The Metaverse as a new approach to aesthetic consultations

A lot has been written and discussed about the revolution the metaverse is starting to bring to our lives and the amazing possibilities it presents. However, not so much research and development have been carried out about how the field of cosmetics, plastic, and aesthetic consultations can shift their paradigm with the metaverse. 

A bit of history

One may think the opposite, but the origins of the “metaverse”, in terms of technology and lexicon, are nothing new. Back in the early 19th century, the scientist and inventor Sir Charles Wheatstone presented a device he called a “reflected mirror stereoscope”. With it, he showed that by combining two different images -one for each eye- the brain would be capable of producing 3D depth perception. This concept is the same as the one used today for VR headsets.

In terms of semantics, its Greek prefix “meta-” means, among many, “beside”, “above” or “beyond”. Meta- also implies a change of location or state. This way, the current “metaverse” refers to a reality existing alongside or beyond the existing reality.

Regarding the full term metaverse, it was first used in 1992, in the science fiction novel Snow Crash written by Neil Stephenson. In it, two parallel words (the physical “reality” and the online, virtual “metaverse”) are equally depicted and the characters move from one to the other. Events occurring in the metaverse can even impact the people in the “real” world.

The current definition of the metaverse

Although there is no closed definition of what is the metaverse as such, in general terms we can say that the metaverse is a full experience that creates immersive, interactive, and “live” situations in an online virtual world. For that, some of the latest technologies and computational developments, like VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), and AI (Artificial Intelligence) must concur. 

At the same time, the “person” who is going to live the experiences in that virtual world will have a “digital twin”. This is a 3D virtual model, sometimes also called an avatar, generated using real data. 

Having said this, how can then the metaverse be applied to the field of aesthetic consultations?

Virtual and Remote consultations

When it comes to cosmetic surgery or aesthetic treatments, the patient needs to be educated on the possible results to make a better-informed decision. At the same time, the aesthetic specialist needs to better understand the patient's demands and be able to discuss them. Patients need to kind of see the future so that they can make a more educated and confident decision on their treatment. In this sense, a 3D simulation tool is of great value because patients can easily compare the before and after the procedure, better express their desires and learn about the treatment itself. At the same time, healthcare professionals can better explain the patient’s options and limitations, and manage their expectations by creating tailor-made simulations as opposed to showing cases of other patients that will diverge in many aspects of the patient’s own anatomy.

Until now, these consultations were necessarily in person. However, after the Covid-19 pandemic, it was demonstrated that, with the proper tools, telemedicine could be a reality. 3D virtual consultations allow patients and doctors to analyze and see the different outcomes, discuss them, and even set up a date for the procedure remotely. This is especially important in areas where there is a shortage of specific professionals, for medical tourism, or for people who live far from where the preferred plastic surgeon is based.

3D simulation on 3D virtual models

For a virtual experience to be fully immersive, a patient must find the “other person" fully recognizable and identifiable with the self. Even more in the field of aesthetics, where appearance and real results are to be analyzed. This is only possible with the creation of 3D models based on real images and data. Once this avatar, digital twin, or virtual patient is created, 3D simulations of the relevant procedures can be easily created based on the patient’s actual measurements.   

Virtual Reality 

Going a step beyond, patients can try on the new look on themselves, learn about their procedures, understand the suggestion made by the doctor, and foresee themselves with the new look after the treatment in a Virtual Reality scenario by means of a VR headset. The medical study, Use of Three-Dimensional Imaging to Assess Effectiveness of Volume as a Critical Variable in Breast Implant Selection by Dennis C. Hammond, M.D., Kuylhee Kim, M.D., Matthew H. Bageris, B.S., Arif Chaudhry, M.D., PRS, published on January 2022, has shown that Crisalix VR consultations for breast augmentations were the most effective method of volume estimation and offer a particular advantage in allowing effective communication between the physician and the patient. A fully immersive experience that improves education and confidence and takes the patient-doctor relationship to the next level.

AR technology

Augmented Reality plays an essential role in real-time interaction and precise 3D visualization. The desired target of any plastic consultation is for patients to see their results before undertaking the procedure. With AR technology, aesthetic patients can see themselves, as if they were looking at their reflection in a mirror, after a simulated aesthetic treatment or procedure. This “live” experience is fully engaging, enhancing, thus, the doctor-patient relationship and commitment.  

Enhancing the whole patient-doctor journey

Although the core of a cosmetic consultation and procedure will remain the same, the metaverse can bring about a real shift in the way the relationship between patients and plastic surgeons is built. From booking a consultation to the patient generating their 3D model at home, the simulation of the desired procedures, and to the visualization of the potential results in a virtual scenario, the field of aesthetic medicine and plastic surgery have endless possibilities in the metaverse. 

Crisalix; game-changing the medical aesthetics metaverse since 2015

That year Crisalix introduced to the aesthetics community the first concept of a metaverse medical aesthetics solution with the launch of its disruptive 4D VR technology. 

Implementing virtual reality for aesthetic consultations meant a big step forward as it was the first fully customizable immersive consultation, adding the 4th dimension with Virtual Reality to the already exciting 3D imaging. Since that day, Crisalix has kept on growing the offer to cover 4D VR for breast, face, and body aesthetic procedures.

As a complementary solution and almost simultaneously, Crisalix offered the first real-time AR technology for aesthetics and plastic surgery, letting patients see themselves in a magic mirror discovering their possible results before undergoing the procedure.

Together with its solid background in AI and 3D generation and simulation, Crisalix is the unique online platform in the plastic surgery and aesthetics field that offers patients a fully immersive virtual experience. An experience that, either virtually, online, or in person, connects patients and healthcare professionals no matter where they are.

Do you want to take advantage of the Metaverse transformation in the aesthetics field? Contact us  to find out more.