Visualizing three-dimensional facial soft tissue changes following orthognathic surgery

摘要

Laser scanning can be used to visualize the face in three dimensions. These scans can then be processed to enable assessment of facial changes. The aim of this single-centre, prospective, longitudinal, cohort study was to investigate whether four different visualization methods correctly represented facial changes occurring as a result of orthognathic surgery. Twenty-six consecutive orthognathic patients (13 female mandibular advancement and 13 male bimaxillary Class III) were included as well as a control group of 12 non-growing adults (6 males and 6 females). Pre- and post-operative facial laser scans were superimposed and four different visualization methods applied: correspondences with sensitivity to movement, normals, radial, and closest point.