Plastic Surgery
Augmented reality applications are being developed for a wide variety of medical procedures, with visualizations tools and interactive capabilities that advance the practice of medicine. Both Apple and Android introduced AR platforms that allow anyone with an mobile device to access augmented reality applications that employ the camera as the way to deliver computer information. This offers a powerful technique that combines one's specific perspective and their surroundings with 3D computer avatars, models of equipment and tools, anatomical graphics, and/or floating text that can be linked to actual or virtual elements in the scene.
The setting can be enhanced as well, with the ability to transform a simple room into a surgical room or some other focused environment. Advanced VMS, or Virtual Medical Simulations, will enable prospective surgeons to be trained in a risk free environment, and allow them to test and develop their skill in an immersive, hands-on format that can offer a highly accurate simulation of the actual surgical process. Applications can also focus on delivering visualization tools to the client, offering them the ability to see the proposed changes directly on their face as they view themselves through their camera.
Need
Plastic surgery is a booming industry with more people concerned about their appearance turning to surgery as the answer. Plastic surgery is also a crucial treatment for a variety of disfiguring conditions, including serious injuries, helping to restore quality of life to those that would otherwise be permanently afflicted in appearance. As the demand for this type of surgery grows and competition increases among providers, the availability of standardized methods of visualization to be employed during the consultation increases. This is where augmented reality can help enormously.
Benefit
Augmented reality applications are uniquely positioned to communicate complex procedures and visualize results in a highly personal way that helps connect to patients. Patients that have a better understanding of the procedures and the results they can expect will have greater confidence in the procedures and the healthcare teams performing them, thus helping ensure positive outcomes.
Concept
The plastic surgery augmented reality application can be used both inside and outside a clinical setting. A plastic surgery AR app can be offered to a general online audience for free to help promote a practice and spark curiousity among those that may be seeking elective procedures. In this case, prospective patients would look at their face or other body parts through the augmented reality application and then use their fingers to mimic the effects of various procedures. Controls can be used to modify the effects of user input based upon how procedures are implemented in the clinical setting. The AR app can be even more powerful in the hands of a clinician. Doctors can upload photos of their client and suggest a variety of procedures for their consideration. They can use a manipulatable view of the patient to show the effects of lifts, tucks, mole and skin tag removals, and other procedures in real time, saving stills as they go for later review. The AR app can also be used as an augmented mirror, so that the doctor and patient can face a tablet, while the doctor explains procedures as the AR app shows the anatomical structures that will be manipulated during the plastic surgery and how the procedure produces the results it does. By showing the possibilities of plastic surgery to prospective patients of elective procedures, and visually portraying how the surgeries work during consultation, plastic surgeons can expand their clientelle and inspire confidence in them going into the surgeries.
DDA's studios are located just outside of Philadelphia, and has the skills and technology to create genuinely immersive, original multimedia experiences with its custom application design and development. The DDA team of professional designers, programmers, writers, and multimedia specialists is prepared to take on nearly any type of software development challenge, including eLearning platforms, database development, 3D computer modeling and animation, and nearly any type of custom software programming and design. DDA does not outsource any part of its work, maintaining control at all stages to maximize efficiency and ensure adherence to agreed upon project expectations. Learn more about DDA's vision for an augmented reality plastic surgery application, or tell us about your own ideas for AR. Contact us today.
