Methods of Facial Reconstruction - Research Paper Example

Facial Reconstruction al Affiliation Facial reconstruction is an ancient technique that continues to be perfectedwith modern techniques based on technology. Forensic facial reconstruction is the recreation of unknown persons face using the skeleton remains after decomposition through and combination of scientific and artistic methods. The pre-requisite is the existence of the skull and most importantly the lower jaw. If the skull is deconstructed, the first procedure is the reconstruction of the skull. Then a template is produced from the skull. Depending on the method, it could be photographed or a virtual image produced through 3- D scanning. Third is the measurement of the soft tissue thickness and marking of the anatomical locations (currently standard are 21 points). Finally, the landmarks are joined; spaces are filled in the lattice and model smoothed to produce a possible look of the deceased. There are both 2-D and 3-D manual and computer aided methods that support forensic facial reconstruction. Facial recreation are currently used for medical purposes and supporting legal issues in crimes and investigation, other than for retaining the historical memories of unknown past heroes from centuries ago. Keywords: Facial Reconstruction, Approximated Look, Skeleton, Skull, Victims, 3-D and 2-D Imaging, CT Scanning, Facial Soft Tissue Thickness, Modelling, Anatomical Locations, Landmarks, Investigation, Artists, What is facial reconstruction? The first ideas in the mind of unfamiliar people to the term facial reconstruction would be surgical operations to repair human faces. Such a need would be cosmetic purposes or to re-shape deformities of birth or accidents. Others especially in the fields of arts and law would relate the term to the identification of human remains using the skull. While some may view these two ideas differently, they are basically founded through a similar principle. It is possible to restore back the face of patient whose face has been severely disfigured in an accident, just like reconstructing the face of a deceased person based on the skull after the body’s decomposition over the years. The face has to be reconstructed through the available methods, before the reconstructive surgery is undertaken. According to Miller, Vandome and McBrewster “forensic facial reconstruction is the process of recreating the face of an unidentified individual from their skeletal remains through an amalgamation of artistry, forensic science, anthropology, osteology, and anatomy” (2009, n.p.). With additional information recorded or acquired from close family members or friends, it is possible to reconstruct the faces of the deceased. There other methods like tooth comparison, and extraction of DNA from decomposed tissues among others, but facial reconstruction technique has often been used as a last resort when others have failed. Though criticized among other methods, it is reasonable to state that it offers quite an impressive degree of probability bordering certainty in identification of persons. How forensic facial reconstruction is conducted a. Requirement The most basic requirement for the forensic reconstruction is the availability of the skull. At times the skull may not be intact, what could be existing would perhaps be the deconstructed parts of the human skull. Researchers have to put the skull together once again, ensuring most critical parts like the lower jaw is present. Then information over the person can be gathered by investigating on their appearances (marks on the bones, hair type, colour and length, beards, facial shape e.t.c) to understand their personalities, and factors like age, sex and ethnicity among others. After clear investigation the next issue is determining the soft tissue parts and their thickness aimed to be reconstructed back to the human/skull remains. b. Soft tissue thickness Facial reconstruction techniques rely on the set of data of the facial soft tissue (ST) thickness at the anatomical landmarks to identify the facial features of the skull. The facial ST thickness serves an important role to overlay the bony structure of the skull; however, the thickness could vary between the male and female genders depending on the race and age of the subject under reconstruction (Hines et al., 2010). There has been variation is the methods used to measure the facial ST thickness, which can explain the variation in the results of facial reconstruction. In the past, some researchers used 19 anatomical locations using classical manual methods, them upgraded into the X-ray limited to 2-D modelling planes before adopting the current 21 landmark sites with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and multislice computer tomography (CT) scans (Hwang, 2012). Majority of the modern forensic scientists prefer the CT scans for its high level of accuracy delivered to obtain the thickness of the facial region from the anthropometric points. The thickness of the tissue is measured to account for skin, muscles and even fat that could have existed in facial tissue of the deceased. c. Classical methods of facial reconstruction The traditional methods have used clay modelling for reconstruction while taking into account the facial features, shapes and sizes. The first procedure was to create a template of the skull through casting, which is possible through clays, plaster or silicon in the modern times. The modelled skull has then to be marked for landmark sites to enable the covering with the modelled soft ST. Depending on the traditional methods, the covering of the skull with facial tissue could differ in procedures and material. Following the Manchester method, the scientist has to develop the facial musculature and identify the muscle tracks of skulls. Then muscle layer of clay for reconstruction of face. With the right measurement of ST thickness, it is possible to apply the clay in place of soft tissues. To fill the eye sockets, models of glass eyes are used and after smoothening of the whole sculpture, the result is an approximation of the victim’s face. Under the traditional American method, non hardening plasticine is used. According to Kreutz and Verhoff, “the soft parts are applied at first in the shape of ribbons in the area of the spacer device, and thee spaces in between are filled in subsequently” (n.d., p. 4). The resulting crude head model is hence added the victim’s looks (beard, dressing, hair and skin colour as per the victim death period). By making changes to these looks on the modelled head, photos of the looks could aid in identifying the victims or suspects. d. Two dimensional drawing Facial reconstruction can be supported with results of composite drawings based on forensic arts. Working closely with anthropologist and close individuals to the subject been identified, the forensic artists can be able to use the existing cranial structure and combined with additional information from relevant persons as interviewing witnesses, and construct the facial features. This method attributed to Tyler was based on integrated methods of anatomical knowledge and artistic skills to produce a facial reconstruction (Kreutz & Verhoff, n.d.). The forensic artist uses a set of question to solicit information to get the right proportion of not only the facial anatomy, but the spatial arrangement of the features. Although there software programs that would replace the sceptical drawing method, the ability to put down an image close to the deceased depends on the investigator’s artistic skills. Once they have a clear the image of a 3-D reconstructed soft facial parts in the mind, it is possible to draft the image on paper. e. Computer Aided reconstruction method It is a recent development aiming to produce cost effective, efficient, and timely facila reconstructions using recent technologies (computers and designed applications for reconstruction). It begins with taking a 3-D digital image of the skull; this allows the investigator to view the skull from all the angles compared to the less efficient 2-D imaging. Preference to 3-D is because the 2-D imaging produces limited data while the former provides quicker and less complicated manipulations of the facial/skull features like hair. Recent ultra sound CT scanning can be able to obtain the image of the skull in an upright compared to previous supine positions. The next step is the choice of certain landmarks to support soft tissue reconstruction. Designed software is used to place the landmarks on the virtual skull, but provides an opportunity to correct the mistake manually. Referring to Kreutz and Verhoff, “after the virtual anchoring of the landmarks and their spacers, the ends of the landmarks are joined together and the spaces in the resulting lattice pattern filled in and the edges smoothed over” (n.d., p.6). Similarly, the 3-D image could as well be exported into 2-D image through computer applications to aid further production of solid models and ‘humanization’ the face. Humanizing is possible when facial features information of the victim is available. there cases where virtual reality modelling language (VRML) have been used to produce steriolithographs, which the forensic artists hence works on to refine using additional details to produce an approximated look of the victims. Application Facial reconstruction is human remains is not a new phenomenon in the modern world, it has been practiced in the western nations and even in emerging countries with the capability of acquiring recent technologies for reconstructive procedures to aid in medical, law and criminology systems. In the past, different human remains have been identified in archaeological sites across the world; some of these locations were where kings and even heroic persons were buried many years ago. There was a recent discovery of a skeleton remains claimed to be of a fallen King in England over hundreds of years ago. After identifying a possible location where, he was buried, carbon dating methods determined the skeletons age to be between 1455 and 1540, DNA marched a distant living relative of King Richard III, and a facial reconstruction from his skull all verify the image of Richard III (“Face of King,” 2013). Forensic facial reconstruction has made it easy for archaeologists to reconstruct looks of historical figures. Another well proven figure was the astronomist Nicolaus Copernicus whose face was reconstructed following clear evidence of his skull, and bones whose DNA marched the strands of hair discovered from an ancient calendar he owned (Bogdanowicz, Allen, Branicki, Lembring, Gajewska & Kupiec, 2009). In relation to crimes and investigation facial sculpturing based on identifiable skulls has been conducted in South Africa. According to Philip, three families were able to confirm the deaths of their relatives after facial reconstruction of the remains discovered on “the summit of Table Mountain, a young girl’s body found in a shallow grave in Crawford and four young men buried next to Imzimvubu River,” all in Cape Town (2001). In the modern world, investigating and solving crimes utilizes the field of forensic facial reconstruction to model victims’ remains or even unknown suspects for face recognition. Reference List Bogdanowicz,W., Allen, M., Branicki, W., lembring, M., Gajewska, M. & Kupiec, T. (2009). Genetic Identification of Putative Remains of the Famous Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. PNAS, 106 (30): p. 12279 –12282. Retrieved from http://www.pnas.org/content/106/30/12279.full.pdf. Face of King Richard III Revealed after Skeleton Found under Parking Lot Confirmed to be Fallen Monarch Leicester, England. (2013, February 5).Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/face-king-richard-iii-reconstructed-skull-belong-ruler-found-parking-lot-article-1.1255647. Hines, W.J., Ramsey, C., Jantz, L.M., Jantz, R. L., Hughes, J. & Wood, B. (2010, May 31). Improving Facial Reproduction Using Empirical Modeling, Final Technical Report. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/231669.pdf. Hwang, H., Kim, K.,Moon, D., Kim, J. & Wilkinson, C. (2012). Reproducibility of Facial Soft Tissue Thicknesses for Craniofacial Reconstruction Using Cone-Beam CT Images. Journal of Forensic Science, 57(2), p. 443-448. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.02007.x. Kreutz, K. & Verhoff, M. A. (n.d.). Forensic Facial Reconstruction – Identification Based on Skeletal Findings. Retrieved from http://www.aerzteblatt.de/pdf/DI/104/17/a1160e.pdf. Miller, F. P., Vandome, A. F. & McBrewster, J. (2009). Forensic Facial Reconstruction. California: Alphascript Publishing Ltd. Phillips, V. M. (2001, January). Skeletal Remains Identification by Facial Reconstruction. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab/forensic-science-communications/fsc/jan2001/index.htm/phillips.htm. Read More