Digital Photography in Plastic Surgery: How to Achieve Reasonable Standardization Outside a Photographic Studio

Abstract

Accurate photographic documentation has become essential in reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery both for clinical and scientific purposes. Digital imaging systems currently are popular, being reasonably affordable and much improved in quality. They offer multiple advantages in terms of quality, easy image storage and retrieval. Nevertheless, obtaining standardized, consistent, and relevant digital images is not easy outside a photographic studio. The purpose of this report is to define guidelines for accurate image capture in different anatomic areas, following elementary general criteria based on practical issues beyond the purely theoretical, to obtain reasonable standardization, consistency, and reproducibility.

Can We Trust the Use of Smartphone Cameras in Clinical Practice? Laypeople Assessment of Their Image Quality

“…It is of note, however, that the use of flash has been recommended for telediagnosis purposes when using digital cameras. [25][26][27] It is unclear whether this would also be recommended with a smartphone camera and whether the use of flash would have yielded different results from the results obtained here without flash. 28 Our results provide good indications that smartphones from three different platforms (Apple, BlackBerry, and Android) can provide medical practitioners with a working tool that can satisfactorily assist photographic documentation and imagebased communication.…”

Reduction of the opposite breast in patients with a breast reconstructed with an implant: Validity of the inverted “T”, superior pedicle technique, with an inferiorly-based dermal adipose flap

“…At the end of the consultation the patients were photographed with attention being paid to standardisation [10].…”

Adherence to Photographic Standards:A Review of ASPS and ASAPS Member Surgeons' Websites

“…Even then, faint shadows may still be appreciated. A small flash illuminating the background will eliminate shadows completely [2,12,18]. Some have advocated using a black background in order to eliminate the cast shadow, but this is not necessary with appropriate lighting.…”

“…Numerous articles regarding photographic standards have been published with many of the more recent examples found in the facial plastic surgery literature [1][2][3][4][5]. In order to assist plastic surgeons in professionalism, privacy, operative planning, and documentation of pertinent anatomy without distortion or distraction, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation (now known as Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF) and henceforth will be referred to as PSF) (ASPS/PSF) published The Photographic Standards in Plastic Surgery in 2006 [6].…”