Plastic surgery and the biometric e-passport: Implications for facial recognition

Abstract

This correspondence comments on the challenges of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery on the facial recognition algorithms employed by biometric passports. The limitations of facial recognition technology in patients who have undergone facial plastic surgery are also discussed. Finally, the advice of the UK HM passport office to people who undergo facial surgery is reported.

Key Words:

• Biometric passport
• facial surgery
• facial recognition

Declaration of interest

The author reports no conflicts of interest. No funding was received to support this work.