How do Plastic Surgeons use the Metaverse: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Virtual Reality
• Digital Health

Background:

• The metaverse, a virtual world where users interact as digital identities, has gained significant attention.
• Plastic surgeons are exploring the potential applications of the metaverse in their field.
• This study systematically reviews current literature on metaverse applications in medicine to guide future plastic surgery integration.

Approach:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases including PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu, and Cochrane Library.
• The search covered studies from the inception of each database up to April 2022.
• All articles detailing the use of the metaverse in medical contexts were included.

Key Points:

• The review identified 4 studies on metaverse applications in medicine.
• Current uses primarily involve skill training for medical residents and students.
• The metaverse, particularly augmented reality, is being utilized for surgical training (e.g., lung cancer surgery) and addressing medical/mental health issues.

Conclusions:

• Metaverse applications in medicine are currently in their early stages of development.
• Further observation and evaluation are needed to determine the practical impact of the metaverse on plastic surgery.
• Despite existing challenges, a metaverse-supported medical model for plastic surgery holds promising future prospects.