About Us

NEPUGA is the Ana Carolina Puga Center for Specializations at Faculdade Nepuga, founded by Dr. Ana Carolina Puga in 2005.

Since February 6, 2018, Nepuga (legal name Puga e Nunes Educacional) has been the sponsoring company of a higher education institution (IES) authorized and accredited by Brazil's MEC (Ministry of Education), through the creation of Faculdade Nepuga.

We are the pioneering, industry-leading and best-known school for courses in Aesthetic Biomedicine, Aesthetic Nursing, Aesthetic Pharmacy and Aesthetic Health, thanks to the pioneering, cutting-edge spirit of Dr. Ana Carolina Puga, the mother of Aesthetic Biomedicine and a forerunner of Aesthetic Health in Brazil.

Photo of students with Dr. Ana Carolina Puga after a theory class at Nepuga

How did Nepuga become a pioneer in Aesthetic Biomedicine and Aesthetic Health in Brazil?

Since 2005, Nepuga has played an active role in building the academic, scientific and technical foundations of Aesthetic Health in the country. Dr. Ana Carolina Puga's work was decisive in establishing Aesthetic Biomedicine as a field of specialization, helping the profession gain recognition and scientific strength.

Nepuga's pioneering role goes beyond offering courses. The institution helped build the technical, ethical and scientific foundation that supports the safe, regulated practice of Aesthetic Health professionals throughout the country.

  • 70,000+

    professionals trained in Nepuga's Postgraduate Program and working in their specialization in Aesthetic & Integrative Health.

  • 800+

    Postgraduate classes completed in our 20 years of pioneering leadership in education.

  • 27 units

    Units across Brazil, including campuses and teaching clinics, so you have the freedom to specialize wherever you want!

  • 89%+

    of our graduate specialists are working in the Aesthetic & Integrative Health market, with success in their own hands.

What role did Dr. Ana Carolina Puga play in the history of Aesthetic Health?

As the founder of Nepuga, Dr. Ana Carolina Puga is nationally recognized as the mother of Aesthetic Biomedicine and a central figure in establishing Aesthetic Health in Brazil.

Starting from Aesthetic Biomedicine, she led the movement that opened the way for other health professions to join the field, helping those areas gain space, recognition and regulation over the years.

This was a gradual process. Through teaching, research and technical development, Dr. Ana Carolina Puga helped turn Aesthetic Health into an established, accessible and constantly evolving field, directly shaping the training of thousands of professionals in Brazil.

Is Nepuga recognized by Brazil's MEC?

Yes. The Postgraduate courses offered by Nepuga are recognized by Brazil's Ministry of Education (MEC).

Accreditation with the MEC under the institution's name, IES (higher education institution) code (21573) Faculdade Nepuga, reinforces the academic legitimacy, institutional security and regulatory compliance of the Lato Sensu Postgraduate Program the institution offers.

See more information about the institution on Emec (the MEC's official registry)

In which areas does Nepuga offer Postgraduate Programs?

Nepuga offers specialization in several areas of Aesthetic Health, keeping pace with the evolution of the field and the expansion of professional opportunities.

The main areas include:

  • Aesthetic Biomedicine
  • Aesthetic Nursing
  • Aesthetic Pharmacy
  • Orofacial Harmonization
  • Dermatofunctional Physiotherapy
  • Quantum Naturopathy
  • Clinical Ozone Therapy
  • Aesthetic Health

The specializations are designed for health professionals seeking deeper technical and scientific knowledge, with a focus on safe, qualified practice aligned with market demands.

Where is Nepuga located?

Nepuga has units and campuses spread across many regions of Brazil, reflecting the growth of Aesthetic Health in the country.

This national presence allows us to bring specialization to different contexts while keeping a unified academic standard, ensuring that professionals in different regions have access to structured, up-to-date education aligned with the demands of the field.

Dr. Ana Carolina Puga

“NEPUGA is a reference in the national market for Aesthetic Biomedicine, Aesthetic Nursing, Aesthetic Pharmacy and Aesthetic Health, helping health professionals become aesthetic professionals.

Over the years, training health professionals in different regions of Brazil has driven strong growth in demand for, and development of, the specialties of Aesthetic Biomedicine, Aesthetic Nursing and Aesthetic Pharmacy, and of the field as a whole.

In 2005 we began our work in the city of Sertãozinho-SP, considered the birthplace of Aesthetic Biomedicine, a city that gave us many professional and personal joys. Our headquarters is 18 km away, in Ribeirão Preto-SP, serving all of Brazil.

If you are planning to begin your journey in Aesthetic Health, at NEPUGA you will find an environment of knowledge, growth, optimism, renewal, courage and diversity, qualities we consider essential to your professional success.”

- Dr. Ana Carolina Puga

Pioneer and forerunner of Aesthetic Health and Mother of Aesthetic Biomedicine in Brazil. The leading authority in injectable aesthetics. Master's degree in Aesthetic Health. Creator of the Pugacode® Method and other methodologies used exclusively at Nepuga.

The journey that transformed Aesthetic Health in Brazil

From pioneer to national benchmark in Aesthetic Health education.

Every stage of Nepuga's history represents progress, innovation and real impact on the specialization of thousands of doctors across the country. Over the years, Nepuga has established a national presence, developed an exclusive methodology and contributed directly to the evolution of Aesthetic Health in Brazil.

This timeline brings together milestones that reflect growth, pioneering spirit and an ongoing commitment to academic excellence and professional transformation.

2005

INNOVATION

ACorPoralle emerges as the country's pioneering Aesthetic Health and Aesthetic Biomedicine clinic.

2007

LEADERSHIP

Dr. Ana Carolina Puga leads the Aesthetic Biomedicine project, paving the way for innovation.

2008

Progress

Dr. Ana Carolina Puga gives a series of lectures on Aesthetic Biomedicine at educational institutions across Brazil.

2009

consolidation

Dr. Puga leads a petition in support of Aesthetic Biomedicine, a milestone of support for the cause.

2010

recognition

ACorPoralle and Dr. Puga graduate the first classes of open courses in Aesthetic Health. NEPUGA Postgraduate is born, the first school recognized by the professional councils and by the Brazilian Society of Aesthetic Biomedicine.

2012

leadership role

Nepuga/IES open the Postgraduate Program in Aesthetic Biomedicine and Aesthetic Health in Sertãozinho-SP, Belo Horizonte-MG and Porto Alegre-RS. The Sertãozinho class later moves to Ribeirão Preto-SP. Nepuga reaffirms itself as the first and largest school training and qualifying aesthetic biomedical professionals, aesthetic nurses and aesthetic pharmacists in Brazil (the pharmacy and nursing councils had not yet granted recognition).

The only school with graduating classes every year since 2012, qualifying thousands of biomedical and other health professionals nationwide

2013

EXPANSION

Nepuga/IES arrive in the “heart of Brazil,” São Paulo-SP, as a multidisciplinary, multiprofessional reference, offering formal professional advanced training courses in Aesthetic Biomedicine, Nursing and Pharmacy in Aesthetic Health, and inaugurate the first postgraduate class in these areas

Nepuga/IES open the first postgraduate class in Aesthetic Biomedicine, Nursing and Pharmacy in Aesthetic Health in the city of Curitiba-PR.

Nepuga/IES open their doors to welcome and train health professionals in Goiânia-GO with their first postgraduate classes in Aesthetic Biomedicine, Nursing and Pharmacy in Aesthetic Health.

2014

GROWTH

Nepuga/IES reach another city in the Southeast region: Rio de Janeiro-RJ, as the first postgraduate school in one of Brazil's largest metropolises, in Aesthetic Biomedicine and Aesthetic Health for nurses, and now also with the postgraduate program in Aesthetic Pharmacy, since this year the CFF (Brazilian pharmacy council) recognizes the Aesthetic Health specialty.

2015

evolution

Nepuga becomes the first international Brazilian school of Aesthetic Health, opening its U.S. branch (Nepuga USA)

2016

strengthening

Expansion to Campinas-SP, Recife-PE, Fortaleza-CE, Campo Grande-MS and Brasília-DF. Recognition by the SBEE (Brazilian Society of Aesthetic Biomedicine) and launch of innovative courses such as Healthy Longevity and Clinic Management.

2017

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Setup of teaching clinics and educational campuses in several cities, including Florianópolis-SC, Campinas-SP and Salvador-BA.

2018

authority

Faculdade Nepuga - Faculdade Ana Carolina Puga is created, making NEPUGA the first Aesthetic Health postgraduate institute to become a COLLEGE accredited by Brazil's MEC

2019

Reclaiming ground

A decisive year for Aesthetic Nursing: Cofen (Brazilian nursing council) Resolution No. 646/2019 guaranteed, with legal backing, the official return of nurses to aesthetic practice, including invasive procedures with proper training. Aesthetics grows stronger as a multiprofessional and increasingly technical-scientific field. We saw nurses enter their specializations ever more confident about the life change they wanted through Aesthetics.

2020

overcoming

Amid the challenges of the pandemic, we innovated quickly: we adapted our teaching to a hybrid format and brought live theory to thousands of homes via Zoom. In December, a historic milestone: the long-awaited Aesthetic Biology resolution was approved, allowing biologists to work in Aesthetics as well. A new path was starting to open.

2021

resumption

With safety and enthusiasm, we gradually resumed in-person practice at our units across Brazil. And we celebrated the arrival of the first classes of aesthetic biologists in the postgraduate program. A collective dream was beginning to come true.

2022

development

A new chapter begins: we launch the first class of the postgraduate program in Orofacial Harmonization (HOF), designed especially for dentists. Expansion, innovation and excellence as pillars of growth.

2023

excellence

A year of achievements: Dr. Ana Carolina Puga receives a national award from the Biomedicine Council, crowning her dedication to Scientific Aesthetics. We proudly graduated the first class of Dermatofunctional Physiotherapy, broadening horizons and specialties with excellence. We launched the award for outstanding students in Academic Excellence at the institution. Students from 2022 were honored and invited to share their stories of success and dedication during their specialization.

2024

legacy

We reached the major milestone of more than 700 postgraduate classes graduated, deeply impacting the lives of more than 70,000 students. These are stories of transformation, autonomy and success built with the power of Aesthetic Education.

2025

Consolidation

Nepuga celebrates 20 years, reaching more than 800 postgraduate classes graduated and more than 80,000 students impacted across Brazil.

In the same year, FAPUGA is renamed Faculdade Nepuga, consolidating institutional alignment and reinforcing the strength of the brand built throughout this journey.

Now it's your turn to write your story at Nepuga!

Since 2005, more than 70,000 health professionals have transformed their careers with our specialization. You could be the next to claim your place in Aesthetic Health.

  • Postgraduate Program accredited by Brazil's MEC
  • 27 units across Brazil
  • Pioneering methodology by Dr. Ana Carolina Puga
  • 89%+ of graduates working in the market
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Principles that guide Nepuga

Nepuga's work is built on foundations that guide every decision, every specialization and every professional we develop. More than institutional guidelines, these principles reflect our commitment to the evolution of Aesthetic Health in Brazil.

  • Purpose

    To change the lives of health professionals for the better!

  • Mission

    To educate health professionals to make a difference in the job market and in life

  • Vision

    To provide quality education in the fields of Health, Aesthetics and Well-being.

Values

The principles behind every transformation

At Nepuga, excellence is no accident. Every achievement, academic advance and experience along the journey is built on values that strengthen relationships, guide decisions and drive an ecosystem committed to innovation, ethics and real impact on the professional lives of our doctors.

  • Leadership

    Because we must lead people, attracting followers and influencing mindsets and behaviors in a positive, winning way.

  • Innovation

    Because we must be able to add value to the institution's services, setting our beneficiaries apart in a competitive market.

  • Ethics

    Because we must handle matters seriously and in accordance with current regulations and laws.

  • Commitment

    Because we must build and maintain trust and good relationships.

  • Transparency

    Because we must always be truthful, sincere and able to justify our actions and decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nepuga

What does Nepuga mean?

Nepuga is the acronym that follows the evolution of the institution's name over the years. In 2005 it began as Núcleo de Estudos Ana Carolina Puga (Ana Carolina Puga Study Center). In 2012, with the creation of the first Postgraduate Programs, the institution was renamed Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga (Ana Carolina Puga Center for Specializations), keeping the acronym Nepuga, which became a national reference in Aesthetic Health.

Is Nepuga a college?

Nepuga is responsible for Postgraduate specialization and serves as sponsor of Faculdade Nepuga, a higher education institution accredited by Brazil's MEC (Ministry of Education).

Is Nepuga recognized by Brazil's MEC?

Yes. The courses are linked to Faculdade Nepuga, which is accredited by Brazil's Ministry of Education.

Who founded Nepuga?

Nepuga was founded by Dr. Ana Carolina Puga.

Does Nepuga offer a Postgraduate Program in Aesthetic Biomedicine?

Yes. Nepuga is a pioneer in Aesthetic Biomedicine training in Brazil.

Dr. Fernanda Ribeiro, Nepuga student

While you're still thinking about it, people with fewer qualifications but more courage are already doing it.

Don't wait for the perfect moment, because the perfect moment doesn't exist.”

Dra. Fernanda Ribeiro Nepuga student, Postgraduate Program in Dermatofunctional Physiotherapy
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