Although an experienced plastic surgeon may be able to predict the likely results of any cosmetic surgery, results can never be assured. And predicting the results of breast augmentation in particular is more of an art than a science, where the vision and experience of a surgeon is crucial to envisioning your likely results. Technology is striving to close the gap, and, although it still remains wide, it has taken another step forward.
Breast shape is determined partly by the interaction of breast mass with the breast envelope, largely the skin. The ratio of breast volume to breast surface area is important to determining the shape of the breast both before and after breast augmentation. Researchers have now reported that they have developed a quick, accurate optical method for measuring breast surface area and volume, giving the breast surgeon additional data to help predict likely results from breast surgery.
Those in favor of “quantitative” breast surgery see this as an important step forward, but it is still a long way from providing a technological alternative to the surgeon’s vision and experience.
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