Artificial intelligence in maxillofacial and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide a current review of artificial intelligence and its subtypes in maxillofacial and facial plastic surgery including a discussion of implications and ethical concerns.

RECENT FINDINGS: Artificial intelligence has gained popularity in recent years due to technological advancements. The current literature has begun to explore the use of artificial intelligence in various medical fields, but there is limited contribution to maxillofacial and facial plastic surgery due to the wide variance in anatomical facial features as well as subjective influences. In this review article, we found artificial intelligence's roles, so far, are to automatically update patient records, produce 3D models for preoperative planning, perform cephalometric analyses, and provide diagnostic evaluation of oropharyngeal malignancies.

SUMMARY: Artificial intelligence has solidified a role in maxillofacial and facial plastic surgery within the past few years. As high-quality databases expand with more patients, the role for artificial intelligence to assist in more complicated and unique cases becomes apparent. Despite its potential, ethical questions have been raised that should be noted as artificial intelligence continues to thrive. These questions include concerns such as compromise of the physician-patient relationship and healthcare justice.