Preparation for the 34th ISHRS World Congress in Rio de Janeiro continues to move forward, and the program is now taking its final shape.
One of our most challenging tasks was reviewing the 196 submitted abstracts. The quality was very strong, and the entire Scientific Committee participated in the scoring process. The selected abstracts have now been distributed among oral presentations, short videos, focused sessions, Cases, Studies and Innovations (CSI), Morbidity and Mortality, and the Surgical Assistants Program.
The main program includes 12 general sessions covering medical therapies, AI and robotics, donor harvesting, hairline design, graft survival, complications, regenerative therapies, ethics and safety, digital planning, and other emerging areas. We have also protected meaningful time for questions and discussion rather than simply moving from one lecture to the next.
Eight focused sessions will allow more detailed discussion of important topics, while three extended debates will examine large procedures versus staged surgery, the evidence surrounding exosomes, and digital planning. CSI—Cases, Studies and Innovations—will provide an interactive digital format for presenting practical cases, research, and new ideas.
Several featured guest presentations will bring perspectives from both inside and outside hair restoration, including three-dimensional follicular anatomy, Phase 3 clascoterone research, hyperbaric oxygen and graft survival, and targeted microinfusion techniques. Operation Restore and ISHRS research-grant presentations are also being incorporated into the program.
Moderator and faculty confirmations are progressing, and we are refining the daily Meet the Experts format to create more meaningful interaction between attendees and faculty. A podcast and video series is also being developed for recording during the Congress, including a planned “Best of Congress” selection.
Work is underway on the Opening Night, Gala, opening film, and the broader “Experiencing Brazil” concept so that Rio’s culture becomes an important part of the Congress experience.
Throughout the planning process, our theme, “Integrity Meets Excellence,” has continued to guide every decision. The goal is to create a Congress that combines strong science, innovation, open discussion, ethical physician-led care, and a memorable experience for our international community.
There is still work ahead, but Rio 2026 is coming together, and I look forward to welcoming everyone this October.
All the best,
Maxim Chumak, MD, FISHRS
ABHRS Diplomate
Program Chair