Pushing Boundaries in Aesthetic Breast Surgery: Precise Surgical Planning With Online Consultation and 3-dimensional Simulation.

[BACKGROUND] In the past decade, there has been an increase in the implementation of telemedicine and 3-dimensional (3D) imaging in plastic and reconstructive surgery. This retrospective study assessed the feasibility of precise surgical planning for breast procedures and the conversion rate of online consultations with 3D imaging for surgeons who work in multiple countries.

[METHODS] Fifteen consecutive patients underwent online visits with 3D imaging for breast augmentation (10), hybrid augmentation (2), mastopexy (2), and breast reduction (1). All patients were physically seen for the first time the day before the operation; however, the surgical plan and the types of implants were decided with the online consultation. The conversion rate was compared with that of 30 consecutive patients seen in the same timeframe in the regular outpatient clinic.

[RESULTS] The procedures could be performed as foreseen. The implants chosen were accurate in 100% of the patients; only 1 implant per breast could be ordered for 80% of patients and 2 for the other 20%. The patients were effortlessly followed up with online consultations and expressed satisfaction with the results. The conversion rate was 87% for the online consultations compared with 90% for the regular encounters ( = 0.74).

[CONCLUSIONS] Online consultations with 3D imaging transcend geographic limitations by providing effective result visualization and allowing for accurate planning, without affecting the conversion rate. Considering limited real-world data, our findings help fill a key gap and support broader adoption in global plastic surgery.