The expert teaching system: a new method for learning rhinoplasty using interactive computer graphics.

We have developed software that employs interactive computer graphics to simulate the surgical experience of rhinoplasty by allowing the surgeon to experiment within a model of nasal behavior. For any of three preoperative noses, the surgeon can choose and see the effects of dorsal resection, modification of nasal spine or caudal septum, alar cartilage resection, osteotomy, alar wedge resection, and a variety of nasal grafts. The available choices and views total nearly 3000 images, or approximately 200 different surgical solutions. The surgeon can get textual analysis at any time or see accelerated healing to the projected nasal appearance at 1 year. We believe that the ability to experiment without risk, to safely learn the biological laws governing nasal behavior, should augment the development of surgical judgement in rhinoplasty.