Clinical video of the patient: when to record
Quick facts
- When to record
- When movement shows something a still photo does not: expression, speech, smile, dynamic asymmetry.
- Standard
- Tripod, stable light, same framing and a short script of expressions.
- Duration
- Short and objective; clips of a few seconds per movement.
- Consent
- Specific to video, with purpose, storage and sharing described.
A photo freezes a moment. The face, however, lives in motion: it frowns, smiles, talks, raises the brows, tenses the neck. A good part of assessment in orofacial harmonization depends on that dynamic, and it is precisely what a still photo shows worst. Clinical video steps in to fill that gap.
It is neither mandatory nor right for everything. The right question is: what do I need to see that the photo does not show?
When does video add information?
Video is worthwhile when the answer is in the movement. The most common scenarios:
| Situation | What the video shows | Photo alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Assessing dynamic wrinkles | Contraction pattern of the corrugator, frontalis and orbicularis | Separate photos at rest and in contraction |
| Smile dynamics | Lip elevation, gum exposure, symmetry | Photo of the smile at one instant |
| Speech and lip movement | How the lips behave across phonemes | Static photo of the lips |
| Dynamic asymmetry | Difference between sides when moving | Photo at rest |
| Follow-up after toxin | Loss or return of movement | Comparison of photos in contraction |
| Complication with movement deficit | Extent and progression of the deficit | A single photo, of lower value |
See the specific pages video to assess facial dynamics with toxin and speech video to assess lips and smile, which detail the two most frequent uses.
How do you standardize the video?
The same rules as for photos apply, with a few additions.
- Tripod: a fixed phone avoids shake and keeps the framing. Details in tripod for clinical photos.
- Stable light: no flicker, no cloud changes through the window. Constant light avoids color variation during the clip.
- Same framing: whole face, with forehead and chin visible, the same in every session.
- Short script of expressions: always the same sequence, to compare.
- Neutral background: no movement behind the patient.
- Audio: only if speech is relevant; otherwise mute to reduce the sensitive data stored.
A typical script of expressions: rest, raised brows, furrowed forehead, eyes squeezed shut, open smile, closed smile, pucker. Adapt it to the area being assessed and keep the order.
What changes in consent?
Video is more sensitive data than a photo: it records the face in motion, may record the voice and makes identification easier. Consent must be specific, describing the purpose, the retention time, the storage location and who may see it. The page consent for clinical video details the points of the form.
Under the LGPD (Brazil's data protection law), processing health data requires a legal basis and care. The patient's consent, the patient record and your professional board's rules must be read together. When recording, tell the patient you are recording and why, before pressing the button. Recording without telling breaks trust and may break rules.
How do you store it, and for how long?
Video takes up a lot of space and needs a retention plan. Keep the files in the same secure place as the photos, with access control and backup, and follow the patient record period if the video is part of the record. If it is a temporary record, for a specific consultation, define when it will be deleted. The general criteria are in cloud storage for patient photos and retention of photos in the patient record.
Prefer short clips, which can be reviewed in seconds, over one long continuous video. A clip of a few seconds per expression is easier to store, easier to compare and less risky in case of a leak.
How do you review the video during analysis?
Watching at normal speed is rarely enough. Use slow motion and pause to see the moment of greatest contraction or the start of the movement. Extracting a frame from the video to compare with the standardized photo is useful, but the frame has lower quality than a photo, so do not use it as a substitute for the photographic record. Comparing videos from different dates requires the same framing and the same light, otherwise the comparison loses value.
Video, photo and simulation in the app
Harmy works with one front photo per session. It does not analyze video or movement and generates a static projection. Clinical video, therefore, lives in your patient record and not in the app. Use video to plan and follow up; use the standardized front photo to create the projection. The simulation is illustrative and does not promise results, and it does not replace the dynamic assessment you did.
In many cases, what you see in the video guides which areas to mark and at what intensity, as with a dynamic asymmetry that calls for adjusting volume on one side. The app flow is in standardized front photo. For the basis of wrinkles in motion, see dynamic wrinkles and photo of the face at rest and in motion.
Summary for your routine
Record video when movement is the question, with a tripod, stable light and a fixed script of expressions. Ask for specific consent, store securely, prefer short clips and keep the standardized photo as the reference record. Check your professional board's rules on recording patient images.
Frequently asked questions
When is it worth recording video instead of just a photo?
When the information is in the movement: dynamic wrinkles, asymmetry when smiling, muscle contraction, speech and lip dynamics. A still photo does not capture that.
Does video need separate consent?
It is advisable. Video records voice and movement and carries greater privacy risks. The form should state the purpose, where it is stored and who has access.
How long should a clinical video be?
Long enough to record each movement. Short clips per expression are more useful and easier to store and review than one long video.
Does video replace the standardized photo?
No. The standardized photo remains the reference record. Video complements it where movement matters.
Harmy images are illustrative simulations generated by AI from the patient's photo to support the conversation between practitioner and patient. They are not a promise of results. Indication, technique, product and volume are solely the decision of the licensed practitioner. This content is for information only and does not replace a clinical assessment.