The American-Brazilian Aesthetic conference took place in Park City over the weekend where plastic surgeons spent four days learning from top surgeons from Brazil, Turkey, Switzerland, Japan, Belgium, the U.S. and more.
The conference covered everything from how to build a “better booty” and advances and innovations in face and neck lifts to patient safety.
Founder Dr. Renato Saltzwho is from Brazil but has been practicing in Utah since the 1990’s said it was created to give new and seasoned physicians an opportunity to not only share their techniques, but to learn from the best.
Saltz said, in todays’ society, plastic surgery is not as simple as it used to be.
“We’re living in a world now where globalization has extended to aesthetic surgery," Saltz said. "They all know about Kate Kardashian, they all know about J-Lo. It used to be about the oriental eyelid, the Turkish nose, the American breast, the Brazilian butt; today’s all mixed up - men and women.”
The relaxed culture in Park City, Saltz said, has helped to create an informal environment where doctors from all over enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the conference. In fact, the agenda allows for more than four hours for the doctors to ski each day of the conference.
But it’s not just great snow that sets this conference apart from others. It also helps doctors meet their required hours for accreditation.
American Society for the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Executive Director Sue Dykema said the combination of the accreditation and Satlz’s reputation worldwide has enabled him to do something others haven’t.
“So his vision was to bring people together and to share ideas, and to share innovation and technique, you know, on really a global scale," Dykema said. "This is a great way for them to come together, exchange ideas, and then of course the revenues of profits from this then support Image Reborn.”
Image Reborn is a nonprofit foundation that benefits breast cancer survivors. It got it's start 17 years ago when Saltz realized his clients needed more than surgery to restart their lives.
“So the reconstructive surgery happens," Saltz said. "We’re able to build this beautiful breast and then we build a nipple, and then we tattoo the areola, and the breasts are very symmetrical - so she should be now super excited, right? Very happy, a wonderful outcome, and they are not.”
The foundation has monthly retreats for women both from within and out of Utah with no cost to the participant.
With this years conference having a record turnout, Saltz is confident that they will exceed the $30,000. dollars they raised last year.
The conference is held annually alternating between Park City and Brazil.