In this month’s President's E-Magazine, meet ISAPS President Dr. Vakis Kontoes. We explore his vision and the power of humanitarian work, learn why ISAPS gatherings are so impactful, and get a glimpse of the upcoming Olympiad World Congress in London.

Vakis Kontoes, MD (Greece), ISAPS President (2026–2028)

ISAPS: Congratulations on being elected as the new ISAPS President! As you begin this new chapter, which goals are you most excited to pursue over the next two years?

KONTOES: Thank you so much for the warm congratulations! It is a sacred task and a profound honor beyond words or measure to lead the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) for the 2026–2028 term, after my enrollment as a member back in 1999, joining the Board of Directors in 2016, and working in the positions of Education Council Chair, Membership Chair, Secretary, and President-elect during these last 10 years.

As we look toward the next two years, the goals I am most energized to pursue focus on elevating our global community go through three core pillars:

1. Advancing Patient Safety & Global Education

•  Standardizing Excellence: Expanding our digital and in-person educational platforms to ensure plastic surgeons worldwide have access to the latest evidence-based techniques and safety protocols. Patient safety in ISAPS, along with its main mission, “Aesthetic Education Worldwide,” comes first. ISAPS Academy will play a very decisive and pioneering role towards this goal

•   Expanding educational events worldwide with Master Courses on different topics

• Organizing local educational events worldwide within our members’ eligibility and cooperation

• The London Olympiad World Congress next year and the World Congress in 2028: Executing in London, one more transformative Olympiad World Congress, serving as a masterclass of innovation, peer-to-peer learning, and scientific exchange among our members given the exclusive format of this ISAPS educational event. Our Olympiad Congresses feature unique, competitive abstract presentations where the audience and a scientific committee vote on the best work. This democratic format gives a voice to brilliant surgeons from all over the world, not just established names. A quick note: despite our efforts to keep the Olympiad in 2027 in Dubai, as decided and approved by the Board, the current situation in the region obliged us to postpone it and hold it in London.

•  Executing the World Congress of 2028 in Greece, adding one more landmark event to the collection of our ISAPS history. Soon we will give more details about this great event.

2.    Fostering Inclusivity and Professional Unity

I am here to work with our members, for our members, and to make our ISAPS even

stronger and better. No one is superfluous in ISAPS. Everyone should have a voice and a

shared responsibility for the future of our Society, no matter our position. Bridging

communities by strengthening collaboration among national societies within our Global

Alliance Program (GAP) to create a truly interconnected global network is another

important goal. Moreover, empowering the Next Generation by creating more mentorship

opportunities and resources for residents and young plastic surgeons as they begin their

careers shapes, protects, and develops our specialty.

I look forward to working closely with our committed Board members and every member around the world to shape a safe, innovative, and compassionate future for aesthetic plastic surgery.

3.    Amplifying Humanitarian and Philanthropic Work

• Strengthening our humanitarian programs and disaster-relief initiatives. I believe our expertise should not only enhance aesthetic medicine but also offer reconstructive aid to those who need it most globally.

• Global Outreach: Encouraging more members to actively participate in surgical missions that restore form and function in underserved regions.

 

ISAPS: Could you tell us more about your humanitarian work? What experiences have you had, and what difference have they made? What advice would you offer to aspiring aesthetic plastic surgeons who hope to make a positive impact on those in need.

 

KONTOES: As a plastic surgeon, I have always believed that our specialty possesses a profound dual nature. While aesthetic surgery enhances quality of life and self-confidence, humanitarian reconstructive surgery has the power to heal deep trauma and grant a completely new beginning to individuals who have suffered immensely.

My involvement in humanitarian work is the core of my medical philosophy, and I have been supporting humanitarian missions with “Omada Aigaiou” (Aegean Team) in Greece for the last 25 years to remote islands of the Aegean Sea for medical services, infrastructure work, etc. Moreover, I have participated in philanthropic missions in Central Africa in the past. It is one of the main reasons I want to significantly strengthen ISAPS's philanthropic initiatives during my presidential term.

 

For young colleagues and residents who hope to make a positive impact, my advice is centered on these core principles:

• View Plastic Surgery as One Unified Art: There is no real dividing line between aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. The precision, tissue respect, and anatomical mastery you develop in aesthetic surgery are the exact same tools you will use to reconstruct a damaged limb or face.

•  Start Locally, Think Globally: You do not need to travel to the other side of the world to make a difference right away. Start by volunteering your skills to vulnerable, underserved populations within your own local community or country.

• Connect with the ISAPS Humanitarian Task Force: I highly encourage every young surgeon to get involved with ISAPS's humanitarian programs. Joining an established, organized network ensures your efforts are safe, well-supported, and sustainable.

•  Protect Your Empathy: Technical excellence is mandatory, but the capacity to listen to a patient's suffering with a compassionate heart is what elevates a good surgeon into a true healer.

 

ISAPS: You attended the World Congress in Cancún. What makes you recommend the ISAPS Congresses and Olympiads to other plastic surgeons? Can you share some of your favorite experiences from these events?

 

KONTOES: We just welcomed our global community to the ISAPS World Congress in Cancún, and I can say without hesitation that attending these events is one of the most impactful decisions plastic surgeons can make for their career.

 

The future of aesthetic plastic surgery is truly shaped by those who show up. ISAPS events are not just standard medical conferences; they are immersive, high-level scientific and cultural experiences.

Unparalleled Educational Formats: We continuously push the boundaries of how we share knowledge. In Cancún, for example, and in future Congresses, delegates will experience "Interactions with the Masters," "State-of-the-Art Lectures," and "Deep Dives with the Experts." These sessions bridge the gap between abstract theory and real-world clinical applications. Moreover, unlike events driven purely by commercial trends, ISAPS places patient safety at the absolute center of its scientific curriculum together with education. Our panels focus heavily on evidence-based protocols, avoiding and managing complications safely. Over the years, my time with ISAPS has given me unforgettable memories that combine scientific excellence with lifelong global friendships. I am really blessed to have so many friends around the World with whom we have shared experiences, knowledge, but also concerns and deliberations, all so useful for the development and status of our specialty.

 

I remember so many different experiences from my journey in ISAPS for 25 years now, encountering different traditions, mentalities, philosophies, and civilizations that, if I mention some, I might omit others. Hence, I do not want to mention any names or locations, so as not to treat anyone unfairly, nor to honor anyone more than others, as everyone deserves the same. However, I should not omit to mention the fact of hosting the first-ever ISAPS Olympiad World Congress in Athens.

 

Hosting the ISAPS Olympiad Athens World Congress 2023 in my home country was an incredible honor but also an unprecedented responsibility, since this organization would shape the future of ISAPS Olympiad World Congresses. Watching over 60 of the world’s top-rated renowned speakers and over fourteen hundreds of international colleagues come together under the Athenian sky to network, share knowledge, and celebrate our specialty was profoundly moving. 

 

Whether you are looking to master a specific technique, share your own data, or find a global mentor, there is simply no place like an ISAPS meeting to make it happen.

 

ISAPS: As preparations begin for next year's Olympiad in London, what can participants expect, and how does London stand out as a host city?

KONTOES: As preparations begin for the ISAPS Olympiad World Congress, participants can look forward to a phenomenal fusion of world-class science, democratic clinical competition, and an inspiring global atmosphere. ISAPS Olympiads are designed to push the boundaries of traditional medical education, creating an intense but collaborative learning environment:

True to its name, the core of the Olympiad is its democratic abstract competition. Brilliant minds and rising stars from around the globe present their original research, innovative techniques, and clinical findings. A peer-voting system alongside an expert scientific committee determines the absolute best work, elevating fresh voices onto the global stage.

 

The scientific program will feature masterclasses, live-on-stage video breakdowns, and deep-dive technical panels. Attendees will learn direct refinements for facial rejuvenation, advanced body contouring, and complex case management from a highly curated international faculty. 

 

In alignment with our society's absolute priority, the sessions will heavily focus on patient safety, managing complex aesthetic complications, and advancing evidence-based protocols to minimize risk globally.

 

Expect robust networking forums and tailored symposia specifically designed to connect residents and young plastic surgeons directly with global mentors. 

 

London is a magnificent, historically rich backdrop that naturally complements the progressive spirit of an ISAPS gathering. It has always been a premier epicenter for medical history and academic research. Its unique capability to blend historical heritage with avant-garde scientific innovation makes it a perfect pairing for the "Olympiad" concept.

 

Beyond the lecture halls and science, London provides a legendary aesthetic backdrop for our networking events. From historic private galleries to iconic landmarks along the River Thames, the city allows delegates to foster global collaborations in a remarkably memorable setting. 

 

The Olympiad is a milestone event that will completely recharge delegates’ practice and broaden their perspective on where aesthetic surgery is heading next.

 

ISAPS: What inspires you most about being part of the #ISAPSFamily, and which opportunities do you find especially rewarding?

KONTOES: What inspires me most about being part of the #ISAPSFamily is the profound sense of global unity and our shared devotion to excellence. We are not just a scientific organization; we are a vibrant, borderless community where knowledge is shared freely with a singular focus on patient safety.

The ability to exchange insights, surgical refinements, and clinical challenges with top-tier colleagues from well over 100 countries is extraordinary. We are united by a common passion for our specialty and a mutual desire to deliver the highest standard of care.

 

Within the ISAPS community, there are no "hidden secrets." The world's leading masters sit at the exact same table as young residents, completely ready to share their successes, analyze their complications, and teach with transparency and humility.

 

Mentoring the Next Generation: Providing young plastic surgeons and residents with the precise tools, international fellowships, and guidance they need to excel is incredibly rewarding. Investing heavily in the future of our specialty is a vital duty we all share.

 

Philanthropy via the ISAPS Humanitarian task force: Organizing and participating in surgical missions that fundamentally alter lives in underserved regions is the ultimate fulfillment of our medical oath. Using our aesthetic and reconstructive skills to restore hope where medical resources are absent, is a deeply moving experience.

 

The #ISAPSFamily stands as a global beacon of scientific progress and genuine humanitarianism, and I am incredibly proud to guide our community into this next chapter. Because all together, no matter the position of each one of us in ISAPS, the target should be one and only: TO MAKE OUR ISAPS EVEN STRONGER AND BETTER.

 

Read more interviews in the ISAPS President's E-Magazine.

ISAPS E-Magazine