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What To Expect From 3D Imaging For Rhinoplasty

24 July 2015 by Joann Dunn

If you're going to get plastic surgery, even for a medical condition that requires your airways to be less blocked, you are going to want to make sure that you look good when you are done. Even if you know exactly what you want your face to look like after going through a rhinoplasty procedure, there's always going to be that chance that your plastic surgeon does not fully grasp what you are saying or finds out midway through the procedure that the precise nose that you wanted is not going to be possible or is going to interfere with your breathing. If this should occur, how you end up looking is not going to be exactly how you wanted to look, which can be distressing. 

In order to avoid this scenario, plastic surgeons are increasingly turning to using 3D imaging for rhinoplasty patients. If you want this imaging to be done, here is what you are going to experience.

1. The Scan

First, you are going to go into a 3D scanner that will go around your body, or at least all the way around your head. When you put your head in the scanner, you will likely have to lay very still for several minutes while the scanner captures all of the contours of your head, face, and neck. This scan will be stored in the surgeon's computer system for later manipulation.

2. The Models

Next, the plastic surgeon will use the scan that he has gathered to print a model of your face using a 3D printer. If you were to put this model on, your face would fit exactly into it because no changes have been made.

Next, you and the surgeon will go through and talk about what kind of nose you want, as well as the limitations of rhinoplasty in order to come up with a plan that is feasible but that is also pleasing to you. As you talk, the surgeon will manipulate the 3D scan on a computer screen. You and he will both look at the model on the screen to make sure that it is mutually agreeable. Once it is, this model is also printed out using a 3D printer.

3. Try it On

Finally, you will take pictures with each of the models against your face. This will allow you to see what you would look like with a new nose compared to how you look currently. If you are satisfied, you are the surgeon will schedule the procedure.

For more information, talk to a professional plastic surgeon, like those at Plastic Surgery Innovation PC.

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