Drawing in craniofacial surgery: cognitive, educational, and communicative roles

Drawing has long accompanied surgical training and practice. In craniofacial surgery - where three-dimensional deformities and long treatment pathways are common - drawing may support observation, operative planning, documentation, education, communication, and psychosocial care. This article reviews historical perspectives and contemporary literature, highlighting drawing - including emerging digital approaches - as a complementary, pragmatic, and patient-centred tool in modern craniofacial practice. It also considers emerging digital and AI-supported tools and proposes directions for future research on learning, communication, and patient experience.