to its natural shape. 

Without touch-up injections, how will my skin look?

Correction will reduce gradually until your skin looks like it did before treatment with Captique gel.

Touch-up Captique injections will help you maintain correction of the skin surface.