Technology is a key player and is here to stay. That is what many plastic surgeons and aesthetic doctors are understanding now. Furthermore, they understand it plays an increasingly vital role in enhancing patient consultations and treatment planning. Choosing the right simulator or imaging software can set your practice apart. How? By improving patient confidence, setting accurate expectations, and streamlining your workflow.
If you’re investing in simulation or imaging software for the first time, here’s what you need to consider:
Hardware vs. Software
You might see all these fancy words and think, oh no it’s just too much for me to pick. In fact, it’s real simple. Hardware-based means buying a specific machine or equipment that does the function you require, while the software solution is implemented into different devices, therefore portable. Arbrea Labs provides exactly that. Portable solutions that can be handheld and used on your iPhone or iPad.
Hardware-Based Imaging Systems
Let’s see these hardware-based tools (Vectra 3D, Quantificare, Aura Reality). They usually come with a dedicated camera system and advanced equipment for image processing and simulation. What do they offer? High-resolution images, an integrated measurement tool, and precision. What’s the catch here? Because if they were so great, why do so many Medical Aesthetic professionals go with software solutions?
First of all, these systems come with high costs compared to a software solution. And let’s not talk about the space they take. You will need a dedicated room to place this equipment. It will need a fixed position to function as it should. Also, it will require extremely personalized lighting to avoid image inconsistency, and it needs the patient to stand at a specific spot to be precise.
However, the space will not be the only issue here, as it is guaranteed to slow down your consultation process. What do I mean? You will need to take the patient to do the imaging in a different room from where you are talking. Plus, it takes much longer for the images to be processed, and the clinics need to be super efficient in scheduling everything. But accounting for the human factor from both sides, we know that it’s impossible. Therefore, prolonged consultations lead to a much higher possibility of losing patients.
Another matter that might seem small is that the equipment requires calibration to perform in the most optimal way. And the background must always be uniform or a neutral color. So if you don’t have that, you will need to repaint your walls.
Software-Only Solutions
Congratulations, you successfully read through the nightmare of dealing with hardware-based tools. Now let’s hear a little bit about the software solutions Arbrea has in store for you. No pun intended. We are available in the Google Store and App Store. You can install our software solutions immediately on your iPhone or iPad, and it can be linked immediately through several devices with one subscription. Our solutions are cost-effective, as you don’t need any specific expensive cameras. Also, you will not need to disrupt your consultation process with your patients, taking them to a different room or doing it beforehand. You can do it whenever you feel it’s time to go ahead and in a quick manner. The whole visualization process will take up to 1 minute and a half maximum.
”Adapt with the times and your patients' growing requests by integrating a software solution for 3D simulation.
Security & Patient Data Protection
Data leaks and hacks are another thing you need to look out for before making your choice in the imaging direction. You can read more regarding this crucial issue on our previous blog. But coming back to the previous point. Is your imaging choice gonna be a hardware-based tool or a software solution?
The general notion is that the hardware-based tool is really safe, as the data is kept there. But if the tool is saving the data on the clinic’s server, then it becomes open to the very real possibility of being hacked. You would say that a software solution like Arbrea’s would face the same issue. However, you would be wrong in this assumption. Why? We don’t save any data. Everything is stored locally on the device. And it can only be shared with your choice or your patients’.
An added bonus here with Arbrea’s solutions is that it allows remote consultations, with patients being able to share the pictures they have taken with you. As we specified above, Arbrea doesn’t store any data, but your patients have the option to share their simulations with you as their plastic surgeon or aesthetic doctor.
Features & Usability
Comparing the two, obviously the software solution is the optimal choice here. And not because we say so. It’s based on these simple facts:
- Easy to Use. Unlike the hardware-based tool, our solutions are easier to grasp with a simple interface.
- Mobility. You can take the iPhone or iPad from room to room or clinic to clinic to proceed with your consultation.
- Augmented Reality Factor. It can simulate results in real-time, so you can modify everything at any given moment and see the change with a snap of your fingers.
Budget & Return on Investment
Clearly the differences here are colossal between the two options. Yes, buying a hardware-based tool is a one-time thing. Or so you think. Imagine if something breaks. Even the tiniest thing takes several days to be fixed, which sets back your practice’s work. For major issues with these types of equipment, it might take weeks, and the cost is not on the lower end at all. So you are left with a machine that doesn’t work until fixed, unhappy clients, and an overall hit to your income. While with a software solution, you can simply change the iPhone or iPad, if it even goes to that.
The Return on Investment is also something to consider. I agree that seeing shiny machinery doing the work has a different impact. At least right away. But your patients care more about seeing their potential results in real-time.
And another factor is the curve in which the software keeps growing and improving is always on the rise, while the equipment will stay the same, as it has an integrated software that works a specific way. Think of it as a printer; in order to get the latest features, you have to buy the latest version. Well, if with a printer it’s okay to do that, with imaging machinery it’s not. Their cost far exceeds that of a printer.
Making the Right Choice for Your Clinic
Choosing the right imaging solution comes down to your clinic’s needs. While hardware-based systems offer precision, they come with high costs, space requirements, and longer consultation times. In contrast, software solutions like Arbrea Labs are cost-effective, portable, and provide real-time simulations, making consultations quicker and more efficient. With better mobility, no maintenance concerns, and robust data protection, software-based solutions offer a clear advantage, helping you provide a seamless experience for your patients and a faster return on investment.
Do you use imaging software in your practice? What’s been your experience? Share your opinion with us.
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