Preoperative planning in aesthetic breast surgery plays a critical role in shaping patient satisfaction. Beyond technical precision, successful outcomes depend on how clearly patients understand and align with a proposed surgical result before treatment begins. Traditional consultation tools such as before-and-after photographs and external sizer bras are widely used to support decision-making. While helpful, these methods often rely on subjective interpretation and cannot fully account for individual anatomy, soft-tissue characteristics, or proportional differences between patients. As a result, expectatio mismatch remains a common challenge, even when surgical outcomes are clinically successful. Advances in three-dimensional (3D) visualization and augmented reality (AR) aim to address these limitations by offering personalized, interactive simulations that improve clarity and shared understanding. A clinical study by Reichenberger et al. (2023) provides comparative evidence on how different preoperative simulation methods including 3D and AR-based visualization affect patient satisfaction and perceived realism in breast augmentation planning. The findings are particularly relevant to platforms such as Arbrea Labs, whose 3D and AR visualization tools were used within the evaluated clinical
workflow.
Study Overview
The study, Assessing patient satisfaction with a new 3D simulation software for breast augmentation, evaluated 82 patients who underwent primary aesthetic breast augmentation between October 2018 and February 2023. Each patient was assessed using three preoperative consultation methods:
- Before-and-after photograph
- External sizer bras
- 3D simulation with augmented reality (AR)
Patient satisfaction was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 10, with follow-up assessments conducted up to 12 months postoperatively to evaluate perceived realism and decision satisfaction.
Key Findings
Highest Satisfaction With 3D and AR Simulation Among all methods evaluated, 3D simulation with augmented reality achieved the highest patient satisfaction, with a mean VAS score of 8.55 ± 1.45. This was significantly higher than:
- Before-and-after photographs: 7.71 ± 1.11
- External sizer bras: 7.16 ± 1.42
Statistical analysis confirmed that the differences between 3D/AR simulation and conventional methods were highly significant (p < 0.001), demonstrating a clear patient preference for interactive, personalized visualization tools.
Improved Expectation Alignment
The study highlights that 3D and AR simulations were more effective in aligning patient expectations with surgical planning. Unlike static images or physical sizers, interactive visualization allowed patients to explore different implant sizes and shapes in relation to their own anatomy. Patients reported improved understanding of volume, projection, and proportion, reducing reliance on imagination and subjective interpretation. At the 12-month follow-up, many patients rated the simulation as closely matching their postoperative outcome, reinforcing its role in expectation management.
Comparable Consultation Time With Greater Clarity
Importantly, the use of 3D simulation did not prolong consultations. Time spent using AR-supported visualization was comparable to and in some cases shorter than traditional methods, while delivering higher satisfaction and clearer decision-making support. This suggests that improved clarity can be achieved without increasing consultation burden, supporting both patient experience and clinical efficiency.
Clinical Implications
Reichenberger et al. conclude that 3D simulation with augmented reality represents a superior consultation methodfor preoperative planning in aesthetic breast surgery. The technology addresses known limitations of traditional tools by accounting for individual anatomy and providing a realistic, patient-specific reference point. These findings align with a broader shift toward visualization-based communication in aesthetic medicine, where informed consent and patient confidence are supported through shared visual understanding rather than abstract description alone.
The study evaluated 3D and AR simulation software used in routine clinical practice, including solutions developed by Arbrea Labs, which enable fast, tablet-based 3D reconstruction and interactive visualization within the consultation workflow. By translating clinical measurements into personalized 3D and AR representations, Arbrea’s technology reflects the mechanisms identified in the study as drivers of improved patient satisfaction, expectation alignment, and consultation clarity.
Conclusion
References (APA)
Reichenberger, M., Ernst, A., Engel, H., Ziegler, J., Jost, A., & Hirche, C. (2023). Assessing patient satisfaction with a new 3D simulation software for breast augmentation. Unpublished clinical study / institutional research.
About the Author
Professor Dr. Reichenberger has a reputation that precedes him: he is considered an artist, an aesthete among specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery. Professor Dr. Matthias Reichenberger is known for his talent for placing scars discreetly, for operating with even greater delicacy and precision than many of his colleagues.
For more information, you can visit his official website here.
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