Implementing Precision Medicine and Artificial Intelligence in Plastic Surgery: Concepts and Future Prospects

Precision medicine, or the individualization of evidence-based medicine, is forthcoming. As surgeons, we must be prepared for the integration of patient and system factors. Plastic surgeons regard themselves as innovators and early adopters. As such, we need our adaptability now more than ever to implement digital advancements and precision medicine into our practices. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the capture of big data techniques should foster the next great leaps in medicine and surgery, allowing us to capture the detailed minutiae of precision medicine. The algorithmic process of artificial neural networks will guide large-scale analysis of data, including features such as pattern recognition and rapid quantification, to organize and distribute data to surgeons seamlessly. This vast digital collection of information, commonly termed "big data," is only one potential application of AI. By incorporating big data, the cognitive abilities of a surgeon can be complemented by the computer to improve patient-centered care. Furthermore, the use of AI will provide individual patients with increased access to the broadening world of precision medicine. Therefore, plastic surgeons must learn how to use AI within the contexts of our practices to keep up with an evolving field in medicine. Although rudimentary in its practice, we present a glimpse of the potential applications of AI in plastic surgery to incorporate the practice of precision medicine into the care that we deliver.