Plastic Surgery Between Innovation and Reconstruction: Bari Hosts the 74th SICPRE National Congress

From 23 to 26 September 2026, Italian and international specialists will meet to discuss the new frontiers of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, from microsurgery and artificial intelligence to the management of lymphedema and complex wounds.

Plastic surgery is not solely concerned with aesthetics. It is a complex discipline that plays a role in tissue reconstruction following cancer, trauma and burns, the treatment of congenital abnormalities, and the restoration of patients’ function and quality of life.

This broad range of expertise will be at the heart of the 74th National Congress of SICPRE – the Italian Society of Reconstructive-Regenerative and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – taking place in Bari from 23 to 26 September 2026 at The Nicolaus Hotel.

The event, chaired by Professor Cosmo Maurizio Ressa, with Professor Giuseppe Giudice serving as co-chair, will bring together professionals from different areas of medicine and surgery, encouraging the exchange of experiences, techniques and scientific findings. The programme will feature four days of sessions, keynote speeches and presentations focusing on the main developments in the field.

From Breast Surgery to Reconstruction Following Cancer

Considerable attention will be devoted to breast surgery, explored across its different dimensions: aesthetic, reconstructive and oncoplastic.

Specialists will discuss breast augmentation and reduction techniques, the management of asymmetries, complication prevention and the use of three-dimensional imaging to plan procedures. Particular attention will also be given to breast reconstruction following mastectomy, with sessions focusing on microsurgical procedures, autologous flaps and strategies for achieving increasingly personalised results.

The aim is not simply to reconstruct volume, but to support patients through a journey that also involves identity, body image and quality of life.

Lymphedema, Burns and Complex Wounds

Lymphedema will be one of the central topics of the Congress. This chronic condition is characterised by the accumulation of fluid in the tissues and resulting swelling, often affecting the limbs. The scheduled sessions will explore the role of microsurgery, robotic technologies and multidisciplinary care pathways.

The discussions will also cover the treatment of burns and complex wounds, including chronic ulcers and injuries that fail to heal properly. In these cases, dermal matrices, regenerative medicine, new wound dressings and reconstructive techniques can help protect tissues, promote healing and restore the function of the affected area.

SICPRE and Post-Bariatric Surgery: The Journey Continues After Weight Loss

Significant weight loss, achieved through bariatric surgery or a therapeutic programme, can leave excess skin that causes difficulties with movement, irritation, hygiene problems and psychological distress.

Post-bariatric surgery will therefore be addressed as part of a broader treatment pathway. Abdominoplasty, circumferential body lifts, breast surgery and limb reshaping are not exclusively aesthetic procedures: in selected patients, they can help improve everyday comfort and their relationship with their own body.

Artificial Intelligence and Technology in the Service of Surgery

The programme also looks to the future with a session dedicated to AI, plastic surgery and high-tech solutions. Technology can support specialists with preoperative planning, image processing and the assessment of outcomes.

Emerging topics will also include robot-assisted microsurgery, three-dimensional simulation and new imaging techniques. These innovative tools do not replace the surgeon’s experience and judgement, but they can make certain procedures more precise and support more personalised clinical decision-making.

Information, Ethics and Patient Safety

Alongside technical innovations, the Congress will address the ethical, medico-legal and communication-related aspects of plastic surgery. The spread of simplified content on social media and the growing visibility of procedures and treatments make it increasingly important to distinguish scientific information from promotional messaging.

This issue will also be addressed during the session “SICPRESS: Plastic Surgery Between Words and Practice: A Public Health Emergency to Be Addressed with Science and Awareness”. The session will provide an opportunity to reflect on the role of communication in protecting patients and on the need to present the benefits, limitations and potential risks of procedures accurately and clearly.

The programme also includes a session on professional ethics in the age of social media, together with discussions on complications arising from fillers and the related medico-legal controversies.

An Open Dialogue with Institutions

The final day will feature the meeting “Women’s Associations Meet the Institutions”, with representatives from the Puglia Region and the healthcare system. The involvement of these associations highlights the importance of incorporating people’s experiences into care pathways and decisions concerning the organisation of healthcare services.

The SICPRE Congress therefore presents itself not only as an opportunity for professional development and knowledge-sharing, but also as a forum for discussing the contemporary role of plastic surgery. It is a constantly evolving discipline in which technological innovation, clinical expertise and responsible communication must move in the same direction: towards patient safety and wellbeing.

Read the full SICPRE Congress programme.