Facial Reconstruction Research Articles

Semantic-aware hyper-space deformable neural radiance fields for facial avatar reconstruction

High-fidelity facial avatar reconstruction from monocular videos is a prominent research problem in computer graphics and computer vision. Recent advancements in the Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) have demonstrated remarkable proficiency in rendering novel views and garnered attention for its potential in facial avatar reconstruction. However, previous methodologies have overlooked the complex motion dynamics present across the head, torso, and intricate facial features. Additionally, a deficiency exists in a generalized NeRF-based framework for facial avatar reconstruction adaptable to either 3DMM coefficients or audio input. To tackle these challenges, we propose an innovative framework that leverages semantic-aware hyper-space deformable NeRF, facilitating the reconstruction of high-fidelity facial avatars from either 3DMM coefficients or audio features. Our framework effectively addresses both localized facial movements and broader head and torso motions through semantic guidance and a unified hyper-space deformation module. Specifically, we adopt a dynamic weighted ray sampling strategy to allocate varying degrees of attention to distinct semantic regions, enhancing the deformable NeRF framework with semantic guidance to capture fine-grained details across diverse facial regions. Moreover, we introduce a hyper-space deformation module that enables the transformation of observation space coordinates into canonical hyper-space coordinates, allowing for the learning of natural facial deformation and head-torso movements. Extensive experiments validate the superiority of our framework over existing state-of-the-art methods, demonstrating its effectiveness in producing realistic and expressive facial avatars. Our code is available at https://github.com/jematy/SAHS-Deformable-Nerf.

Enhancing Lower Eyelid Suspension Outcomes Through Pre-surgical Facial Nerve Reanimation: A Comparative Study.

Lower eyelid suspension, a common therapeutic procedure for facial paralysis-induced eyelid retraction, faces challenges due to high recurrence in patients lacking facial muscle function and impedes wider adoption. This research aims to explore the potential effects of restoring orbicularis oculi muscle tension through facial nerve reanimation prior to lower eyelid suspension and to define the indications for lower eyelid suspension. The study encompassed 32 individuals with complete facial paralysis, segmented into group A (reanimation group) and group B (non-reanimation group), based on whether the orbicularis oculi muscle's tension was restored through facial nerve reconstruction prior to lower eyelid suspension. Subjective assessments of eyelid closure (the inter-eyelid gap upon gentle closure) and objective methods measures of scleral show (the distance from the pupil's center to the lower eyelid margin, MRD2) were used to provide a comprehensive analysis of long-term effectiveness. The group A exhibited significantly greater long-term improvement in lagophthalmos and lower eyelid ectropion. The alterations in MRD2 measured 2.66 ± 0.27mm in the group A versus 2.08 ± 0.53 mm in the group B, denoting a statistically significant variance (p < 0.001). Moreover, while the ratio of MRD2 preoperative 6 months postoperative revealed no significant difference between groups, a significant difference emerged in 12 months postoperative (group A: 1.02 ± 0.21; group B: 1.18 ± 0.24; p < 0.05), with the values in group A closer to 1, indicative of enhanced symmetry. Restoring the tension in the orbicularis oculi muscle through facial nerve reconstruction prior to palmaris longus tendon sling could effectively sustain long-term outcomes of lower eyelid retraction correction and reduce the recurrence rate. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Perforator-based local flaps for cutaneous facial reconstruction

BackgroundDespite the advancement of reconstructive surgical techniques, facial defect reconstruction has been always very challenging, aesthetic satisfaction has often been difficult to achieve due to the unique characteristics and complexity of the facial tissue. There have been various options regarding reconstruction and compensation of soft tissue loss all over the body rather than the face. Regardless of whether skin grafts, local flaps, and free flaps were used in the reconstruction process, each of them has its limitations. Beginning with skin grafts results could not always be satisfactory due to contracture, color, and lack of texture Additionally, local flaps have limitations due to mobility and the availability of overlapping skin and tissue, as well as the bulkiness of the pedicle which may need a second staged surgery and lately the difficulty of the free flaps and being a major surgery.ResultsPatients ages ranged between 23 and 77 years old, with a mean age of 58.33 ± 12.47. As regards the patients’ sex, 63.3% of our patients were males and 36.7% were females. Co-morbidities were found in 60% of cases (DM 23.3%, HTN 20%, HCV 3.3%, cardiac 3.3%).Most flaps were facial artery perforator flaps 53.3%, then transverse facial artery 26.7%, superficial temporal artery 10%, angular artery 6.7%, and supra-trochlear artery 3.3%.Twenty-ix cases representing 86.7% of cases went uneventful, while complications showed in 4 cases representing 13.3% of cases, 1 case (3.3%) showed venous congestion that was relieved within 24 h after 2 suture releases, another case (3.3%) showed wound dehiscence that was improved after 2 days with regular dressings, the third patient (3.3%) had recurrence after 4 months that was treated by excision and grafting, while last patient (3.3%) had inadequate excision that was treated by radiotherapy. No bleeding or infection occurred. Also, we observed no correlation between flap length and complications. As regards the functional point of view, all patients showed no functional impairment at the donor site, and only one case showed functional impairment at the recipient site.As regards patient satisfaction, all 30 patients achieved positive satisfaction scores using the Likert scale, 18 cases were satisfied, and 12 cases were very satisfied.ConclusionThe use of perforator-based flaps can provide a more effective and aesthetically pleasing solution for the reconstruction of small to moderate facial defects, provided that a reliable Perforator is accurately identified and executed by an experienced surgeon.

Local Geometric Indexing of High Resolution Data for Facial Reconstruction From Sparse Markers.

When considering sparse motion capture marker data, one typically struggles to balance its overfitting via a high dimensional blendshape system versus underfitting caused by smoothness constraints. With the current trend towards using more and more data, our aim is not to fit the motion capture markers with a parameterized (blendshape) model or to smoothly interpolate a surface through the marker positions, but rather to find an instance in the high resolution dataset that contains local geometry to fit each marker. Just as is true for typical machine learning applications, this approach benefits from a plethora of data, and thus we also consider augmenting the dataset via specially designed physical simulations that target the high resolution dataset such that the simulation output lies on the same so-called manifold as the data targeted.

Self-supervised learning for fine-grained monocular 3D face reconstruction in the wild

Self-supervised learning for fine-grained monocular 3D face reconstruction in the wild

3D Face Reconstruction Based on ResNet Feature Extraction and CBAM

In view of the scarcity, high cost and lack of diversity of three-dimensional (3D) face datasets, this paper designs an end-to-end self-supervised learning 3D face reconstruction network, which uses single 2D face image as input. The model bypasses the 3D face datasets and only uses the 2D face datasets for training to achieve high-precision 3D face reconstruction without any 3D face prior. First, the improved ResNet50 feature extraction module is introduced to extract and characterize the input image by deep convolutional network. Then, a lightweight convolutional block attention module is added to the face prediction subnetwork. On the one hand, channel attention extracts different information included in the image, and on the other hand spatial attention finds the location of the information. So, the serialized attention operation could accurately find the features required for different parameter predictions, further improving face reconstruction parameters’ prediction accuracy. Finally, training, ablation and comparison experiments were conducted on CelebFaces Attributes, basel face model and Photoface datasets, and the combined loss function of pixel loss and perception loss was selected. The pixel loss function was calculated at the pixel microscopic level, and the perception loss function was calculated at the image macroscopic convolution level. The combination of the two could complement each other. Compared with the historical optimal results of the same network structure, the scale-invariant depth error and mean angle deviation of the proposed algorithm are improved by 5.2% and 8.2%, respectively. Experimental results strongly prove the effectiveness of the algorithm.

CT-Analysis and Facial Reconstruction of Children Mummy from Cerro La Horca (Barranca District, Peru)

The aim of the study was a paleoradiological analysis of one of the few completely preserved pre-Columbian child mummies from the Barranca Valley region. The goal also included an attempt to reconstruction of the antemortem appearance of the face. The mummy comes from the pre-Columbian cemetery of Cerro la Horca, located in the Fortaleza River Valley. This cemetery has been subjected to systematic looting over the years. The activities of grave robbers resulted not only in the destruction of grave contexts and material culture relics, but also in the destruction of the bodies of the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the valley buried in the cemetery. The examined mummy, to our knowledge, is the only completely preserved body from this archaeological site. The analysis used conventional computed tomography, as well as standard anthropological methods and facial reconstruction techniques. The age at the time of the death was estimated at 2 to 3 years. The light color of a child’s hair suggests the presence of protein deficits known as kwashiorkor. The condition is most common after weaning and switching to carbohydrate-rich foods. The facial reconstruction performed allowed the reconstruction of the child’s life-like appearance and is the first reconstruction made for mummified remains from the area.

Vascular Postoperative Changes After Facial Flap Repairs: An Opportunity for Early Intervention.

Flap repair provides unique advantages in facial reconstruction but still carries the potential for undesirable postoperative cosmetic changes. The aims of this study were to describe postoperative vascular outcomes of patients undergoing flap repairs after Mohs micrographic surgery on facial tumors and to assess associations of baseline characteristics with outcomes. In this study, 7 dermatologists and 1 physician assistant in dermatology assessed preoperative and postoperative photographs of 57 patients who underwent facial Mohs micrographic surgery, evaluating vascular and pigment outcomes and number of telangiectasias. There was a significant difference in number of telangiectasias according to body location (p = .002), where the number of telangiectasias was highest for nose surgery. These data suggest that nasal flap repairs are associated with increased postoperative vascular changes. This highlights an opportunity for improved preoperative patient counseling and possible early laser treatment after nasal Mohs micrographic surgery.

Facial nerve reconstruction for flaccid facial paralysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To determine the functional outcome after facial nerve reconstruction surgery in patients with flaccid facial paralysis. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed on studies reporting outcomes after direct facial nerve suture (DFS), facial nerve interpositional graft suture (FIGS), hypoglossal-facial nerve suture (HFS), masseteric-facial nerve suture (MFS), and cross-face nerve suture (CFS). These studies were identified from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Two independent reviewers performed two-stage screening and data extraction. A favorable result was defined as a final House-Brackmann grade I-III and is presented as a ratio of all patients in percentage. Pooled proportions were calculated using random-effects models. From 4,932 screened records, 54 studies with 1,358 patients were included. A favorable result was achieved after DFS in 42.67% of the patients [confidence interval (CI): 26.05%-61.12%], after FIGS in 66.43% (CI: 55.99%-75.47%), after HFS in 63.89% (95% CI: 54.83%-72.05%), after MFS in 63.11% (CI: 38.53%-82.37%), and after CFS in 46.67% (CI: 24.09%-70.70%). There was no statistically significant difference between the techniques (Q = 6.56, degrees of freedom = 4, p = 0.1611). The established facial nerve reconstruction techniques including the single nerve cross-transfer techniques produce satisfactory results in most of the patients with permanent flaccid facial paralysis. An international consensus on standardized outcome measures would improve the comparability of facial reanimation techniques.

From coin to 3D face sculpture portraits in the round of Roman emperors

Representing historical figures on visual media has always been a crucial aspect of political communication in the ancient world, as it is in modern society. A great example comes from ancient Rome, when the emperor’s portraits were serially replicated on visual media to disseminate his image across the countries ruled by the Romans and to assert the power and authority that he embodied by making him universally recognizable. In particular, one of the most common media through which ancient Romans spread the imperial image was coinage, which showed a bi-dimensional projection of his portrait on the very low relief produced by the impression of the coin-die. In this work, we propose a new method that uses a multi-modal 2D and 3D approach to reconstruct the full portrait in the round of Roman emperors from their images adopted on ancient coins. A well-defined pipeline is introduced from the digitization of coins using 3D scanning techniques to the estimation of the 3D model of the portrait represented by a polygonal mesh. A morphable model trained on real 3D faces is exploited to infer the morphological (i.e., geometric) characteristics of the Roman emperor from the contours extracted from a coin portrait using a model fitting procedure. We present examples of face reconstruction of different emperors from coins produced in Rome as well as in the imperial provinces, which sometimes showed local variations of the official portraits centrally designed.

Autologous Tissue Repair and Total Face Restoration

Total face restoration remains a challenge in modern reconstructive surgery. After 17 years of experiments and preliminary clinical studies, a new concept of face prefabrication was developed for face restoration with autologous tissue. To evaluate the long-term results of face restoration with autologous tissue and report a finalized and standardized approach of face prefabrication. In this single-center long-term retrospective study, 32 patients who underwent total face restoration between 2005 and 2022 were reviewed. These patients underwent total facial reconstruction, which included flap prefabrication, 3-dimensional printing, tissue expansion, and flap transfer with aid of indocyanine green angiography (IGA). The flap first undergoes prefabrication by transferring vascularized fascia under the skin of the selected chest. A tissue expander is then placed under the fascia to create a large, thin, reliable skin flap after expansion. Once completed, the flap is transferred to the face during the second stage of the reconstruction. Intraoperative IGA is performed to guide the design of subsequent openings for facial fissures. Data were analyzed from July to September 2023. Flap healing, reconstructive outcome, and patient recovery were assessed during follow-up. Three questionnaires, including the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Aesthetic and Functional Status Score of Facial Soft-Tissue Deformities/Defects, and the EuroQoL Health-Related Quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L), were used to evaluate the quality of life and satisfaction with facial aesthetic and functional status. Of 24 included patients, 14 (58%) were male, and the mean (range) age was 32.9 (8-62) years. The mean (range) follow-up was 5.6 (2-12) years. All patients reported a significant improvement in quality of life (SF-36), especially in mean (SD) social functioning (preoperative score, 53.65 [34.51]; postoperative score, 80.73 [19.10]) and emotional stability (preoperative score, 56.67 [25.55]; postoperative score, 71.17 [18.51]). A total of 22 patients (92%) went back to work. Mean (SD) facial aesthetic status (preoperative score, 4.96 [3.26]; postoperative score, 11.52 [3.49]; P < .001) and functional status (preoperative score, 11.09 [3.51]; postoperative score, 15.78 [3.26]; P < .001) also improved. In addition, there was a significant increase in overall satisfaction and self-reported health status (preoperative score, 8.13 [1.52]; postoperative score, 3.58 [2.31]). In this study, 5-year follow-up results suggested that this innovative approach to total face restoration offered a safe and valid option for indicated patients, with acceptable reconstructive and cosmetic outcomes.

Forensic Analysis of Sexual Dimorphism from Facial Photographs

Abstract Background: Techniques for identifying facial features and proving the individuality of a person’s facial features are used in forensic anthropology. Aims and Objectives: A common method in this area is cranial anthropometry, which has uses in facial reconstruction, locating unidentified remains, and identifying criminal suspects. Materials and Methods: A study analyzed 200 standard full-face photographs of 50 males and 50 females to compare frontal and lateral facial images and identify male and female facial traits. We located landmarks and measured the distances between them. The data were analyzed using statistical tests like t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. Result: The results showed that in 100% of the suggested measurements for both males and females, there were no statistically significant differences (P &gt; 0.05) between frontal and lateral views. The ANOVA test, however, showed that all suggested measurements showed differences in the lateral aspect, while only 76.92% of them showed differences between the male and female groups in the frontal aspect. Conclusion: In conclusion, statistically significant differences were found, rejecting the null hypothesis of equal means, when the level of significance (α) was lower than the P value (0.05). On the other hand, the null hypothesis was accepted when statistically insignificant differences were found and the level of significance was higher than the P value. Although there were differences between males and females in different views, the distances between landmarks in frontal and lateral views of the same person were generally similar. Measurements taken in the lateral aspect were more accurate and displayed greater sexual dimorphism variation compared to those taken in the frontal aspect.

A Sheep Identification Method Based on Three-Dimensional Sheep Face Reconstruction and Feature Point Matching.

As the sheep industry rapidly moves towards modernization, digitization, and intelligence, there is a need to build breeding farms integrated with big data. By collecting individual information on sheep, precision breeding can be conducted to improve breeding efficiency, reduce costs, and promote healthy breeding practices. In this context, the accurate identification of individual sheep is essential for establishing digitized sheep farms and precision animal husbandry. Currently, scholars utilize deep learning technology to construct recognition models, learning the biological features of sheep faces to achieve accurate identification. However, existing research methods are limited to pattern recognition at the image level, leading to a lack of diversity in recognition methods. Therefore, this study focuses on the small-tailed Han sheep and develops a sheep face recognition method based on three-dimensional reconstruction technology and feature point matching, aiming to enrich the theoretical research of sheep face recognition technology. The specific recognition approach is as follows: full-angle sheep face images of experimental sheep are collected, and corresponding three-dimensional sheep face models are generated using three-dimensional reconstruction technology, further obtaining three-dimensional sheep face images from three different perspectives. Additionally, this study developed a sheep face orientation recognition algorithm called the sheep face orientation recognition algorithm (SFORA). The SFORA incorporates the ECA mechanism to further enhance recognition performance. Ultimately, the SFORA has a model size of only 5.3 MB, with accuracy and F1 score reaching 99.6% and 99.5%, respectively. During the recognition task, the SFORA is first used for sheep face orientation recognition, followed by matching the recognition image with the corresponding three-dimensional sheep face image based on the established SuperGlue feature-matching algorithm, ultimately outputting the recognition result. Experimental results indicate that when the confidence threshold is set to 0.4, SuperGlue achieves the best matching performance, with matching accuracies for the front, left, and right faces reaching 96.0%, 94.2%, and 96.3%, respectively. This study enriches the theoretical research on sheep face recognition technology and provides technical support.

Surgical results for one-stage VII/VIII schwannoma resection and hemihypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy

BackgroundThis retrospective study evaluated the outcomes of patients undergoing one-stage resection of VII/VIII schwannomas and hemihypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy via the translabyrinthine approach (TLA). MethodsThe study encompassed ten consecutive patients with unilateral hearing loss (six women, four men, mean age: 49.5 ± 12.1 years) who underwent surgery. The cohort included two patients with vestibular schwannomas (VSs), four with facial nerve schwannomas (FNSs) (two originating from the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve and two from the cerebellopontine angle), one with VS regrowth, and three with residual VSs. Preoperative facial nerve function, assessed using the House–Brackmann (HB) scale, was Grade V in one and Grade VI in nine patients. The mean preoperative duration of facial paralysis was 7.5 ± 6.9 months. ResultsAll patients underwent gross total resection. Postoperatively, one patient experienced cerebrospinal fluid leaks, which were successfully managed with lumbar drains and surgical revisions. At follow-up, facial nerve function improved in all patients: HB Grade V to III in one, HB Grade VI to III in one, HB Grade VI to IV in seven, and Grade VI to V in one. No tumor recurrence was observed during the follow-up period (mean duration: 16.6 ± 9.3 months), and no patient had hemilingual atrophy. ConclusionThe TLA for one-stage resection of VII/VIII schwannomas and facial nerve reconstruction is effective in treating both regrowth and residual VSs and FNSs in the cerebellopontine angle or petrosal bone in patients with severe preoperative facial palsy. This technique facilitates simultaneous tumor removal and nerve anastomosis, thereby reducing the need for multiple surgical interventions in patients with hearing loss and compromised facial nerve function.

Complex Facial Reconstruction after Severe Facial Trauma Due to a Work Accident. Case Study

Complex Facial Reconstruction after Severe Facial Trauma Due to a Work Accident. Case Study

Functional and Aesthetic Outcomes in Facial Reconstructions with Multiple Composite Axial Flaps – Case Report

The article presents a case of facial reconstruction with several facial axial flaps for a posttraumatic defect of the left upper lip, medial cheek region and left nasal wing. The case refers to a 58-year-old patient who is hospitalized for a facial trauma which involves only the soft tissues, resulting from a car accident.The immediate reconstruction of all the affected aesthetic units using multiple reconstructive techniques allowed the favorable resolution of the case in the shortest possible time. We used advancement and rotation orbicularis oris innervated musculocutaneous flaps for reconstruction of the left upper lip, cervicofacial cutaneous flap for the medial cheek defect and composite forehead flap for the reconstruction of the left nasal wing. The simultaneous use of different types of flaps made possible the total healing after 4 weeks after the accident and the social and professional integration of the patient.Complex facial trauma often involves both skeletal and soft tissue damage, presenting significant challenges in both initial management and long-term reconstruction. These injuries can result from various etiologies including motor vehicle accidents, assaults, sports injuries, and falls. Effective treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach to address the intricate anatomy and functional importance of facial structures.

Personalizing human avatars based on realistic 3D facial reconstruction

Personalizing human avatars based on realistic 3D facial reconstruction

Forehead Flap for Facial Defects Reconstruction: Case Series and Review of The Literature

Introduction: Forehead flap is one of the oldest techniques for reconstruction of the facial defects. Throughout the years, various advances in technologies and surgical techniques are continuously developing. Despite the ongoing advances in technology, forehead flap may be a simpler and useful alternative for facial defects. Method: This study was a retrospective case series of four patients presented to Dr. Kariadi Central-General Hospital during 2021-2022 with facial defects undergoing reconstruction with forehead flap. Case report based on the medical and surgical records. Result: All patients underwent reconstruction surgery in 2 stages. The first stage was flap elevation and transfer, and the second surgery was flap division and inset weeks later. All patients had overall good outcomes. Conclusion: Forehead flap is technically simple to perform, easy to master and provides good outcomes. In cases of free flap loss, a forehead flap can be used as a Plan B. Therefore, forehead flap is a reliable option for facial defect reconstruction and should be mastered especially by general plastic surgeons.

Three-dimensional prediction of the nose for facial reconstruction: A preliminary study on North Indian adults

Forensic facial reconstruction is the last recourse to establish the identity of an unknown skull. The facial soft-tissue thickness (FSTT) is required to reconstruct various facial features on a skull. Unlike other facial features, the nose is made of cartilaginous tissue except for a small nasal bone. A large cavity (pyriform aperture) exists on the skull in place of the nose, which makes it a challenging job for reconstruction. The nose is a vital feature for the recognition of a face. Any change in the shape or size of the nose can alter the original aesthetic of the face. The present study proposes angles and regression functions on the bony structure to predict the various parts of the soft nose. A sample of computed tomography (CT) images of 100 males and 100 females aged between 18 and 45 years were included in the study. Apart from measuring fourteen linear parameters with three angles, simple linear regression models were derived for five pairs of parameters. Pearson's correlation coefficients for most of the parameters ranging between 0.221 and 0.872 were found to be significant at p ≤ 0.05 level. FSTT at three anatomical landmarks of the nose was also measured. A morphological observation study was undertaken to find the most frequent direction of the bony anterior nasal spine (ans) and its relation with the position of the pronasale (prn) on the soft nose. The devised parameters proposed in the study may also prove useful for reconstructing the nose in other populations.

Aesthetic Reconstruction of the Sequelae of Large Facial Involuted Infantile Hemangioma with Tissue Expanders.

Large involuted infantile hemangioma remains a challenge in facial reconstruction. The characteristic fibrofatty residuum and multiple subunits/tissues involvement contribute significantly to the difficulty of surgical management. Tissue expander plays an important role in facial reconstruction, allowing plastic surgeons to repair skin damaged by both congenital and acquired defects. Between 2009 and 2021, 30 patients who underwent tissue expansion surgery were reviewed in a single hospital. The demographic data, lesion characteristics, surgical approaches, complication rate, and aesthetic outcomes were analyzed. Thirty patients (5 men and 25 women) with a mean age of 14.03 ± 7.25 years (range, 4-33years) were included. The mean follow-up is 35.92months, ranging from 9 to 75months. Tissue expansion-related complications include closed infection, 2/30 (6.67%); skin ischemia, 2/30 (6.67%); hematoma, 1/30 (3.33%); flap necrosis, 1/30 (3.33%). Large facial involuted infantile hemangiomas have variable patterns of presentation and necessitate tailored therapy. Tissue expansion is a reproducible approach to achieving aesthetic reconstruction. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .