Why the professional takes a photo before facial harmonization
Quick facts
- Question
- Why the professional takes a photo before facial harmonization
- Short answer
- To document the starting point, plan and compare honestly
- Data
- A face photo is sensitive personal data, protected by the LGPD
- Patient's right
- To know what it is for, who sees it and to request deletion
The short answer: the professional photographs the patient before facial harmonization to record the starting point, plan what will be done and compare honestly afterward. The photo is part of the patient record, helps identify asymmetries that already existed, and is sensitive personal data, protected by the LGPD (Brazil's personal data protection law). It does not authorize posting on social media: that requires separate consent.
When a patient asks "what is the photo for?", they are often worried about exposure. The best answer is clear, short and accompanied by how the photo will be protected.
What is the initial photo for?
| Purpose | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Planning | Lets you see proportions, asymmetries and areas to treat calmly, away from the chair |
| Comparison | Shows what changed between before and after, without relying on memory |
| Clinical safety | Documents the initial state, including asymmetries and spots the patient already had |
| Aligning expectations | Helps the patient see their own face, without the distortion of the mirror |
| Follow-up of complications | Lets you assess whether a complaint is new or old |
| Legal protection | Records what was found and what was done |
See the standardization technique in standardized clinical photography and the legal basis in consent and LGPD for photos.
Why does prior asymmetry matter?
No one has a symmetrical face, and many patients only notice the differences after the procedure, when they start to observe every detail. The initial photo lets you show, calmly, that this corner of the mouth was already lower or that one eyebrow was already higher. That avoids the phrase "it turned out like this because of you", when in fact the asymmetry is natural. The subject is covered in natural facial asymmetry.
Which photos are usually taken?
The most common mistake is photographing each time with a phone at a different distance and in different light. See common mistakes in before and after photos.
Who can see the photo and how long is it kept?
Under the LGPD, face images are personal data and, when they allow the person to be identified, may be treated as facial biometric data, which is sensitive. This requires a clear purpose, restricted access and security. For the patient, the useful questions are:
- Where are the photos stored (personal phone, cloud, clinic system)?
- Who has access?
- How long will they be kept?
- Can I request deletion or a copy?
- What else could they be used for, if I authorize it?
Secure storage of photos is covered in storing patient photos. Rules for keeping the patient record follow each professional's council.
What about use for publicity?
That is a separate matter. Clinical documentation does not allow posting. To publish a patient's image, specific, free, informed and revocable consent is required, in addition to complying with the advertising rules of the professional council and of Conar (Brazil's advertising self-regulation body). See separate consent for publishing images and what you may advertise.
What if the patient is afraid of being recognized?
Respect that. Some people are uncomfortable with full-face photos, for reasons of privacy, work or safety. Discussing alternatives, such as photos without visual identification for internal use, does not solve the patient record, but may reassure them. And the patient has the right to know the photo will not be published without authorization.
Where does Harmy fit in?
In Harmy, the patient's front photo is taken in the app (camera or gallery) to generate the projection. The face contours are calculated on the device itself and are not stored, and the image is sent to a third-party AI to generate the simulation, with the professional's consent in the app. Harmy is not a patient record: clinical documentation of the standardized photo remains the clinic's responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the professional take a photo before the procedure?
To record the initial state of the face, plan what will be done and compare honestly afterward. The photo is part of the patient record and helps identify asymmetries that already existed.
Can I refuse to be photographed?
You can, and the professional must respect that. But without photos it is harder to compare, plan and protect yourself from doubts later. It is worth discussing the reason for refusing.
Can the photo be used on the clinic's social media?
Only with a specific authorization, separate from the consent for the procedure. Use in clinical documentation does not authorize publication.
What happens to my photos afterward?
They are kept in the patient record for the required period, with restricted access. The patient can ask where they are stored, who has access and request deletion when the law allows.
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.