Making Augmented and Virtual Reality Work for the Plastic Surgeon

Augmented and virtual reality is an evolving technology at the forefront of medicine. It can provide physicians with hands-free, real-time access to the vast resources of the Internet and electronic medical records, allowing simultaneously recording of clinical encounters or procedures. Mixed reality platforms can be applied as a clinical tool, educational resource, or as an aid in enhancing communication in health care. This article will explore how various augmented and virtual reality platforms have enabled real-time visualization of patient information, recording of surgical cases, point-of-view photography, and intraoperative consults-all while remaining sterile in the operating room. Although this technology is of potential value to a number of different surgical and medical specialties, plastic surgery is ideally suited to lead this charge.