Planning the Surgical Correction of Age-Related Changes in the Chin Region and Neck Based on Digital and Radiological Imaging Methods: A Literature Review

Age-related changes to the chin region and neck are among the most common reasons for consulting a plastic surgeon, and the outcome of rejuvenation surgery largely depends on the accuracy of preoperative planning. Digital imaging methods allow for an objective assessment of individual anatomical features, personalization of the surgical strategy, and improved predictability of the result. In this narrative review, based on a structured, PRISMA-informed search (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and eLibrary; 65 publications included), we systematize contemporary digital and radiological imaging methods for the chin region and neck—two-dimensional photography, three-dimensional photogrammetry, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), CAD/CAM technologies, virtual and mixed reality, and artificial intelligence tools—and assess their diagnostic value for planning rejuvenation surgery. Available preliminary, predominantly single-centre evidence suggests that CBCT performed in the upright patient position may be the most informative modality for this task: by capturing bony landmarks together with the position and outer contours of the relevant soft-tissue structures under gravitational load, it supports an objective assessment of the contribution of individual structures to age-related deformities and well-founded, individualized surgical planning. Its intrinsic soft-tissue contrast resolution is nevertheless limited compared with MRI. The integration of digital and radiological imaging methods is a vital part of modern planning of aesthetic surgery for the chin region and neck.