News ESAPS
Published after the Joint ESAPS-BAAPS Congress, London, 3 October 2026
On 3 October 2026, at the Joint ESAPS-BAAPS Congress in London, my term as ESAPS President began. Here is why I am looking forward to it, and what we are going to do first.
A journey worth starting
Put like that, it might sound a bit daunting. But I am not plagued by any particular anxieties, rather by that strange sense of euphoria that takes hold of you when you embark on a journey that you know could be exciting.
There is certainly a sense of privilege in the role, but it is practically overshadowed by the realisation that this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Why ESAPS?
I have always had a trade unionist streak, because I have always believed that to best safeguard one's own interests, one must safeguard the interests of everyone.
ESAPS is the organisation that is meant to represent the interests of European aesthetic plastic surgeons. I am aware that the landscape of international organisations is diverse, varied and at times inexplicably and ineffectively fragmented. ESAPS has the distinctive feature and ambition of doing just one thing: to be the European representative body for plastic surgery specialists who deal exclusively or predominantly with aesthetic surgery.
Knocking on Brussels' door
What better opportunity to take that decisive step: to knock on the door of Brussels, that building which is impenetrable to most people, and put to the authorities the questions we ourselves frequently ask in our chat groups?
- Is this specialism really necessary, or can we all do everything?
- Are patients protected by this lack of regulations?
- Why do I need a specialism to work in a hospital, whilst in the private sector even a general practitioner, or indeed a dentist, can perform a facelift?
Simple questions that everyone can understand.
Where we stand
We have registered ESAPS in the European Commission's Transparency Register, a necessary step towards being recognised as an interest group, so that we can engage with the committees of the EU authorities.
Now we need professionals: expert lobbyists to introduce us to, and guide us through, the maze of the European Parliament.
Our objective: to initiate a discussion that leads to clear and certain rules.
Ambitious? Just enough. Can ESAPS change all this? I don't know, but it can certainly make a difference by trying to do what hasn't been done so far.
And much more besides
There is more to come:
- A European Breast Educational Programme, sponsored by Mentor
- An online platform featuring video contributions from leading surgeons
- 'Real Plastic Surgeon', to help you make your mark.
Join us
I invite you to share in this experience by supporting ESAPS and its initiatives. You are unlikely to regret it.
Thank you,
Pierfrancesco Cirillo President, European Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2026–2028)
