Plastic surgeons are responsible for restoring hope to a person’s face after severe burns. This is no easy task, as there are 43 muscles in this area that enable facial function.

Under this premise, Argentine doctors and scientists have created a 3D mask capable of making this process easier. The project leaders are Hernán Aguilar and Horacio Mayer.

The 3D Mask Model

The 3D mask serves as a precise replica of the patient’s facial features, helping surgeons plan and execute reconstructive procedures more effectively.

The Reconstruction Process

According to information reported by Noticieros Televisa, after removing all damaged tissue from the patient’s face, a scan is taken to capture their facial features and print them into a polylactic acid mask — a biodegradable polymer made from corn, beet, wheat, and starch components.

Once the three-dimensional facial model is ready, a special design is produced using a 3D printer. The mask is then applied to the patient alongside an artificial bovine-derived membrane, which remains on the wound for 21 days.

The critical phases of this process are reconstructive and pressotherapy stages. Initially, natural grafts or artificial dermis are applied and held in place on the patient’s face with gauze for about six weeks after the burn.

At this point, the wounds are typically healed, and it is time to place an acrylic mask created from a plaster mold, which applies pressure to specific tissues.

The First Patient

The first 3D mask was tested on a 38-year-old patient who had burns on 40% of his body. Thanks to this new method, he achieved significant improvements in just a few months.

Wearing the personalized 3D mask for one year allows continued remodeling of the scars, improving their color, texture, and volume.

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