Three-Dimensional Printed Facial Models in Rhinoplasty

Klosterman T, Romo T III.

What this paper says

The authors describe combining 3D photography with 3D printing to produce life-size physical models of a patient's face for use in consultation and during surgery, with survey responses reported as universally positive.

Overview

Digital photographs and morphing software have been part of rhinoplasty consultation for decades, but the result is still viewed on a screen. This article introduces printing that data as a physical object the patient can hold and the surgeon can refer to in the operating room.

Sections of note

The technology combines 3D photography with 3D printing to produce life-size models.
The models are used in patient evaluation and treatment.
Surveys were conducted to assess patient response, and responses were universally positive.
Early surgeon experience indicates benefit for use during the operation.
The authors describe the application as new and note prospective uses in facial plastic surgery generally.
The abstract gives no patient numbers, survey instrument, printing costs, accuracy measurements, or outcome data.

What it means for a patient

The proposal is a physical model of your own face rather than only an on-screen simulation.
The model can also serve as a reference the surgeon looks at during the operation.
No numbers are reported, so the claim of universally positive response cannot be assessed.
This is an introductory technique article with no outcome data, so it does not show the model changes surgical results.

Why this paper matters

Communication about expected results is a recurring source of dissatisfaction in rhinoplasty, and a physical model is a different medium for that conversation. It also carries the plan into the operating room. Whether models improve either expectation setting or surgical accuracy is untested here.

Terms

Three-dimensional photography: Capturing a face as a 3D surface model rather than a flat image.
Three-dimensional printing: Building a physical object layer by layer from a digital model.
Morphing software: A program that alters a photograph to show a predicted surgical result.
Intraoperative: During the operation itself.
Life-size model: A physical copy at the same scale as the patient.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

From the abstract

“Digital patient photography and morphing software have become an important part of rhinoplasty over the past few decades. Presented is a novel technology incorporating 3D photography and printing to produce life-size models for use in patient evaluation and treatment. Surveys were conducted to assess patient response…”

Excerpt; the full abstract is on PubMed.