Past Presidents' Messages

Letter from Dr. Goes (2004-2006)

In the last five years, the number of aesthetic plastic surgery procedures performed worldwide has increased each year between 15% and 20% over the previous year. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) is responding to this dramatic worldwide trend with many organizational changes and new initiatives.

Over 1500 ISAPS surgeons in 74 countries bring a common sense approach to our specialty by promoting and providing the highest level of professional standards and information for the public and by providing and attending several annual ISAPS continuing medical education courses provided for plastic surgeons around the world. The continuing education of ISAPS members in the latest techniques, procedures, instruments and medical products insures that the public can trust that ISAPS doctors are well trained and experienced in the specialty they practice.

In 2006, we have completely updated and modernized our website to make it helpful to patients as well as plastic surgeons as a resource for information. Our intention was to make ISAPS known as the primary source of all types of surgical information for the public. We want the public to recognize ISAPS as a point of connection to our member surgeons.

Every two years, ISAPS members elect a new president who pursues specific objectives and programs which culminate in the society's biennial Congress. Hosted by my country's National Society, this year's congress will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August where over 1,700 plastic surgeons from 60 countries and dozens of professional organizations, manufacturers and specialists will present the newest information in our profession.

With the goal of standardizing and centralizing our educational efforts for the future, we have initiated on-line registration, internet marketing, and full financial control for the Congress through our Executive Office. Each Congress and postgraduate course sponsored or endorsed by ISAPS is organized in cooperation with the National Society hosting the event.

In our effort to ensure patient safety in our members' clinics and surgical facilities, we have signed an agreement with Surgery Facilities Resources, Inc. to begin the international accreditation of ISAPS members' clinics and surgical facilities. Seven official inspectors, all ISAPS members, have been trained in France and Argentina. Another two inspector training programs are scheduled in Germany in July and in Brazil in August.

The rapid growth of our membership has created a need for an associate member category for younger surgeons and an accelerated admissions program for qualified members three times a year. We have also strengthened the line of succession of the ISAPS leadership to insure administrative continuity and consistency.

The ISAPS Executive Committee has authorized broad consumer information efforts - often the first of their kind in many member countries. A Patient Information Brochure in eleven languages is about to be introduced and a patient education DVD in five languages is already available to our members. "Guidelines for Plastic Surgery Tourists," were distributed in twenty-six languages to over 40,000 media worldwide - a first of its kind effort in the history of our profession. A detailed overview on "Common Plastic Surgery Procedures" is now featured on the new ISAPS website and along with the "Guidelines".

ISAPS has launched a professional e-learning program for members to provide state-of-the-art training via the internet. We also signed an agreement with an internationally recognized data collection company to regularly survey ISAPS members for international procedural statistics to be included in the ISAPS Procedures Database.

Perhaps our most exciting effort has been ISAPS Web-TV which will preview in Rio and launch formally in the fall of 2006. This new service will feature news, information, and professional education programs.

Finally, it has been my dream to develop an international "alliance" of plastic surgery organizations based on our successful relationship in creating an international symposium with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The Brazilian Society's hosting the Rio Congress certainly contributed to its enormous early registration by surgeons from 60 countries. I would like to see this kind of coordinated effort expand to include international plastic surgical expertise as symposia related to all the major meetings for plastic surgeons around the world. Forming this alliance to include the presidents of Asian, European, and Pan-Pacific societies is the beginning. Integrated and coordinated plastic surgery education around the world is the goal. Better patient safety and outcomes is the ultimate benefit.

The last two years have been a rewarding and very successful time for ISAPS. As we prepare for our 18th congress, we are proud of our new website and all the other accomplishments of these past two years. They are all the product of many people working very hard to make ISAPS the premier international aesthetic plastic surgery organization that it is. These include our Board of Directors, our Executive Committee, our Standing Committees, our Executive Director and her staff, and our various contractors and consultants.

We are proud of the continuing excellence and growth of ISAPS in new directions - and especially proud of our extraordinary worldwide membership as indicated by this website. We encourage you to take full advantage of this valuable resource including a directory of all ISAPS members. We hope you will contact us with your questions, and recommendations.