Static and dynamic photography protocol in the analysis of facial esthetics using the metric pendulum

Introduction: Photographic records are of utmost importance in the field of “facial esthetics”. The lack of a photographic standardization hinders the quality of imaging records and renders the validation of procedures and products impossible. Moreover, no simple device, much like that used in cephalometric radiography, has been established to resize the photographic image in such a way as to enable and develop facial-esthetic cephalometric traces in fontal and lateral incidences. Aim: This study sought to develop a protocol for standardized photographic documentation that is able to represent and reproduce static and dynamic incidences with the aid of a metric pendulum. Methods: The present study developed a metric pendulum for reproducibility and the standardization of facial photographs, as well as a protocol to obtain photographic images considering environmental parameters, photographic parameters, static and dynamic photographic incidences, and the positioning of the patient’s body and head. For the correct positioning of the patient’s head, the metric pendulum was used, which allows one to determine the true vertical, in addition to ensuring safety in the reproducibility of the photographic images with proper resizing. Conclusions and Relevance: A photographic protocol allows for a greater assertiveness and efficiency in the diagnosis, planning, and evaluation of results. Such a protocol was possible due to the use of a pendulum, which allows for an intra-individual and inter-individual longitudinal evaluation of patients, as well as for prospective and retrospective comparative studies.