I want to start my first message by saying thank you to all the ISAPS members from around the world for giving me this ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY; at this moment in my life, I can assure you that I have no other priority but to serve you all. Every single minute over the last ten years that I have spent on this project, working for the ISAPS Board of Directors out of my private practice, far away from home and business, missing my entire family, and going weekends without seeing Bertha, has been worth it. My heart and my mind have plenty of good feelings; I feel like I’m living someone else’s life.

My inspiration to join ISAPS 35 years ago was influenced by two past Mexican ISAPS Presidents, MARIO GONZALEZ ULLOA (1973/1975) and JOSE GUERRERO SANTOS (1989/1992). It is because of them that many of us had the chance to meet the best plastic surgeons from around the world, learning from the best, making our practice safer, and offering our patients the best results with the ultimate surgical  techniques. Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others; that is why my eternal gratitude goes to those gentlemen, supporters, and friends, including: Tom Biggs, Carlos Uebel,  Foad Nahai, Susumo Takayanagi, Renato Saltz, Dirk Richter and Nazim Cerkes. It was TOM BIGGS (U.S.A.) and then CARLOS UEBEL (BRAZIL) who approached and encroached on me to participate and be involved in the ISAPS leadership project; up until then everything was status quo, then, suddenly on the scene appeared the perfect hybrid commander, (Born in Brazil and trained in USA) a young, strong, perfectionist, natural leader, successful, charismatic, great surgeon, and incredible friend … RENATO SALTZ, who continued and executed the original plan (by Biggs and Uebel) without mercy, supervising every single detail as a true mentor, until the goal was achieved, without them, Biggs, Uebel, and Saltz, this dream couldn’t be possible.

Now it’s my turn to give something in return to ISAPS, working as a faithful 24/7 servant because of all the priceless things this lovely organization did for me and my patients.

About The Philosophy Of Work With Diversity, Equity, & Inclusiveness (D.E.I), we will start with two great projects:

• The NEW GENERATION COMMITTEE: young plastic surgeons
• All the regions worldwide must be represented on the ISAPS Board of Directors

What Do I Have To Establish To Make This Successful?

1. A hand-selected (pristine) executive committee
2. Powerful and dedicated Board of Directors, all dedicated servants
3. A commanding National Secretaries army
4. An unconditional and efficient central office staff
5. Dozens of friends and colleagues in different parts of the world

*It has not been to reach the goal and become ISAPS president; what is truly important and genuinely transcendental has been the way to get here, and the friends found on the road.

2024/2026 Objectives per the D.E.I. Project

-Let’s build a stronger and united ISAPS family society together.

-Improve the regional representations of the B.O.D.

-Make ISAPS more attractive for young generations of plastic surgeons.

-Keep a solid financial base without increasing annual fees.

-Continue to deliver the best aesthetic education worldwide.

-All the members must be heard, and their needs must be solved.

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” W. Churchill

Arturo Ramirez-Montañana, MD

ISAPS President