3D printing seems to be everywhere these days, with much of the media touting it as a new manufacturing revolution.

In recent years, 3D printing has even been used for facial prostheses, but that is not the only area that this technology can be useful for plastic surgeons and their patients.

Aesthetic plastic surgeon Dr Yakup Avsar successfully uses 3D scanning and printing to show patients how they would look after a procedure.

IMCAS Academy contacted Dr Avsar to find out more about the process and the advantages it brings to his patients.

When and how did the idea of using 3D scanning and printing to demonstrate the anticipated results of treatment to patients cross your mind?

Since 2003, besides Photoshop and Vectra systems, I have been thoroughly experiencing casting, molding and sculpting various materials to show the patients how they will look after surgery. Since 2008, I have been interested in digital sculpting and 3D printing. In one of my papers on rhinoplasty that was published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2012, I discussed the usage of 3D printed skull molds for simulation surgery. With emerging 3D scanning technology I found the opportunity to render its pliability within the scope of medical field in 2014, and I have combined the state-of-art technology with my previous experience. The combination of 3D sculpting, 3D scanning and 3D printing resulted in a revolution of simulation of before & after processing, with the shape of mask informing the patients how they will look after surgery.

Can you explain the steps you take while using this technology?

I use this technique for many types of procedures including rhinoplasty, fat injection, chin augmentation, lift surgeries on brows, mid face and face, Otoplasty, Breast augmentation, Buttock and calf augmentation. With respect to each procedure I scan the relevant body part during the first visit and then prepare the masks within the following 24 hours. During the second visit I discuss the procedure, the design and the limitations which may be encountered with the patient. I try my best to explain that this is a new technology in order to establish the amenable relationship between the patient and the surgeon. This approach can easily clarify and define the expectations the patient might have in mind, and the skills along with endeavors the surgeon is equipped with for the purpose of ameliorating the appearance of the patient. In my paper that was published in a IMCAS newsletter in 2015, I have discussed that these masks are the exact indicators of body volume and hence you see the exact details of the body surface with hardly any deviance. The patients easily express themselves in writing, stating that although not the exact same with the mask, their own body and/or facial image resemble the mask a lot after the surgery.

What are the advantages of using 3D scanning and printing for this purpose?

In my opinion, if you attempt to perform aesthetic surgery as an art, you definitely need to use this procedure. On the other hand, aesthetic medical practice is progressing in terms of quality for the purpose of presenting the patients better results. So with this technique on hand, the patients are likely to feel relaxed before surgery, as they see that the result will be good, and the surgeons do their best to embed artistic challenge in order to present better results to the patients.

Are there any limitations or disadvantages?

In fact this will be a good option provided that the surgeon is a good digital sculpture and she or he imposes the real possibility on to the mask, otherwise this procedure may not be so helpful. For now the limitation is for some types of aesthetic surgery, like breast reduction or body lift, during which the surgeon should spend a considerably long time to sculpt the image digitally. There will be so many facilities capable of making the sculpting easier in future and there will also be volume measurement modalities or motion modalities. As these masks are wearable parts and the patients like them so much and have tendency to wear them hence see their new shapes, these masks will be produced by softer and more moldable materials in the future compared to current materials.

How often do you use this technology?

In my daily practice I scan for 1 or 2 procedures a day. It calculates up to approximately 40 on a monthly basis. I have the scanner in my office and the 3D printer is located in another office facility. I do the scanning and sculpting and my staff continues with the 3D printing process. We also provide funny aesthetic mirrors for the patients with 3D printing. I also use this technology for designing custom-made jewelry that carry the faces.

What sort of feedback are you getting from patients about using 3D this way?

That it is great. The patients love it so much and this is the only reason this procedure is going viral through the world. Since the first time I have introduced it in 2015 and it was published by Reuters, a lot of surgeons began to use it worldwide. What is important is the feedback of the patient after surgery, whether the patient is content with the good result resembling the simulation. What do you predict for the future when it comes to using 3D printing technology in the aesthetic field? I think that in the future not just plastic surgeons but every surgeon will have personal 3D lab to produce simulation materials, surgical tools and artistic workpieces. I have such an equipped lab with seven printers and I produce all of my artistic materials, simulation mock-ups and masks along with complex micro-surgical and robotic tools on my own.

What do you predict for the future when it comes to using 3D printing technology in the aesthetic field?

I think that in the future not just plastic surgeons but every surgeon will have personal 3D lab to produce simulation materials, surgical tools and artistic workpieces. I have such an equipped lab with seven printers and I produce all of my artistic materials, simulation mock-ups and masks along with complex micro-surgical and robotic tools on my own.