Episode # 264 • 10 Mar 2026
Exploring Augmented Reality for Surgical Applications: Insights for Facial Plastic Surgeons
Is augmented reality ready for everyday surgical practice? In this episode of BackTable, guest host Dr. Christopher Gentile speaks with Dr. David Chou of Emory University about augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR) in surgery. He explains why AR, which overlays digital images onto the real world, currently shows the most promise intraoperatively, while VR remains a powerful tool for education, simulation, and even patient distraction in ENT settings.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
02:40 - How Extended Reality (XR) Works
07:23 - Surgical Planning with XR
11:02 - Time Cost vs. Benefit
18:55 - ENT Uses Beyond Plastics
20:38 - Adoption and Innovation Curve
23:24 - Cost and Usability Barriers
24:57 - Training and Simulation Value
29:19 - Intraop Safety and Overreliance
30:58 - How to Get Involved
32:17 - Surprises and Future Promise
Resources
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More about this episode
Dr. Chou covers the surgical applications of AR in ENT, including bony recontouring in craniofacial and gender-affirming facial surgery, flap design planning, and overlaying 3D imaging onto stable skeletal landmarks. He discusses where accuracy is strongest, why AR should function as a visual adjunct rather than primary navigation, and the real-world barriers such as preoperative planning time, registration challenges, and hardware limitations. His message is clear: XR is already influencing surgical precision and spatial understanding, and its role will only expand as the technology matures.
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