3D Scanning Hair Transplant Patients

[Kesso]

For those considering Hair Transplant Surgery, I am able to to show you how your grafts will look as it grows on your head. I do this by taking a 3D scan of your head and then growing the exact number of hairs you desire.

 

I am able to control the length, thickness, density and and curliness of the hair.

 

How useful would this be for those considering Hair Transplant Surgery? If you already had surgery, do you think this would be something you would've liked to have seen first?

 

The 3D renders are photo-realistic and quite amazing. It gives you a great idea of how the hair will look. Anyhow, please comment. thank you

[TakingThePlunge]

Kesso,

 

This sounds very interesting to me. Are you able to share some examples of your work?

[Kesso]

Here is a CG render of different growth rates based on 5000 hairs. In order to see the detail, you will need the high-resolution copy. If you would like to see this, simply message me and I would be happy to send it to you.

 

To illustrate to the patients some possible outcomes with the grafts, I generated renders with 60%, 90%, and 100% regrowth rates.

 

To make the renders as realistic as possible, I will adjust the density based on the area of the scalp and the doctor's recommendations.

 

Please comment or message me if you would like to see more CG renders.

 

Thank you!

Edited June 26, 2012 by Kesso

[England]

Gotta admit I would have absolutely loved this prior to my surgery.

 

I of course have concerns that it can never be 100% accurate, as surgery itself (and the results thereof) can vary by a whole host of unknown factors, but it still would have been great to see the potential gain from a transplant.

 

I have heard of some surgeons already offering these kind of 3D 'projections' - may have been Devroye in Brussels, think you could have yourself a nice little niche business here.

 

While these kind of previews would need to come with heavy and clear disclaimers, I do think they would appeal to prospective clients.

[Kesso]

Hi England,

 

Thanks for responding. My goal for this was to give patients a better idea of what the number of grafts will look like. It's just so hard to visualize a number in the thousands. The great thing is that I can not only show the growth stage but factor in some no-growths as well.

 

I'm hoping the prospective clients will be less anxious when they see what the grafts will look like. Because each hair is grown from the root, the CG renders are quite unbelievable. I can't think of any other way that's possible right now that will be more real. That's why I'm so excited to share this with those considering HT.

[Spanker]

It is pretty neat, but I do not think the docs will go for it.

 

What doc would want to live up to a computer generated image. I would see patients running to the dr.s office screaming that they do not look like their CGI.

[GoldenHusky]

I think this would be very interesting. I think Spanker has a point, some doctors might be scared of their results being compared to CG. However, I would tend to think that if a doctor is pessimistic about his own work, I would be very worried.

 

As a patient I would definitely want to see it. The biggest issue I have is visualizing and I think this would help tremendously.

 

I understand the risks with surgery, but otherwise, it's just going in blind and that's not something I would risk considering what if I don't like the way it looks in CG. It's better to know if you don't want something just in case. I guess that would be a big selling point.

 

Overall, I think prospective clients will definitely want to to preview it. Just make sure you understand that results will vary. I'm sure you'll just need an ironclad disclaimer (standard in medical practice).

[Kesso]

Thanks Spanker, for the response. That is absolutely one of my biggest concerns and I think the best way to alleviate it is by showing the grafts with different regrowth rates. At least this way, both the doctor and patient can visualize the different possible outcomes. Since the patient would have seen this before considering surgery, along with the disclaimers, I think they'll understand the risks associated with HT

 

For example: if the doctor is confident in telling me his patients have on average a 90%+ regrowth rate, Why would they hesitate or fear showing the patient what 90% regrowth would look like. More likely, he'll show pictures of other patients with the same scenario. Why not see yourself? That's only logical. Of course, the doctor will mention results will vary from patient to patient, as with any cosmetic surgery. Ultimately, as long as everything is spelled out and different regrowth rates are shown, I feel like doctors will see a lot of value in this service. There is nothing to fear if you are confident and have disclaimers!

[Blake Bloxham]

I remember several years ago when theoretical, 3-D post-operative imaging was a big deal in general plastic surgery. Many surgeons would take detailed photographs, input the information into an imaging program, and alter the images to demonstrate what the patient may look like when fully healed. In fact, some physicians even hired an "imaging specialist" who had the responsibility of taking these images and helping the physicians alter the results to demonstrate what could be achieved with the operation.

 

I recall watching a popular television series, a few years back, where two plastic surgeons were sharing their point of view on these types of imaging programs, and each expressed a very different opinion: one surgeon utilized the program and believed it was both beneficial to patients and also felt like the urge to meet the high expectation set by program kept him on his "A game;" the second surgeon believed it created unrealistic expectations and didn't respect the variability and subjective nature associated with cosmetic surgery.

 

Knowing that, I feel like the truth probably lies somewhere in between; these programs can be great and helpful, but we need to consider the fact that they can create unrealistic expectations and do not necessarily take important factors into account - patient physiology, hair characteristics, etc.

 

Having said that, I do think the technology is very interesting and can be useful for a select number of patients who are well aware of the fact that the 3-D image is a hypothetical, not a guarantee.

[Kesso]

Thanks Future_HT_Doc for the comment. Ultimately, I agree with you. I think the most important factor is that patients understand the best/worst case scenario so they don't have false hopes.

 

Because the CG imaging is only meant to give a visualization, the patient must understand that their are risks associated with surgery and that results will vary. I think seeing other patients photos is extremely important because it's evidence of the doctor's skills. The more evidence, the more comfortable and confident I would be with the doctor. However, it really doesn't help me visualize what the transplant will look like on my scalp.

 

Given how far this technology has come with the ability to generate individual hairs and control its properties, I don't see how any patient would risk going through HT surgery without first taking a look. Otherwise, you'll have no idea what the grafts might look like on your scalp. At least with the CG render, you have something to reference. I just don't see how a person can visualize what 3000 grafts is supposed to look like (it's like looking at a giant jar of pennies and knowing exactly how many there are). The biggest thing is what if they don't like the way it looks in CG? Maybe they won't go through with surgery. Either way, having the CG Render will allow them to have a better idea of what's possible and visualize the what ifs. I would rather be more prepared. I just wouldn't risk going through surgery without know what the grafts might look like first on my head.

 

If you could preview the grafts, why wouldn't you? (given you understand this is only a CG Render and meant to help you visualize the number of grafts/hairs; disclaimer, of course)

[rev3]

this is great technology pre-op to decide the best positioning for a HAIRLINE, including temple angle and temple point

 

I would be interested in doing this for that reason alone

[Blake Bloxham]

Kesso,

 

You bring up some good points. It seems like it could be a useful tool for patients who are totally aware of what the CG rendering represents. However, physicians must be very clear and honest about what the program demonstrates - a theoretical rendering of what the results could be.

[Kesso]

Absolutely Fufture_HT-Doc. I totally agree with you. The CG render is only to help visualize the possible outcomes. We will need disclaimers and honest physicians who don't sugarcoat things. Otherwise, it's just gonna lead to unnecessary issues.

[Kesso]

Thanks rev3 for the comment. I would be glad to offer you a free scan and CG render if you are ever in the Los Angeles area. You make a very good point that I think HT clients will find very valuable pre-op.

[JayDublin]

Hi Kesso,

 

I think its a great idea,

 

if the others here are anything like me, I spend literly hours every day searching for HT results that match my hairline... all I want is to be able to visualise what results I might expect.. If you could save me that hassle, I'd pay for that !!!

 

Can you do a 2D version if we emailed you our pictures ?

 

Best of Luck with it.

[Kesso]

Hi Jaydublin,

 

Thank you for commenting. I'm very glad to hear your feedback.

 

Yes I can do it from pictures, but the face won't not be as realistic as from a person's 3D scan. The head and hairline will still be very accurate. I would use photos taken from a variety of angles to build a 3D model of your head. From there, I can add the desired number of hairs and set the hairline.

 

Of course you must understand that the hair placement and density should be based on the doctor's recommendations. In any case, if you can specify to me where and how many hairs to be grown, then I can do the CG render.

[Kesso]

Recent CG Render based on 3D scan of prospective client. Different regrowth rates are shown.

[Bandito]

This is very nice but could be the something to make it hard to match in life, yes? Is not the details to much to make? I like but I'm scared that might make more boys sad from the intervention.

[Kesso]

Hi Bandito. Thanks for the response.

 

You are absolutely correct. The CG render is only to illustrate different possible outcomes including various regrowth rates. It's also to help the patient better visualize their hair line and growth pattern. At the end of the day, the patient must understand it is only a CG Render and that results will always vary. It is more important to have a confident doctor who has plenty of experience and able to show evidence.

[Jotronic]

I've always liked the idea of rendered 3D results. What is the software you're using? The expectations issue is an obvious hurdle and while your answer about making sure that doctors stress this is just a rendering is sensible it is not practical in that many people hear one thing but see another. This is from experience not just as a consultant but as an observer of life.

 

More than anything though, to me anyway, the question of security comes to mind. What regulations bind you to patient confidentiality?

[Kesso]

Thank you for your comment Jotronic. To protect the patients confidentiality, I would sign a Non-Disclosure agreement. I do think that this is something patients would really want, but have been noticing that the doctors might be fearful or hesitant. I can understand they do not want to be compared to unattainable results, no one would, but I would not be illustrating perfection. I would show the different possible outcomes including a worst case to best case scenario. This way the client fully understands the risks. At the end of the day, I would think the patient would rather see a preview than not. Of course, some people take more risks. If they are extremely confident in the doctor's skills, then the CG render would only aid in the visualization of the doctor's success rate. It's such a valuable resource and I am hoping physician's will take to it. I really believe a HT center can benefit tremendously with this ability. It's for the patients more than anything else.

[rev3]

Thanks rev3 for the comment. I would be glad to offer you a free scan and CG render if you are ever in the Los Angeles area. You make a very good point that I think HT clients will find very valuable pre-op.

 

 

yes!

 

facial plastic surgeons do this to decide on nose, chin and cheek projection for deciding on size of implant

 

patient and doctor knows this is only a projected outcome and not a guarantee

 

but a tool that both can use in deciding "what is possible" and "what might look best"

 

myself, i am having a difficult time deciding the best placement of temple angle and points

3/4 angles of the head in 3D would make all possible options clear....whether or not these results are achievable is another matter. But this approach can bring both patient and doctor into agreement more readily

[Bill - Seemiller]

Kesso,

 

I personally like the idea of 3D software that can provide prosective patients with a realistic representation of what they can achieve with hair transplant surgery. Lord knows I could have benefited from this kind of technology when I was going through surgery. However, hair transplant surgeyr is much more than a covering baldness with a certain quantity of grafts. How would this kind of software account for other variables that affect the result such as hair shaft diameter, strategic placement of the grafts by the surgeon, angulation, distribution, hair counts (numbers of hairs per graft), scalp/hair contrast ratio, etc.?

 

Ultimately, I am concerned that relying on such technology too heavily may create unrealistic expectations as to what a patient can achieve with hair transplant surgery. However, as long as patients understand that this technology is just one of several tools to help give prospective patients an idea of the kind of results they might achieve and isn't a true real life example, it could prove to be a valuable resource.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill