[Artificial intelligence in plastic surgery : Current developments and perspectives].

[BACKGROUND] Artificial intelligence (AI) has long been established in various parts of everyday life due to the instrumentalization of machines and robotics in industry, autonomous vehicles and the rapid development of computer-based systems.

[OBJECTIVE] Demonstration of current developments and perspectives of AI in plastic surgery.

[MATERIAL AND METHODS] Evaluation of statistics, press releases and original articles from journals and discussion of reviews.

[RESULTS] In the healthcare system and in plastic surgery AI is particularly useful in the context of data analysis from digital patient files and big data from central registers. The use of 3D imaging systems provides objective feedback on surgical results in terms of volume and aesthetics. Intelligent robots assist plastic surgeons in microsurgical anastomoses of increasingly smaller vessels and the implementation of AI in the field of prosthetics enables patients to regain hand function following amputation injuries.

[CONCLUSION] For the benefit of the patients, it is the responsibility of experimental surgery to explore the opportunities, risks and limitations of applications with AI.