With the advent of the internet, digital cameras, and software morphing programs, many potential patients inquire about what their surgical results may look like. This is an understandable request and in my Indianapolis plastic surgery practice one I try to accomodate depending upon what type of procedure (s) is being considered. However, most patients do not understand the predictive imaging process and are under the misconception that it may actually simulate the surgical result. It is important, therefore, to understand the difference between reality and artistic interpretation.
Despite the tremendous technological advances in software programs, the most accurate predictive images still comes from profiles, such as manipulating the chin (chin implant), neck (facelift), and nose (rhinoplasty). Changing the silhouette of a profile is usually very realistic, provided the surgeon does not overestimate what surgery can actually achieve. The same could be said for body profiles such as thighs, knees, and the abdomen as in liposuction or a tummy tuck. When it comes to frontal views of the face and body, however, predictive imaging is more art than reality. From this view it is no longer morphing a sihouette but, like a painter on a canvas, making an image that looks good but may not be able to be surgically attained. While you can take away lines and wrinkles on the face or lift a brow, it is easy to overestimate these type of manipulations. The most inaccurate type of predictive imaging, in my opinion, is in breast augmentation from the front. While you can image a breast that is bigger, it is not possible to really know what size implant can create that same effect.
The key concept that I discuss with patients is that predictive imaging is…..an estimate….an educated guess. It is not a guarantee of results. It is mainly a method of communication between the plastic surgeon and the patient…which does help in making sure both on the same page about outcomes. To reinforce this concept, every set of before and after images has the following written at the bottom…..This is not a guarantee of results.
Dr Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana