Whether it’s rhinoplasty or breast augmentation, the general timeline of a cosmetic surgery consultation is relatively consistent: a patient walks in with an idea—often equipped with pictures—and a plastic surgeon outlines what they can do.

Historically, doctors have evolved from sketching proposed changes to embracing two-dimensional imaging on computers to incorporating 3D imaging. Now, some practices are adopting 3D printed models to offer patients a sort of blueprint that they can physically hold and touch with their own hands, and make the $13.5 billion cosmetic procedure industry even more accessible.

Dr. Anthony Youn, a Detroit-based plastic surgeon and author of The Age Fix, said 3D printed models are the next evolutionary step in providing patients with a “before” and “after.”