A system comprises a processor and a memory having computer readable instructions stored thereon. The computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to display a surgical environment image. The surgical environment image includes a virtual control element for controlling a component of a surgical system. The virtual control element includes a real-time image of the component of the surgical system in the surgical environment image. The computer readable instructions also cause the system to display an image of a body part of a user used to interact with the virtual control element, receive a gesture of the body part of the user in a predetermined motion via a gesture based input device, and adjust a setting of the component of the surgical system based on the received gesture.