New face scanner predicts success of plastic surgery

A new piece of equipment has been developed which will enable surgeons to predict the effectiveness of plastic surgery.

Researchers at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead and Imperial College London have developed the face scanner, which uses 3D imaging to measure skin contours, according to BBC News.

Six cameras are used to produce high-accuracy images and, according to consultant plastic surgeon Charles Nduka, the technology could be used to treat facial paralysis and to guide breast and body contour surgery.

Mr Nduka told the BBC: "Unfortunately, before the development of this system there was no way to accurately measure the effectiveness of different treatments or to compare how long the treatments last.

"Many newer techniques have been widely adopted without meaningful evaluation," he added.

The number of plastic surgery operations rose by 65 per cent in Britain last year, with members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) carrying out 16,367 procedures, over 90 per cent of which were performed on women.

© Adfero Ltd