Technology really is incredible. You used to just subtly alter your appearance with Instagram filters, and now there are apps like YouCam for makeup application or Virtual Hairstyle to see a haircut before you commit to it.
But what about the more permanent changes? What if you’re considering something more permanent like cheek augmentation, or lip fillers, or a face lift? Turns out there are some apps that can help with that too.
At Research Gate, you can read a great, in-depth research paper about new technology associated with plastic and reconstructive surgery. This technology analyzes your face and can actually make suggestions for ways to keep your face similar but more harmonious.
If you already have something in mind, a change you’ve always wanted to make, there’s Crisalix.
You simply register and upload three standard pictures of your face or body: a front view, right, and left profile. The program will then offer you a 3D simulation of your desired changes. The program is approved by the International Confederation for Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.
It’s a pretty interesting concept, but the program costs $99, and it is not a guaranteed outcome nor an exact representation of what you’ll look like after the procedure.. The 3D imaging technique is typically used as a teaching tool, and only a doctor can paint you the most accurate picture possible of your body following a plastic surgery procedure, like a lip augmentation or chin augmentation.
Some doctors prefer to show their patients real before-and-after photos of patients with similar features, but many do appreciate the overview that a program like Crisalix provides. So, computer programs can be considered a great asset to the research phase of the process. It can answer questions like, “Will I like this?” “Is this what I want to look like?” If the answer is yes, and you like what you see, make sure you continue the conversation with a great plastic surgeon, and ask for examples of his or her past work.
Written by: Joanna Hynes