What hyaluronic acid is
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that the body produces on its own. It is present in the skin, the joints and the eyes, and it has an important characteristic: it attracts and holds water. That is why it plays a part in the hydration and volume of tissues.
The hyaluronic acid used in facial procedures is produced in a laboratory and presented as a sterile gel, prepared to remain in the tissue longer than the natural form. Because it is similar to a substance that already exists in the body, it is considered biocompatible.
In the skin, the natural amount of hyaluronic acid decreases with age, along with collagen. But its use in facial rejuvenation goes beyond hydration: the gel placed in the deep layers works as structure.
Another point that helps in understanding facial hyaluronic acid: it is not permanent. Over time, the body gradually carries out the resorption of the gel. This has two practical consequences. The result needs maintenance, and the treatment can be adjusted as the face changes over the years.
What hyaluronic acid does for the face
When people ask what hyaluronic acid does for the face, the most common answer is "it fills wrinkles". That answer is incomplete. In facial rejuvenation, the main role of hyaluronic acid is structural, and it can serve different functions depending on the plan for each face.
Restoring structure
With aging, the face loses volume in the deep layers and, with it, support. Placed at the right points, the gel gives the tissues back their footing, like a foundation that once again holds up what was giving way. To understand this loss in detail, see how the face changes as the years go by.
Repositioning what has descended
When structure is rebuilt at the support points, the tissues that had descended return to a higher position. That is where the lifting effect comes from: the face looks lifted without surgery because it gained support from underneath, not because it received volume on top.
Defining the features
Once the foundation is in place, hyaluronic acid can also add projection to the chin and cheekbones and shape the contour of the jaw. This is the finishing stage: the features that have always been yours, a little more defined, without changing who you are.
How hyaluronic acid is applied
Hyaluronic acid application is an in-office procedure, performed by a qualified professional. What happens in the chair is only one part. The part that most defines the result comes before.
Assessment and planning
In the facial assessment, the professional analyzes the thirds of the face, what has lost structure and what only looks tired. For Dr. Fred Fortes, facial analysis is core knowledge in dentistry: bone growth, asymmetries, the reason behind a droopier look in the eyes and also each patient's stage of life. From this diagnosis comes the plan: which areas are included, in what order and with how much product.
The deep support points
Knowing anatomy is what separates filler that supports from filler that weighs the face down. In the N3F® Protocol, hyaluronic acid is placed first in the deep planes, next to the ligaments that support the face. It is this foundation that restores support and produces the lifting effect.
The fine design
With the structure in place comes the design, so the result looks natural and not heavy. The amount is what the face needs, defined in the assessment, not a fixed chart per area.
Spot filling or planning the whole face
The same product can be used in two very different ways. With isolated applications by area, each concern is treated on its own: a little under the eyes, a little in the fold, a little on the lips. Each decision seems small, but the whole can lose proportion.
The artificial look many people fear comes precisely from excess volume or volume in the wrong place. A fold that is filled when the cause was a cheekbone area that had descended, for example, tends to leave a heavy face.
This does not mean every patient needs a lot of product. Some faces need structure before anything else, and some faces do not need anything yet. The assessment decides.
Planning the whole face is the opposite path. The diagnosis looks at the face as a whole and decides the order of the stages: first structural replacement, then repositioning, and finally enhancement. That is why Dr. Fred does not treat isolated areas and always performs the complete protocol. As he says: "I don't sell syringes. I sell results and continuity."
What changes from one product to another
Not all hyaluronic acid is the same. Gels vary in consistency and in degree of cross-linking, the process that binds the molecules together and makes the gel last longer in the tissue. Firmer gels are usually chosen to provide structure; softer gels, for delicate and finishing areas.
That is why indication by area is part of the planning, and choosing the product is the professional's decision. Comparing treatments only by the number of syringes also makes no sense: the result is not sold by the milliliter. What counts is the plan, the choice of gel for each layer and the judgment of the person applying it. A basic criterion that applies to any patient is to confirm that the product has Anvisa registration (Anvisa, Brazil's health regulatory agency) and that the application is performed by a qualified professional.
In the N3F® Protocol, the hyaluronic acid used by Dr. Fred is UP Contour, by Ilikia, a brand with which he develops scientific content and training.
Aftercare and follow-up after the application
After a hyaluronic acid application, some swelling in the first few days is common, and aftercare instructions are given by the qualified professional who performed the procedure. Any questions during recovery should be taken to them.
Before the application, tell the professional about your health history, allergies, any drugs or supplements you take and previous procedures on your face. This information is part of the assessment and helps decide whether it is the right time to treat.
The result is also not complete on the same day. Gel settling in the tissues takes some time, which is why the N3F® Protocol includes a 60-day follow-up: with everything settled, the fine adjustments are made.
After that, annual maintenance uses about one third of the initial amount, adjusted to each patient's moment. Want to understand duration in detail? Read how long hyaluronic acid filler lasts in the face. To see the complete step by step, get to know the N3F® Protocol.