Visualizing Breast Augmentation Results With 3D Imaging

September 18, 2013

In the year 2013, women undergoing a breast augmentation should understand that it is a reliable process, but it also has certain limits. To put it bluntly: you can’t always get what you want. I don’t mean that you can’t always achieve excellent results, but I do mean that what may be right for someone else, may not be right for you. For example, just because your friend looks great with a 330cc implant, doesn’t necessarily mean that a 330cc implant will yield the same results for your specific body type and dimensions.

As a board-certified plastic surgeon, my duty is to manage your expectations prior to surgery. In order to do this, I utilize advanced 3D imaging with our Vectra XT system to help you visualize your end results. We own one of four Vectra XT systems in the entire world, and I have been in collaboration with software engineers in Silicon Valley to help optimize the level of doctor-patient communication this technology can enable. Ultimately, our Vectra XT 3D imaging system can help you attain a higher level of satisfaction when all is said and done.

What’s the advantage of 3D imaging?

The more a patient knows – or more importantly, sees – directly correlates with their ability to make better decisions. While standard before-and-after pictures can help you visualize breast augmentation results for patients of similar stature, they cannot precisely depict how your results will look on your unique frame. By taking your specific dimensions into account, 3D imaging enables you to accurately see what you will look like from any angle with a variety of different implant shapes and sizes. Our Vectra XT technology is able to capture high resolution images of your breasts, enabling you to visualize your augmentation results down to the smallest detail. Additionally, the innovative technology allows you to view side-by-side comparisons of how different implant sizes will look from any angle on your unique frame. From these high resolution images, you can better choose the implant that will most effectively help you achieve your goals, and you won’t have to take the big leap of faith that your surgeon has accurately chosen the right implant for you.

Does 3D imaging really make a difference?

The beauty of 3D imaging with our Vectra XT system is that the patient is able to participate in the decision-making process, often leading to greater satisfaction. Three years ago, we looked at 100 consecutive patients that utilized the 3D imaging at one of my offices, and compared that group to 100 patients at my other office that didn’t have access to the machine at that time. We found that the satisfaction level was much higher for those that used the Vectra XT machine and participated in the decision process, than those who had not.

Final thoughts

In the end, if you are considering breast augmentation, you should be able to see what your results are going to look like after surgery through 3D imaging in addition to seeing what other patients of similar build look like with implants through standard before-and-after pictures. Furthermore, exact measurements need to be taken in order to find the proper implant to match your bodily dimensions.

If all these things are done well, and the operation is conducted with careful technique, results should be reliable and predictable, recovery should exceed your expectations, and complication rates should decrease significantly.

Contact our office

For more information about breast augmentation and how 3D imaging is utilized during the process, please contact our office today.