Considering facial surgery can be an intimidating experience. This is particularly true when the changes are structural vs. age-related. Age-related facial surgery, such as facelifts, browlifts and blepharoplasty, are more psychologically certain. Trying to turn the clock back and look more youthful is more comforting as one is headed to an appearance of which one is familiar. Structural facial changes, however, are different. Procedures such as rhinoplasty, chin and jaw augmentation, and forehead reshaping, change the appearance of the face in a way in which one is not familiar. A new look with different facial proportions may be enticing but it is psychologically uncertain.

The value of facial computer imaging lies in helping make this potential surgical transition more comforting. Having an approximate idea of what the outcome may be can help one decide both if and what specific procedures may be most beneficial. While predicting surgical outcomes with computer imaging is not an exact science, and it most certainly is not a guarantee of any specific outcome, its approximations are nonetheless very useful.

There are now available numerous imaging programs, both online and as phone apps, that can enable one to upload a picture and do their own imaging predictions. These electronic tools are both fun and easy to use. Some will let you use changes predicted by a procedure while others will let you manipulate as you desire without a script. While this may be fun, such ‘predictions’ are little more than an exercise in ‘photoshop surgery’ rather than realistic estimations. Only experienced plastic surgeons who have done these procedures and have an appreciation of a realistic outcome can provide a more accurate prediction.

To help patients get improved access to realistic facial computer imaging, Predict My Face has been made available. This website page allows one to upload their face pictures, describe what changes they would like to see, and get a response back within a day or two. This is done at no cost to any patient. Not only does this imaging service have a rapid response but it is done based on the experience of a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive facial surgery experience.

The key to getting good results from computer facial imaging is to have reasonable picture quality with which to manipulate. Pictures should have a crisp amount of detail such as is available on all digital cameras and many newer smartphones. If the picture looks a little fuzzy to you, that lack of sharp detail will be infinitely magnified when it is imaged and morphed. The angle at which the pictures are taken, the lighting and the background are also somewhat important. Only two facial angles are really needed, a front and a side view. Other views are only useful if they help to show some specific problem or concern that is better seen from an oblique view. When it comes to lighting, many patients submit photos that are little too dark. A clean or solid color background, such as a wall or a door, is better than any background that is patterned or too active.

Predict My Face offers a unique one-on-one experience with expertise that can help you find the facial changes that are best for you.

Dr. Barry Eppley

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

Indianapolis Indiana