- What Is Aura 3D Imaging?
- How Does the Aura 3D Imaging System Work?
- What Can Aura Show That a Mirror or Photo Cannot?
- Why Does 3D Imaging Matter for Your Consultation?
- Facial Balancing, Prejuvenation, and Your Treatment Plan
- What You Get With Your Aura Report
- Who Should Consider an Aura Consultation?
- Meet Kristen Barnett, Your Aura Provider
- Patient Reviews and Testimonials
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Schedule Your Aura 3D Consultation
What Is Aura 3D Imaging?
Aura 3D Imaging is a facial scanning system that creates a lifelike 3D model of your face and neck in less than a second. Your provider can rotate it, measure it, and use it to plan your treatment against your actual anatomy, not a flat photo.
For years, the standard consultation tool at aesthetic practices in the Sacramento region has been 2D photography paired with visual estimation. That approach works, and it is well studied. But it is no longer the newest option available, and at California LASIK & Eye, we want you to have the most accurate picture of your own face.
Aura was built by Hexagon, a global measurement-technology company whose sensors are used in aerospace and manufacturing before they were ever applied to a human face. It is a different kind of tool than a camera. It measures your face the way an engineer measures a precise part, then turns that data into a picture you and Kristen can look at together.
California LASIK & Eye is proud to be one of the first practices in the Sacramento area to bring Aura 3D Imaging to patients, giving Kristen's patients access to this measurement-grade technology ahead of most local aesthetic practices.
How Does the Aura 3D Imaging System Work?
Aura combines a camera system and software into one device. When you sit in front of it, 13 cameras and 18 lights capture your face and neck from every angle at once. In under a second, the system builds a detailed, true-to-life 3D model of your face.
That speed matters. Because the scan happens so quickly, small movements like breathing or blinking do not blur or distort the model.
Your 3D image appears on Kristen's tablet within moments, so she can walk through it with you in real time. Your scan is stored securely in your patient file so future visits can be compared against your original results.
What Can Aura Show That a Mirror or Photo Cannot?
A mirror shows you a flipped, flat image under whatever lighting happens to be in the room. A phone camera flattens your face and can exaggerate whatever is closest to the lens. Aura sees your face the way it actually exists, in three dimensions.
In one scan, Aura can show you:
Aura uses specialized lighting and filters to reveal early sun damage and pigmentation that isn't yet visible to the naked eye, using visible light with no UV exposure. That makes it especially useful if you are considering Prejuvenation and want to get ahead of sun damage early.
Why Does 3D Imaging Matter for Your Consultation?
A 3D scan gives Kristen a level of detail a flat photo cannot match. Instead of estimating your proportions from a picture, she can measure them directly and build your treatment plan around your actual anatomy, not a guess.
That accuracy matters in three moments of your care.
Diagnosis
First, in diagnosis: patients often think they need filler in one spot when the real issue is somewhere else, most often lost volume in the midface showing up as a line near the nose and mouth. A 3D model lets Kristen show you what is actually happening, rather than just telling you.
Planning
Second, in planning: when Kristen builds a Facial Balancing plan across multiple visits, she needs to know how much volume to place, where, and in what order. Aura's measurements support that planning based on your specific face, not a generic template.
Follow-Up
Third, in follow-up: a scan taken after treatment can be compared to your original baseline, so you can see your actual results in real measurements, not just an impression.
For Facial Balancing consultations, Kristen uses Aura's measurements to evaluate your proportions, then builds a staged plan around your bone structure, your current volume, and your goals. For Prejuvenation patients, meaning patients in their 20s and early 30s who want to get ahead of early signs of aging, Aura's skin mapping can catch early sun damage and volume changes so a plan can start before those changes become more noticeable.
Aura also supports tracking results across our aesthetics menu, including dermal fillers, BOTOX® and Xeomin®, IPL, laser resurfacing, and microneedling. Comparing your scans over time gives Kristen an objective way to measure your results and fine-tune your treatment plan as you go.
What You Get With Your Aura Report
After your scan, you receive a report that includes 3D images of your face from different angles, a map of your skin condition, Kristen's notes on any areas of concern, and, where it applies, a simulation of how a treatment area might look after care.
3D Images
Your face from different angles, captured in full dimension.
Skin Condition Map
A detailed map of your skin's current condition.
Kristen's Notes
Her observations on any areas of concern.
Treatment Simulation
Where it applies, a look at how an area might appear after care.
This report is yours to keep. You can review it at home, share it with a partner, or look back at it before making a decision. Many patients tell us that seeing their own face this way is the first time they truly understood what they wanted to change, and why. That understanding is the foundation of making an informed decision about your care.
Who Should Consider an Aura Consultation?
An Aura scan can help almost anyone considering aesthetic treatment at California LASIK & Eye, but it is especially useful for:
- New aesthetics patients who have never had an injectable, laser, or medical-grade skin treatment and want a clear starting point
- Prejuvenation patients who want to get ahead of sun damage and early signs of aging
- Established patients who have had filler, collagen-building treatments, laser, or microneedling before and want to track their progress with real measurements
Aura is not a treatment itself. It is a tool that helps Kristen plan your treatment more precisely. If Kristen determines a treatment is not right for you, or that a different approach would serve you better, she will tell you. We only recommend what is right for you, even if that is nothing.
Meet Kristen Barnett, Your Aura Provider
Kristen Barnett, NP-C is the Director of Medical Aesthetics at California LASIK & Eye. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing and a BSN from Johns Hopkins University, with 13-plus years of clinical experience spanning oncology, dermatology, and medical aesthetics. Before joining California LASIK & Eye, Kristen was a Nurse Practitioner and Product Development Lead at Curology, where she helped develop skincare products now sold at Target, Walmart, CVS, and Amazon.
Kristen's approach is natural, subtle, and never overdone. She was featured in Surgery Business Magazine in January 2026 for her work integrating aesthetic medicine into a comprehensive practice model.
Read more about Kristen Barnett, NP-C.
Patient Reviews and Testimonials
“This is my 4th visit to California LASIK and it is consistently fantastic! Kristen is exceptional and this is the best med spa in town! She has all of the best treatment options available and will give you an honest assessment of what you need. She’s professional, honest, and as sweet as they come. And I am thrilled with my results every time I leave there. I will never go anywhere else!”
– Suzanne O., Google Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Kristen is such a gem, she is so kind, caring, and an absolute pro who loves what she does. I fully trust her with my face. I love her as a person and as a professional. I’ve recommended her to everyone I know, and drive from Reno to see her.”
– Alix L., Verified Patient ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Great experience with Kristen! She does beautiful work! The entire staff at California LASIK & Eye are wonderful and I’ll definitely be going back for more treatments and services.”
– Taylor U., Verified Patient ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I love her work. She’s so honest and professional. She takes a lot of time explaining exactly what she’s going to do and what to expect. She always welcomes me with her beautiful smile.”
– Claudine K., Verified Patient ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Frequently Asked Questions
Aura captures a full 3D model of your face and neck in less than a second using 13 cameras and 18 lights. Regular photos and older skin analyzers only show a flat image. Aura also measures volume, movement, and proportions that a photo cannot show, and it stores your results so you can track your progress at every future visit.
Yes. Aura uses regular visible light, with no radiation and no UV exposure beyond what you would get from a normal photo. It's a non-invasive, camera-based scan.
The scan itself takes under a second, and processing takes about a minute. Your full consultation with Kristen, including reviewing your results and talking through your goals, typically takes 15 to 60 minutes depending on your case.
Come with clean, makeup-free skin, ideally washed at least an hour before your appointment. Pull your hair back off your face and neck, and wear a top that does not cover your collarbone.
No. Consultations at California LASIK & Eye require a $100 deposit at booking, which is applied toward your treatment if you move forward. We do not offer free consultations because we do not run our practice as a sales pitch. The deposit ensures that every consultation, including your Aura scan, is a real clinical evaluation.
Aura can simulate certain treatment areas, including the temples, cheeks, under-eyes, chin, jawline, and neck. Kristen uses this as a way to talk through your goals together, but a simulation shows a possible outcome, not a guaranteed one. Most patients achieve results consistent with their discussed plan, though individual results vary.
This depends on your goals. If you are in a Facial Balancing plan across multiple visits, Kristen may recommend a scan at the start of each stage so she can measure your progress against your original baseline. If you are a Prejuvenation patient focused on getting ahead of early aging, an annual scan can help track subtle changes in sun damage and volume before they become noticeable. Kristen will build a scan schedule around your specific plan during your consultation.
Schedule Your Aura 3D Consultation
If you are considering Facial Balancing, dermal fillers, BOTOX, Xeomin, laser resurfacing, microneedling, or any other aesthetic treatment in Sacramento, Roseville, or Folsom, an Aura 3D consultation is a great place to start. We also welcome patients from Elk Grove, Davis, and across the greater Sacramento metro. Kristen and the California LASIK & Eye team look forward to showing you your face in a way you have likely never seen it, and building a plan around your actual anatomy and your actual goals.
A $100 deposit is required at booking, applied toward your treatment.
Book a Consultation