Artificial intelligence is currently changing many areas of life – including medicine. In plastic and aesthetic surgery, an obvious question therefore arises: where can AI really help my patients? And where does it have no place?
My answer up front: AI is a tool, not a surgeon. It can inform, organize, measure and remind. The consultation, the indication, the operation and every medical decision remain a doctor’s task. In this article, I present concepts for how AI can provide support along the treatment pathway.
The treatment pathway – and where AI can help
- 01before the first appointmentInformation
Understandable answers to frequently asked questions, around the clock – as preparation for the personal conversation, not as a substitute.
- 02during the consultationConsultation & planning
Measurements, photo documentation and simulations as a basis for discussion. The recommendation comes from me.
- 03Weeks to monthsAftercare
Reminders, a healing diary and structured follow-up monitoring – so that nothing is overlooked.
For all treatments
- Preparation without piles of paper: personal checklists and reminders – for example to stop smoking, to consult about medications or about the compression garments.
- Understandable informed consent: questions that come up after the consultation can be collected in advance and discussed specifically at the next appointment.
- More time for the conversation: when documentation and organization become more efficient, there is more time for what matters – your questions.
- Systematic aftercare: a digital healing diary with photos and questions about swelling, pain and wound healing can help to recognize and address abnormalities early.
Concepts per treatment
Facelift
A computer-assisted analysis of proportions and symmetry can make visible during the consultation which areas of the face have sagged. Simulations help to align expectations – they show a direction, not a guarantee. After the operation, standardized photo documentation can make the healing process comparable.
Eyelid surgery
In eyelid surgery, millimeters count. AI-assisted evaluations of standardized photos can make the palpebral fissure, excess skin and symmetry measurable – as a supplement to the examination. In aftercare, a digital plan provides reminders about cooling, suture removal and the follow-up appointment.
Wrinkle treatment
In wrinkle treatment, precise knowledge of facial expressions is essential. An analysis of facial expressions in motion can help to document treatment areas. Important for follow-up appointments: clean documentation of the treatment makes later treatments traceable – and a reminder notifies you when the effect typically wears off.
Breast surgery
Computer-assisted planning is already part of breast augmentation today. AI-assisted 3D measurement can capture volume and proportions more precisely and support the choice of size and shape. For implants, reliable documentation and reminders about check-ups are useful.
Liposuction
Before liposuction, precise measurement of the body contour helps to plan the areas. In aftercare, a digital record of circumference measurements and photos can show how swelling and contour develop over weeks – and provide reminders about the compression garments.
Lipedema
In lipedema, the course of the disease and documentation play a special role – also with regard to the question of coverage of costs. Digital tools can help to record symptoms, circumferences and previous therapies in a structured way. For treatment in several stages, clear planning provides support.
Body contouring and tightening
After tightening operations, getting up early, thrombosis prevention and wound checks are particularly important. Reminders and a structured healing diary can help to adhere to these points in everyday life and to report abnormalities early.
3D imaging with a smartphone: LiDAR and TrueDepth
A particularly exciting development is in many people’s pockets: current iPhone Pro models have a LiDAR scanner on the back that measures distances with laser light and uses them to create a three-dimensional depth image. On the front is the TrueDepth camera system – the same one that is used for facial recognition. Together with suitable software and AI, this can be used to create 3D models of the face and body.
| Sensor | Where on the device | Strength | Possible use |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrueDepth | Front | fine depth resolution at close range | Face: proportions, symmetry, eyelid region, progress after facelift or eyelid surgery |
| LiDAR | Back (Pro models) | captures larger areas at a distance of a few meters | Body: contour, circumferences, volume – for example for breast, liposuction, lipedema or tummy tuck |
What this can mean for treatment
- Face: A 3D scan can make proportions and symmetry visible and serve as a basis for consultation on a facelift or eyelid surgery.
- Breast: Volume and shape can be captured three-dimensionally – a possible supplement when planning size and shape.
- Liposuction and lipedema: Circumferences and contours can be documented comparably over weeks and months – helpful for follow-up monitoring and for documentation in lipedema.
- Body contouring: The progress after a tightening procedure can be recorded more objectively than with photos alone.
- Aftercare at home: It is conceivable that patients could create progress scans with their own smartphone and provide them for review – with their consent and via a secure channel.
Where the limits lie
- Accuracy: Smartphone scans are impressive, but their accuracy depends on light, distance, movement and software. Scientific studies are currently investigating how reliably they measure compared with professional 3D systems. For planning an operation, they are therefore a supplement, not a substitute for examination and experience.
- Medical device law: Software that provides measurements for medical decisions may be considered a medical device and must then be approved accordingly.
- Data protection: 3D scans of the face and body are particularly sensitive. They should only be processed with your explicit consent, for a clear purpose and with good protection – not in arbitrary cloud apps.
A 3D scan shows how something is – not how it will certainly be after an operation. It is a tool for a better conversation.
Clear limits
AI does not make a diagnosis, does not replace an examination and does not make treatment decisions. That remains my responsibility.
- Data protection first: Health data is specially protected. It is only processed with your consent, for a clear purpose and with providers that meet the requirements of the GDPR (DSGVO).
- Transparency: If AI is used, you will be informed – and for what purpose.
- Legal framework: The European AI Act places special requirements on AI in healthcare. Tools that make medical statements are additionally subject to medical device law.
- No promises: Simulations and analyses are aids for the conversation, not a commitment to a particular result.
My conclusion
Good plastic surgery thrives on experience, anatomical knowledge and an honest conversation. AI can support this work: in preparation, in planning and in aftercare. If I use it, then in a way that benefits you – safely, transparently and under medical responsibility.
Do you have questions about a treatment? Book a consultation appointment – in person, not by algorithm.
