The 15th Congress of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery took place on September 26-30, 2007 in Las Vegas, USA. The record attendance was established since over 600 participants from all over the world took part in the conference. The Board of the Society, however, started the session two days earlier, on Tuesday, September 25. During the several-hour-long meeting a wide spectrum of issues related to the activity of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery was discussed. On the following day, Wednsday, September 26 the session of the Global Council of HRS, an international forum consisting of the representatives of national societies, was held. Poland was represented by Dr. Jerzy Kolasiński, former president of the Polish Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. The session officially started on Thursday, September 27. Professor Maria Siemionow from Cleveland Clinic, worldwide famous doctor specializing in allotransplants (including face transplantation) provided an inaugural lecture. She presented the latest achievements in transplantology and immunosupression which allow to use transplants of various organs to a greater extent. It is worth emphasizing that Professor Siemionow is our compatriot. She finished her studies and completed specialization in Poznań. She was a guest of our clinic many times.
The following days were abundant in interesting sessions during which a lot of issues referring to hair restoration surgery were discussed. It should be emphasized that more often hair cloning is examined and it may be implemented in the nearest future. Saturday, Septmeber 29, belonged to Dr. Kolasinski since he delivered four lectures which refered to:
- the use of platelet concentrate and growth factors in hair transplant surgery,
- hair restoration surgeries in extensive hair loss of head region,
- the usefulness of measuring procedures of moving head skin in hair transplantation surgeries,
- the evaluation of various techniques of stitching the donor area –the research was conducted in several centers in the world; the following doctors participated in the research: Bessam Farjo, Nilofer Farjo, Alex Ginsburg, Samir Ibrahim and Małgorzata Kolenda. Dr. Kolasiński was the coordinator. The results suggest that the best method to stitch a wound of the donor area is the so called Tichophytic Closure technique with deepitalization of the lower edge of the wound.
It has been already a tradition that the sessions of the International Society finish with a formal dinner during which various awards and recognitions are given. We were pleased that this year Dr. David Perez-Meza, a recent guest at our clinic, was awarded the Platinum Follicle Prize.
Las Vegas is not only a world center of gambling. One can also see some performances which are huge artistic events. Certainly, Cirque du Soleil is one of that kind. Such mastery of form, performance, unusual ideas and music will surely stay in memory forever. It is worth following the activities of this group especially that this theater visits Europe, too.
The ISHRS Board Members during the Assembly in Las Vegas, US: in the middle, President of ISHRS Dr. Paul C. Cotterill, the third from the left Dr. Jerzy Kolasiński.
The members of the Global Council: in the middle, President of ISHRS Dr. Paul C. Cotterill, the second from the left Dr. Jerzy Kolasiński.
Break in the session, starting from the left: Dr. James E.Vogel, Dr. Jerzy Kolasiński, and sitting doctors Dr. Robert S.Haber, Professor Maria Siemionow, Dr. Mario Mazola.
Gala Dinner in Las Vegas, starting from the left: Dr. Samir Ibrahim, Dr. David Perez-Meza with his wife, Dr. Bessam Farjo and Dr. Jerzy Kolasiński with his daughter Weronika.