Acquisition of Precision and Reliability of Modalities for Facial Reconstruction and Aesthetic Surgery: A Systematic Review

The foundation of reconstructive and cosmetic surgery is a confluence of advanced technologies, plethora of procedures, inventive modifications, and planned strategies. In surgical planning, the most crucial steps for treating a patient are evaluating the facial morphometry and recognizing the deviations from the baseline values of facial parameters. Various imaging and non-imaging modalities and sub-modalities contribute to diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up care. These techniques are an important milestone of pre-, peri-, and postoperative care in facial reconstruction. The current research aims to comprehensively explain imaging and non-imaging technologies encompassing both innovative and traditional approaches in facial reconstruction. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from 1990 to 2022, and systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA recommendations. Undoubtedly, various factors impact the selection of facial analysis acquisition approaches and their prospective. The surgical team must understand such modalities’ potential for diagnosis and treatment. The evolution of three-dimensional imaging has been fueled because of the need for devices with high speed, small size, and several functions. Automation with more efficiency and precision is the way of the future for three-dimensional imaging. Stereophotogrammetry can clearly quantify the field of facial analysis. All the publications under consideration came to the same conclusion: Canfield’s Vectra three-dimensional imaging devices can provide accurate, repeatable stereophotogrammetric pictures. Although a few minor mistakes were recorded, most examined devices are deemed reliable and accurate tools for Plastic surgeons.