Dr. José Ignacio García Ceballos served as an external advisor for Anna Nguyen’s final thesis, which focused on developing an interactive tool to visualize nasal anatomy and illustrate, in an educational manner, some of the main stages of a rhinoplasty.

The project brings together three fields that are becoming increasingly interconnected: clinical experience, academic training, and new three-dimensional imaging technologies.

Author: Anna Nguyen
External Advisor: Dr. José Ignacio García Ceballos
Area of Specialization: Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery
Academic Institution: Haute École en Hainaut, Department of Science and Technology, Mons, Belgium
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, with a focus on Computer Graphics
Category: Academic Innovation · 3D visualization · rhinoplasty
Resource: Access MMG 3D Experience

The academic documentation identifies Anna Nguyen as the project’s author and Dr. García Ceballos as the “promotor externo,” a role that in the Spanish university system can be translated as “external advisor.” The initial title of the project is “Interactive Visualization and Simulation Tool for Plastic Surgery,” with rhinoplasty as the primary area of development.

From Clinical Experience to Visual Learning

Rhinoplasty requires an understanding of complex three-dimensional anatomy. The skin, nasal bones, nasal septum, superior lateral cartilages, and alar cartilages form a dynamic system in which any modification can affect other structures.

However, explanations of a procedure are typically based on photographs, two-dimensional drawings, static simulations, or verbal descriptions. These resources are useful, but they have limitations when it comes to illustrating the relationship between internal structures and the sequence of an operation.

The project’s academic approach stems precisely from this difficulty: conventional methods do not always allow for a clear understanding of internal anatomy, the stages of the procedure, or the consequences of certain surgical decisions. The proposal consists of translating these concepts into an interactive three-dimensional environment for primarily educational purposes.

01 / What is MMG 3D Experience?

MMG 3D Experience is a digital prototype that allows users to explore a three-dimensional representation of the nose and interact with various resources related to anatomy and rhinoplasty.

The public version of the experience allows you to select different scenarios, including:

  • Septorhinoplasty.
  • Correction of a kyphosis.
  • Correction of a drooping tip of the nose.

The app also includes an anatomical legend that identifies structures such as the septal cartilage, fibro-adipose tissue, superior lateral cartilages, greater alar cartilages, and the bony framework.

It is not simply a matter of observing a three-dimensional model. The goal is for the user to navigate through a structured experience, select a case, identify the structures involved, and visually grasp the general purpose of specific surgical procedures.

EXPLORE THE 3D EXPERIENCE

02 / An Interdisciplinary Final Project

The project was developed by Anna Nguyen as part of her studies in graphic and infographic design at the Haute École de Hainaut.

The official HEH program is called the Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Techniques, with a specialization in computer graphics, and is offered in Mons. The program offers tracks related to web and 3D production, combining design, programming, animation, user interfaces, and graphic design.

In Spanish academic terms, the project can be presented as a Final Undergraduate Thesis, although its original name is Travail de fin d’études or TFE.

Dr. García Ceballos’s involvement as an external advisor provides the project with a direct link to the professional field of plastic surgery. The project documentation itself explicitly identifies plastic surgery as his area of specialization.

This collaboration does not turn the prototype into a medical application or a validated clinical system. Its true value lies in interdisciplinary exchange: a student specializing in digital production tackles a medical communication problem by drawing on the outside perspective of a plastic surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty.

03 / What problem are you trying to solve?

Explaining a rhinoplasty involves conveying three-dimensional concepts to someone who usually sees the nose only from the outside.

A drawing can illustrate an osteotomy. A photograph can show the result. A verbal explanation can describe the reduction of a hump or the refinement of the tip. However, none of these resources alone allows us to explore the structures as a whole and observe how they relate to one another.

The project proposes a different way of approaching this information:

  1. Select a nasal setting.
  2. Explore different anatomical structures.
  3. Identify the tissue on which a procedure is being performed.
  4. Follow a simplified sequence of steps.
  5. Observe the gradual change in the model.
  6. Compare the initial state and the final state.

The purpose is not to reproduce the full complexity of a real-world operation, but rather to create a visual representation that makes it easier to understand concepts that, when explained solely in two dimensions, can be difficult to interpret.

04 / Layered Nasal Anatomy

One of the central features of this approach is the ability to enable or disable different anatomical layers.

The academic proposal includes the presentation of:

  • Skin.
  • Cartilage.
  • Bone.
  • Stylized blood vessels.
  • Other simplified anatomical structures.

This structure allows us to move from the external surface of the nose to the internal structures that determine its shape, support, and function.

Layered visualization has clear educational value. It helps us understand, for example, that a nasal hump may consist of both bony and cartilaginous components, that the position of the tip depends on various supporting structures, and that a septorhinoplasty may involve both cosmetic modification and correction of the nasal septum.

The project proposal suggests that users can activate these layers using interactive controls and observe how they change throughout the successive stages of the experience.

05 / A Simplified Surgical Sequence

The initial concept divides the representation of the intervention into several hierarchical stages.

Opening Hours and Access

The first phase symbolically represents access to the internal structures and makes the various anatomical layers visible.

Reduction or modification

The second phase shows a simplified reduction in bone or cartilage volume, accompanied by a progressive deformation of the three-dimensional mesh and the visual identification of the altered area.

Renovation

The final phase involves adjusting the back or other structures to achieve a smoother and more proportionate transition.

Each interaction can trigger an animation, modify the model’s mesh, and update the final rendering. The document also includes stylized medical instruments, avoiding a level of realism that is unnecessary for its educational purpose.

Actual surgery is considerably more complex and requires individualized planning. However, this simplification makes it possible to explain the general logic behind certain changes without initially resorting to surgical images, which can be difficult for someone without medical training to interpret.

06 / Technology Applied to Medical Communication

The initial proposal for the Final Project outlined a production workflow based on various specialized tools:

  • Maya, for 3D modeling and animation.
  • Substance Painter, for creating textures.
  • Unreal Engine, for real-time interaction and UI/UX development.

This approach reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the project: the anatomical model must be visually understandable, technically manipulable, and compatible with an interactive experience.

The public version of the prototype is currently available via its web interface. The application features a case selection screen and an interactive area with information on the steps, instruments, surgical procedure, and anatomical structures depicted.

07 / Dr. García Ceballos’s Role as an External Advisor

External mentoring helps align an academic project with the needs and language of a real-world professional setting.

In this case, the work benefits from a perspective directly linked to rhinoplasty and plastic surgery in Mallorca. This collaboration ensures that the visual representation is not limited to creating an aesthetically appealing model, but rather maintains a clear connection to nasal anatomy and the conceptual sequence of a surgical procedure.

Dr. José Ignacio García Ceballos has 25 years of experience in reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery. His career includes surgical training in the United Kingdom and Belgium, clinical practice in Mallorca, and the development of his own contributions to rhinoplasty, including the Duvet Rhinoplasty and a preoperative classification system based on the thickness of nasal soft tissues.

Participation in this project is thus in line with one of the principles upheld by Mallorca Medical Group: to teach, to continue learning, and to share knowledge.

08 / An Academic Milestone for Mallorca Medical Group

This collaboration marks a significant milestone for MMG because it expands the concept of clinical innovation.

Innovation is not limited to developing a new surgical technique. It also involves creating better ways to explain anatomy, share knowledge, and connect medical practice with disciplines such as 3D modeling, animation, interface design, and programming.

The project represents three forms of knowledge transfer:

From the Clinic to the University

Professional experience provides context for an academic project conducted outside the healthcare setting.

From Technology to Medical Communication

Three-dimensional tools make it possible to represent structures and sequences that are difficult to convey using static resources.

From College to Society

The prototype is available for public exploration and allows users to examine the anatomy of the nose through an intuitive interface.

This collaboration reinforces Mallorca Medical Group’s position as a center committed not only to cosmetic surgery in Mallorca, but also to applied research, responsible outreach, and the training of new generations of professionals.

09 / Scope and Limitations of the Experiment

MMG 3D Experience should be viewed as an academic and educational prototype.

It is not:

  • A medical device.
  • A diagnostic tool.
  • A validated surgical simulator.
  • An operational planning system.
  • A method for selecting a surgical technique.
  • A prediction of the outcome of a rhinoplasty.
  • A substitute for a consultation with a specialist.

The documentation itself defines the project as a working prototype and clarifies that, at this stage, it is not intended to become an actual medical application.

The animations and models represent simplified concepts. In an actual rhinoplasty, decisions depend on factors such as individual anatomy, respiratory function, skin thickness, cartilage strength, pre-existing asymmetries, surgical history, and each patient’s reasonable goals.

This distinction is essential for presenting the project with rigor and credibility.

Learn About MMG 3D Experience

Explore the prototype developed by Anna Nguyen and discover a new way to approach nasal anatomy and some of the fundamental concepts of rhinoplasty.

START THE 3D EXPERIENCE

LEARN ABOUT THE HEH’S GRAPHIC TECHNIQUES TRAINING PROGRAM

VISIT THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AT HEH

The Haute École en Hainaut is a higher education institution with campuses in Mons and Tournai. Its Department of Science and Technology offers, among other degree programs, a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts, which is the focus of this project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who developed the 3D experience?

The project was developed by Anna Nguyen as her final thesis project as part of her studies in graphic and infographic design at the Haute École de Hainaut.

What role has Dr. García Ceballos played?

Academic records identify him as a “promoteur externe,” a title that translates in this context as “external advisor.” His area of specialization is listed as plastic surgery.

Does the app let you see what the results of a rhinoplasty will look like?

No. The prototype is intended for educational purposes and does not predict individual surgical outcomes. Nor does it replace a clinical simulation based on the photographs and anatomy of a specific patient.

Is it a medical app?

No. This is an academic prototype, not a medical device, a diagnostic system, or a validated tool for planning interventions.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. The academic experience is publicly available on MMG 3D Experience.

Where was the Final Project conducted?

The project is part of the graphic arts program at the Haute École en Hainaut, specifically within its Department of Science and Technology, located in Mons, Belgium.

Recommended Internal Links

It would include four contextualized internal links:

Hashtags

#ClinicalInnovation #Rhinoplasty #PlasticSurgeryInMallorca #3DExperience #3DVisualization #MedicalEducation #MedicalTechnology #MallorcaMedicalGroup #DrGarcíaCeballos #FinalThesis #TFG #HEH #NasalAnatomy #CosmeticSurgeryInMallorca

Sources