3-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES .2. LASER-SCANNING - A QUANTITATIVE3-DIMENSIONAL SOFT-TISSUE ANALYSIS USING A COLOR-CODING SYSTEM

New methods for measuring and averaging three-dimensional soft-tissue morphology and change from laser scans using a color millimetric scale are described, The techniques were employed to measure facial differe nces between a group of Class I skeletal males and females. The surgic al change in one patient following bimaxillary surgery is also illustr ated. The combination of the laser scanning technique and the new colo r coding system probed to be a simple, noninvasive, effective, and eas ily interpreted method for measuring three-dimensional soft-tissue dif ferences and change across the facial complex.