COVER: Live from Atlanta

There’s plenty to look forward to – not least of all a return to in-person events – at Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2021 in Atlanta.

By Kendra Y. Mims-Applewhite

After successfully navigating the uncharted territory posed by 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic with the first-ever virtual Plastic Surgery The Meeting – which broke new ground in education and engagement with innovative virtual courses, networking events and social activities – ASPS is pleased to announce a return to the in-person format in October. Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the premier educational and networking event in plastic surgery, will take place Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Atlanta, providing plastic surgeons with an innovative, one-of-a-kind, unparalleled experience with exceptional educational programming, social events, family fun, wellness activities, virtual events and much more.

“After having most of the world on travel restrictions for over a year, we look forward to an exciting meeting in Atlanta,” says Annual Meeting Council Chair Dennis P. Orgill, MD, PhD. “We have a comprehensive and diverse program which will provide a robust educational venue. If you aren’t able to attend, the sessions will also be available virtually. There are many on-demand sessions that will be available during and after the meeting. I look forward to seeing everyone in Atlanta.”

The 90th ASPS/PSF/ASMS/TRS Annual Scientific Meeting will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center. Plastic Surgery The Meeting has provided generations of plastic surgeons the education needed to grow all aspects of their surgical career and practice. With this year’s program of more than 250 educational offerings – and up to 11 live concurrent sessions onsite – attendees will be able create a custom-tailored learning experience and immerse themselves in new live and on-demand content that covers all aspects of the specialty. On-demand sessions can be viewed by virtual and in-person attendees any time between Oct. 9-Nov. 30.

This year’s tracks include aesthetic; reconstructive; ASMS education and events; breast; practice management; craniomaxillofacial; and hand and upper extremities. Attendees can expect the return of popular programs, including the ASPS Presidents Panel, The PSF Presidents Panel, Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity Awards, Maliniac Lecture, Trustees Talk, Rhinoplasty Symposium and the Migraine Surgery Symposium. In addition, all registrants will have access to the virtual platform and can attend Plastic Surgery The Meeting virtually this year. Virtual offerings include more than 20 hours of live stream education sessions, more than 70 hours of on-demand programming and access to more than 900 abstracts.

“The hybrid program will feature comprehensive panels and courses from our five clinical tracks along with innovative special programming highlighting the future of plastic surgery,” says Annual Meeting Council Co-Chair Liza Wu, MD, MBA. “We will honor and celebrate diversity within our ranks while focusing on equity and inclusion as we move forward in the post-COVID era.”

Social experiences

Emerging from more than a year’s worth social isolation and quarantine, plastic surgeons can look forward to attending networking events and catching up with peers during their time in Atlanta. From cocktail receptions to lounges and Connect Zones in the Exhibit Hall, this year’s meeting offers numerous, face-to-face social events where attendees can comfortably connect, interact and share their experiences and lessons learned during an unprecedented time in history.

Attendees are invited to celebrate innovations in the specialty and a historic year with their colleagues and friends on Oct. 29 for Opening Ceremonies, which will feature the longtime favorite Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity Awards program to honor three inspiring reconstructive patients, as well as the Presidential Address, Special Achievement awards, the inaugural Noordhoff Humanitarian Award and more. The Welcome Reception immediately follows Opening Ceremonies.

The Masquerade Gala on Oct. 30 will include food, beverage and live entertainment – including the return of the ASPS Jam Band in person, which features domestic and international members. International attendees and The PSF donors will receive a complimentary ticket with their registration, but anyone can register to attend the black-tie event (although masquerade masks are not required, they are highly encouraged). Several receptions and alumni events are slated to take place on Oct. 30-31, including the YPS Reception, WPS Reception, President’s Reception and more.

Something for all

Attendees will also have the chance to explore all that Atlanta has to offer, including the Martin Luther King Jr., National Historic Site; National Center for Civil and Human Rights; High Museum of Art; World of Coca-Cola; and College Football Hall of Fame. Family-fun activities can also be found at the Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, the Porsche Experience Center or Legoland Discovery Center.

In addition to health-and-safety precautions in place at the time of writing (see sidebar), Atlanta will have safety protocols in place throughout the meeting. Atlanta Ambassadors enhance the public safety environment downtown by adding additional patrols on the streets and in common areas throughout Downtown Improvement District’s 220 blocks. In addition to ambassadors on the streets, there will be ambassadors monitoring downtown surveillance cameras as well as the police department’s monitoring station. During large-scale special events and demonstrations, ambassadors communicate with public safety officials directly from the Joint Operations Command Center.

Surgeons traveling to the meeting with children are encouraged to take advantage of the popular ASPS Kids Zone while they attend sessions and programs. On-site childcare is available to all children of registered attendees, spouses or guests ages 6 months through 12 years for a nominal fee. The advanced registration deadline is Oct. 1.

Collaboration

ASPS and The Migraine Surgery Society will host the Migraine Surgery Symposium on Oct. 16 and dive into the science, anatomy and surgical treatment of the trigger sites. The virtual program features addresses from renowned surgeons and dynamic panel discussions. Attendees can join the symposium from the comfort of their home or office. Educational sessions include “Medication Overuse Headaches and Patient Selection for Surgery;” “Variations in Nerve Anatomy;” “Post-Operative Medication Management;” “Secondary Surgeries: How to Deal with Surgical Failure;” and “Migraine Surgical Video.”

ASPS will also team up with The Rhinoplasty Society to present this year’s Rhinoplasty Symposium, “Precision Meets Preservation: Rhinoplasty and Beyond!” The live, half-day program takes place Oct. 28, allowing attendees to take a deep dive into rhinoplasty education. Experts will discuss a hybrid approach to rhinoplasty and lead discussions on optimizing patient outcome results, avoiding pitfalls, best practices and preventing complications. This popular, in-person event will also feature panel discussions on challenging primary rhinoplasty cases and lessons learned.

Exhibit Hall

This year's meeting will feature nearly 200 exhibiting companies to showcase new and more efficient products and services from more than 50 categories, all designed to help plastic surgeons enhance their brand and elevate their practice to the next level. Members can search for exhibiting companies that are part of the Society’s new Vendor Connect program from their mobile device and access their profiles to connect and chat with a representative. In addition to hundreds of exhibitors, attendees should schedule time to visit key areas of the Exhibit Hall to enhance their conference experience – such as the ASPS Resource Center, First-Time Exhibitors Pavilion, Industry Spotlight at Center Stage, Poster Viewing Area, Plastic Surgeon Connect Booth, PRS View Video Studio, Recharge and Connect Lounge and the Residents Bowl Arena. Trick-or-treating is also slated to take place in the Exhibit Hall from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 30.

Support The PSF

There are several ways to support The PSF and Breast Reconstruction Awareness USA at this year’s meeting. The “Close the Loop” 5K will be held at the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 31. (Halloween costumes are encouraged on race day). You can also register to run or walk the race virtually and participate anytime between now and Oct. 31.

The Virtual Close the Loop 5K in 2020 concluded with more than 320 participants and 30 teams that raised more than $100,000 for Breast Reconstruction Awareness. Encourage your family and friends to join your fundraising efforts and support The PSF’s mission to raise awareness. Every registrant will receive a race packet that includes a T-shirt, button and an “I Participated” medal. Funds generated from the Close the Loop 5K will be awarded to organizations through the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Campaign, and provide educational opportunities and financial assistance to organizations that support uninsured or under-insured women who choose to have breast reconstruction following a lumpectomy or mastectomy due to breast cancer. The Close the Loop 5K will conclude at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 31 (virtual participants should upload their time before 9:30 a.m. EST on race day). Recognition for all winners will be made at Closing Ceremonies. To register for the Close the Loop 5K or donate to the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Campaign as a virtual participant, visit p2p.onecause.com/bra5k/home.

Members are also invited to participate in The PSF Silent Auction, a virtual fundraising event. The 50-plus featured items – donated by exhibitors, corporate sponsors and local businesses in support of the Foundation – include surgery-recovery care packages, medical supplies, sports memorabilia, vacations and other fun items. Participants can bid online between Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, until the auction concludes at midnight. All funds generated from the auction will be donated to The PSF. To browse items or donate auction items, visit one.bidpal.net/psfauctionpstm21/donate-item.

International presence

The Society is pleased to welcome all ASPS Global Partners as Guest Nation Partners to Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2021. This year features the largest slate of Guest Nations in the meeting’s history. The expanded Guest Nation program will recognize and honor the following Global Partners:

Argentina

• Australia

• Belgium

• Brazil

• Chile

• Colombia

• Cyprus

• Dominican Republic

• Egypt

• France

• Germany

• India

• Indonesia

• Ireland

• Israel

• Italy

• Japan

• Mexico

• Netherlands

• New Zealand

• Norway

• Pakistan

• Philippines

• Romania

• Singapore

• South Africa

• South Korea

• Spain

• Switzerland

• Taiwan

• Thailand

• Turkey

• United Kingdom

• Venezuela

All members/presenters of ASPS Global Partners are eligible to register at the member rate and will receive formal recognition during Opening Ceremonies.

Hot topics and focused sessions

Plastic surgeons can explore the hottest issues impacting the specialty and join the virtual Hot Topics discussions surrounding the latest cutting-edge research, social media best practices and applied technology on Oct. 18-19. The add-on fee to attend this year’s Hot Topics program is only $25 (a $125 savings from previous meetings). Expert-led panels will explore the following topics:

• Injectables and fillers (panels to include exosomes, facial fillers)

• Reconstruction: Fat grafting/breast (panels to include mesh, breast implants, nerve)

• Energy devices for fat, skin and muscle (panels to include energy/skin tightening, cellulite, MMS)

• Ultrasound imaging updates

• Practice management and social media (panels to include social media; “cool” new technology)

• Others: Anesthesia/pain management; minimally invasive facial procedures and more

ASPS continues to lead the conversation on breast implant safety and equip plastic surgeons with information and resources on the current science surrounding BIA-ALCL and breast implant illness. This year’s meeting includes 30 breast tracks that will cover all aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery, including talks on surgical techniques, managing infected implants and an ultrasound in surgery and the breast simulation lab.

Keynote speakers for this year’s meeting include HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine, MD, (see exclusive interview on page 8) and The Permanente Medical Group President and CEO Robert Pearl, MD.

The ASPS President’s Panel, “Our Role in the Future of Breast Surgery: Do We Have One?” on Oct. 30, will feature panelists Jeffrey Janis, MD; Linda Phillips, MD; Keith Brandt, MD; Michael Neumeister, MD; and Dr. Wu, who will discuss scope-of-practice challenges and concerns about oncoplastic surgeons performing plastic surgery breast procedures.

“We’re going to talk about the history of oncoplastic surgery and address breast surgeons in America being trained in plastic surgery, and the American Society of Breast Surgeons certifying oncoplastic surgeons and requiring plastic surgery operations,” ASPS President Joseph Losee, MD, explains. “We’re also going to discuss whether or not plastic surgery legitimately expands our scope of practice into breast surgery through education.

“This panel is just one of the many informative and timely topics we will cover at Plastic Surgery The Meeting,” he adds. “I’m excited about reconnecting with colleagues in Atlanta. We have a plethora of exciting events, keynote speakers and educational programs to enhance our attendees’ overall conference experience and bring the meeting to a new level.”

Sponsors for Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2021 include Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company; Mentor Worldwide LLC; 3M Health Care; and MTF Biologics. Registration is now open, and the early-bird rate is available until Aug. 20. Visit plasticsurgerythemeeting.com for more information on this year’s events.