Hyaluronic Acid in Aesthetic Medicine: How to Choose the Right Product Based on the Injection Plan?

Guilhem Poron
June 17, 2026

Choosing a hyaluronic acid product may seem complicated when you’re just starting out in aesthetic medicine. However, with a few simple basics—rheology, the G’ value, and the five-layer anatomy—the reasoning becomes much clearer.

The goal isn’t to memorize all the references, but to understand what type of product to use, in which shot, and to achieve what effect.

I am learning the theoretical basics of hyaluronic acid used for cosmetic purposes

Definition

I often say that hyaluronic acid (HA) is basically water in gel form—but a bit pricey.

It is, in fact, a gel made of polysaccharides.

Unlike native hyaluronic acid found in the extracellular matrix, the hyaluronic acid used in injectables is cross-linked.

It is reinforced, much like reinforced concrete, and therefore resists degradation by hyaluronidase for much longer.

The more cross-linked it is, the “stronger” it is.

Rheology

Rheology describes hyaluronic acid in terms of its cross-linking properties.

We’re talking about elasticity, plasticity, viscosity, and cohesiveness.

One indicator is particularly useful for understanding the firmness and spreading ability of hyaluronic acid: G’.

I really enjoy simplifying concepts when I’m training my colleagues.

The G’ is simple and universal:

The higher the G, the stiffer your AH. The lower it is, the more flexible your AH.

If you keep this in mind, you’ll make few mistakes when choosing a product from your AH line.

Next, I learn the basics of anatomy

The 5-Layer Concept

Learning facial anatomy layer by layer makes it simpler, more fun, and something you can repeat over and over again.

The face is composed of five distinct layers (see the article “The Five Layers of the Face: An Essential Concept in Aesthetic Medicine”).

The skin, superficial fat (hypodermis), SMAS, deep fat, and bone covered by the periosteum.

Over time, all of these layers undergo atrophy or resorption. They can therefore be treated with cross-linked hyaluronic acid fillers to counteract this process.

A Simple Guide to Choosing the Right Hyaluronic Acid

Once you’ve mastered these simple concepts, all you need to do is apply the following formula:

The deeper it is, the higher the G’ I use. The shallower it is, the lower the G’ I use.

To perform a facelift, I will administer periosteal injections in the midface using a hyaluronic acid with a high G’ value.

I want it to maintain its shape and prevent bone resorption so that the fat compartments can be repositioned and anchored higher up.

To fill in a nasolabial fold or marionette lines, I’ll use a hyaluronic acid with a medium molecular weight.

I inject into the subcutaneous layer to counteract the atrophy of superficial fat. I want it to spread out, but still retain some shape to restore the hypodermic support that has been lost with aging.

I can do this with a needle or a cannula, using, for example, the fanning technique.

To fill in a frown line, crow’s feet, or a forehead wrinkle, I’ll use a hyaluronic acid (HA) with a low G value.

I’m looking for a product with good spreadability. So I use the needle blanching technique to inject it into the superficial dermis.

These concepts provide an essential foundation for choosing a hyaluronic acid in a more logical, safer, and more reproducible manner.

I’ve been injecting daily for over 10 years, and I use nothing but these few simple concepts.

Which lab should I choose?

There is a wide range of hyaluronic acid products available, with quite a few excellent manufacturers offering very high-quality products.

Among them are Vivacy, Merz, Allergan, Teoxane, Galderma, and many others.

They all offer a range of hyaluronic acids with low to high G’ values, allowing for injection into the periosteal, subcutaneous, and intradermal layers.

The examples below provide a general framework for interpreting the ranges, but the final decision must always take into account the laboratory’s recommendations, the indication, the injection plan, and the practitioner’s experience.

Depending on the cross-linking and the G’, the products have different names.