PRIME Journal Vol. 11 Issue 4

news NEWS | 10 September/October 2021 | prime-journal.com or most patients, the reasons for having a facelift are simple: to ‘turn back the clock’ for a younger and more attractive appearance. When considering facelift surgery, patients may ask, ‘How much younger will I look?” For plastic surgeons, that has been a difficult question to answer. Typically, the cosmetic outcomes of facelifting have been judged on a case-by-case basis, or with the use of subjective ratings. Now research suggests a new, objective approach to assessing the reduction in apparent age after facelift surgery: artificial intelligence (AI) networks trained to estimate age based on facial photos. ‘Our study shows that currently available AI algorithms can recognise the success of facelifting, and even put a number on the reduction in years of perceived age,’ comments senior author James P. Bradley, MD, Vice Chairman of Surgery, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. The study is published in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the ASPS. The study used a type of AI algorithm called convolutional neural networks. ‘By training on datasets containing millions of public images, these neural networks can learn to discern facial features with much higher ‘experience’ than a typical person,’ Dr. Bradley explains. Four different, publicly available neural networks were used to make objective age estimates of facial age for 50 patients who underwent facelifting. The AI estimates were made using standardised photos taken before and at least one year after facelift surgery. The results were compared with patients’ subjective ratings of their appearance, along with responses to a standard patient-rated evaluation (FACE-Q questionnaire). The patients were all women, average age 58.7 years. The AI algorithms used in the study were 100 percent accurate in identifying the patients’ age, based on ‘before’ photos. In the ‘after’ photos, the neural networks recognized a 4.3-year reduction in age after facelift surgery. That was substantially less than the 6.7-year reduction, as rated by patients themselves. ‘Patients may tend to overestimate how much younger they look after facelift surgery – perhaps reflecting their emotional and financial investment in the procedure,’ Dr. Bradley comments. On the FACE-Q questionnaire, patients were highly satisfied with the results of their facelift surgery: average scores (on a 0-to-100 scale) were 75 for facial appearance and over 80 for quality of life. Neural network estimates of age reduction were directly correlated with patient satisfaction. ‘The younger the AI programme perceives a patient’s age, the greater their satisfaction with the results of their facelift,’ says Dr. Bradley. Around-upof news stories in theaestheticandanti-ageing medicine industry InMode, a global provider of innovative medical technologies, has announced the launch of the EmpowerRF Women’s Wellness platform. EmpowerRF is a multi-functional platform delivering life-changing women’s wellness therapies. It is the most advanced feminine wellness solution leveraging multiple complementary technologies. Unlike single energy alternatives, the combination of multiple modalities allows for customised, layered procedures to address a broad range of conditions, including blood circulation, pain relief, pelvic floor weakness, along with stress, urge, and mixed urinary incontinence (SUI). Moshe Mizrahy, InMode CEO, commented, ‘InMode recognises the unmet needs of the women’s wellness market, and we remain resolute in bringing to market breakthrough innovations that deliver safe and comprehensive life-changing therapies.’ ‘As the medical aesthetics innovation leader, InMode is renowned for developing and commercialising disruptive technologies. While other companies have withdrawn from feminine health, InMode has continued to invest heavily in this segment. The EmpowerRF platform revolutionises women’s wellness and is a testament of our commitment to drive change in this important global market,” said Shakil Lakhani, InMode North American President. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCEMAYBEABLETO QUANTIFYHOWYOUNGYOUACTUALLYLOOK INMODE LAUNCH NEWWOMEN’S WELLNESS PLATFORM F TECHNOLOGY CAN GRADE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLASTIC SURGERY TREATMENTS Our study shows that currently available AI algorithms can recognize the success of facelifting, and even put a number on the reduction in years of perceived age.