Smart apps for the smart plastic surgeon

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Plastic Surgery Informatics

Background:

• Smartphones offer significant potential benefits for plastic surgeons in patient care and education.
• The vast and growing number of mobile applications necessitates curated resources for effective utilization.
• Existing literature has not extensively covered the range of Android applications relevant to plastic surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compile and review an exhaustive list of Android smartphone applications beneficial for plastic surgeons.
• To describe the potential uses of these applications in daily practice and departmental functioning.
• To highlight novel 'non-medical' or efficiency-focused applications not previously discussed in surgical literature.

Main Methods:

• Systematic compilation of relevant Android applications.
• Extensive review and detailed description of each application's functionality and uses.
• Categorization to highlight both medical and efficiency-enhancing tools.

Main Results:

• An extensive list of Android applications tailored for plastic surgery practice has been curated.
• Applications cover a range of uses, from direct patient care to improving departmental operational efficiency.
• Several non-medical or efficiency-focused applications with potential benefits for departmental functioning were identified and described.

Conclusions:

• Technology-savvy plastic surgeons can leverage a wide array of Android applications to improve patient care and operational efficiency.
• This curated list serves as a valuable resource for plastic surgeons seeking to integrate mobile technology into their practice.
• The identified non-medical applications offer unique opportunities to enhance departmental workflows and productivity.