Current use of 3D printing in plastic surgery

Abstract

Since the 1980s, 3D printing has considerably broadened its field of application. Although only recently developed, there are now several techniques that allow the custom design of 3D objects. Plastic surgery, with its wide range of surgical indications, also benefits from the various 3D printing techniques. It brings a precious help to the surgeon, whether it is within the framework of pre-operative planning, of the custom design of cutting tools in maxillofacial surgery, or within a pedagogical framework with the learning of surgical techniques to students or for the provision of more precise information to patients. This work first recalls the different modalities of three-dimensional printing, then describes the main uses of 3D printing in plastic surgery.