FAC Portfolio Development 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A FAC candidate wants to document a patient who received both Botox and dermal fillers in the same session. The portfolio entry should:
- Show only the filler result since it creates more visible volume change
- Clearly annotate which areas received each treatment to reflect combined approach (Correct answer)
- Split it into two separate cases to meet treatment diversity requirements
- Use only the 2-week follow-up photo to show complete results
Correct answer: Clearly annotate which areas received each treatment to reflect combined approach
Annotating which areas received each modality demonstrates the practitioner's integrated treatment planning and allows assessors to evaluate each component.
Question 2: Patient skin preparation before portfolio photography should include:
- Application of a matte powder to minimize shine and reduce reflections (Correct answer)
- Full makeup application to present the patient at their best
- Heavy foundation to cover pre-existing skin conditions for cleaner comparison
- No preparation — natural skin condition reflects real-world outcomes
Correct answer: Application of a matte powder to minimize shine and reduce reflections
Matte powder reduces camera glare from skin oils, improving detail capture without altering the natural appearance being documented.
Question 3: Which statement about obtaining informed consent specifically for portfolio photography is correct?
- Verbal consent is sufficient if the patient is present during the session
- Written consent must specify exactly how, where, and for how long images will be used (Correct answer)
- General treatment consent automatically covers photography for portfolio use
- Consent is not required if the patient's eyes are covered in published images
Correct answer: Written consent must specify exactly how, where, and for how long images will be used
A valid photographic consent must detail the specific uses, platforms, and duration of use so patients can make an informed decision.
Question 4: For rhinoplasty filler cases in a portfolio, the most diagnostically valuable additional view beyond the standard set is:
- Full-body frontal view to show patient proportions
- Basal (worm's eye) view looking up at the nose from below (Correct answer)
- Lateral view only from the right side
- Close-up of the eyes to assess tip projection indirectly
Correct answer: Basal (worm's eye) view looking up at the nose from below
The basal view directly exposes tip shape, nostril symmetry, and columellar changes that frontal and lateral views cannot fully reveal.
Question 5: A practitioner's social media portfolio shows excellent aesthetic results but the before photos were taken in poor lighting. This is problematic because:
- Poor before photos make the practitioner appear unprofessional to regulators
- Inconsistent lighting exaggerates the apparent improvement and may mislead prospective patients (Correct answer)
- Social media platforms will automatically flag and remove inconsistent photo sets
- It violates FTC guidelines on advertising transparency for medical practices
Correct answer: Inconsistent lighting exaggerates the apparent improvement and may mislead prospective patients
Inconsistent before/after lighting can artificially amplify the apparent result, which constitutes misleading advertising and undermines clinical credibility.
Question 6: In a FAC portfolio case study, the written narrative accompanying photos should primarily include:
- Patient testimonial quotes about their satisfaction with results
- Treatment rationale, products used, volumes injected, and follow-up observations (Correct answer)
- Detailed pricing breakdown to demonstrate value to potential patients
- Practitioner biography and credentials to establish authority
Correct answer: Treatment rationale, products used, volumes injected, and follow-up observations
The clinical narrative must document decision-making, technique, materials, and outcomes to demonstrate competency to the certification assessor.
Question 7: When a FAC practitioner treats a patient with significant facial asymmetry, the portfolio should:
- Exclude the case because asymmetry makes results harder to assess fairly
- Include the case with clear annotations of the pre-existing asymmetry and the intended correction (Correct answer)
- Use only the best-angle photo that minimizes the appearance of asymmetry
- Obtain a second opinion before including asymmetric cases
Correct answer: Include the case with clear annotations of the pre-existing asymmetry and the intended correction
Complex asymmetry cases with clear annotation of baseline findings demonstrate advanced clinical judgment and are highly valued in certification portfolios.
FAC Portfolio Development 3
A FAC candidate wants to document a patient who received both Botox and dermal fillers in the same session.
The portfolio entry should: