Google Glass will be used in plastic surgery

In an issue of the official journal of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) called Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® provides information about the first plastic surgery performed using Google Glass technology. As the authors of the article note, such an application has many advantages, however, in order to fully use wearable technologies from Google, it is necessary to work out a number of points, to remove barriers to the benefits that can be obtained through the use of Google Glass in plastic surgery.

Google Glass wearable technology has a wide range of possible applications in plastic surgery: improving surgeon training, medical records, and patient safety. This is reported in the March issue of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) official journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®. 

A paper written by Christopher R. Davis, M.D. and Lome K. Rosenfield, ASPS M.D., Stanford University, describes the first plastic surgery performed using Google Glass. 

The authors describe the opportunities and challenges of integrating the new technology into surgical practice and training and note that Google Glass is an exciting technology that is attracting the attention of professionals from around the world working in various industries. 

Thanks to the ability to control the device without using the hands – through voice commands, touch or head position, Google Glass is an essential technological tool in the operating room. The authors also described the experience of performing the first plastic surgery using Google Glass – blepharoplasty (eyelid correction surgery) in combination with a surgical facelift. 

Among the challenges of using this technology, Dr. Davis and Dr. Rosenfield note the limited resolution of the video camera, technical difficulties in data transmission, and the obligatory maintenance of the surgeon's head in one position. In subsequent procedures, Dr. Rosenfield developed a wide LED lamp that is mounted on the surgeon's head and improves video clarity for both observers and the surgeon himself.  The ability to demonstrate surgical procedures online or recorded is a clear advantage for the training of plastic surgeons and other disciplines.

Also, records of the surgical operation performed will help the surgeon who performed them to evaluate the work he has done. In the future, Google Glass technology, according to the authors, will allow surgeons to receive remote consultations and even virtual assistance during real plastic surgeries.  Google Glass can also be used to provide quick access to medical records. This will help reduce the risk of spreading infections through the use of pens, paper, computers, and other items.  

While there are still many nuances that need to be corrected, as well as logistical, ethical and legal issues that need to be resolved before the introduction of Google Glass into everyday medical practice, the authors of the article are more than optimistic: 

"The future of Google Glass in surgery is very promising and includes the potential to be used not only as an educational tool for observers, but also as a valuable tool for plastic surgeons themselves."