INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF HAIR RESTORATION SURGERY HOSTS 34th WORLD CONGRESS, OCTOBER 15-17, 2026, IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, WITH LIVE SURGERY WORKSHOP OCTOBER 13

"Where Integrity Meets Excellence": Hair restoration experts from around the world to gather for three days of discussion, networking and scientific inquiry

CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From the latest advances in surgical techniques and non-surgical therapies to novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to treating multi-faceted forms of hair loss affecting men and women, the world's most renowned hair restoration experts will present innovative approaches to hair growth and restoration as the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) hosts its 34^th World Congress, October 15-17, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The three-day conference – considered to be the gold standard in hair restoration education – is expected to draw nearly 800 physicians and their surgical assistants from all corners of the globe committed to excellence in hair restoration and implementing newly acquired skills and knowledge in their practices. Attendees have the option to participate in the full-day Live Surgery Workshop sponsored by the Brazilian Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABCRC) on October 13, with additional pre-meeting courses offered on October 14.  

"Our goal for Rio is to bring strong science and meaningful discussion into every part of the program," said Maxim Chumak, MD, FISHRS, Program Chair. "We have introduced formats that give colleagues more opportunities to ask questions, challenge ideas, and learn directly from one another. At the same time, integrity means being clear about the evidence behind our treatments and taking personal responsibility for the surgery we perform."

The program includes the following internationally distinguished keynote speakers:

• Maria Hordinsky, MD, USA – "Phase 3 SCALP Clinical Trial Program Evaluating Topical Clascoterone 5% Solution (Breezula) for Androgenetic Alopecia"
• Carolina Motter Catarino, PhD, Brazil – "Bridging Data and Tissue: Bioinformatics and 3D Bioengineering for Next-Generation Hair Follicle Research"
• Dirlene Roth, MD, Brazil – "Regenerative Hair Microinfusion as a Strategy to Maximize Hair Transplant Results"
• Jason Sonners, DC, PhD, FMHC, USA – "Emerging Hyperbaric Research and Implications on Clinical Practice: Inflammatory Control, Healing and Cell Regeneration"

While 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, eight focused sessions will allow more detailed discussion of important topics with ample time set aside for questions and discussion. This year, a special patient testimonial is planned for the General Session featuring a patient who experienced serious complications at a black-market clinic. Dr. Chumak added that this presentation will bring an important perspective to the discussions about physician responsibility and patient safety.

A sampling of the hot topics to be presented at the ISHRS World Congress includes:

• Hair Loss in the Era of GLP-1 and Metabolic Pharmacotherapy: What Hair Transplant Surgeons Need to Know
• Cross-Trait Genomic Convergence Reveals Shared and Distinct Mechanisms Across Hair Loss Disorders
• AI, Robotics and Quantitative Imaging
• Not All Topicals Are Created Equal: Formulation Matters for Optimizing Therapy with Topical 5-ARIs
• Ethnic Variation in Lifetime Graft Harvesting Potential and Intermediate Zone of Donor Area in Hair Transplantation: A Comparative Study
• Regenerative Therapies: Evidence, Devices & Clinical Protocols
• Female Hairline Correction for Facial Asymmetry: Design Principles and Clinical Outcomes in 78 Patients
• A Tactical Approach to Long-hair Follicular Unit Extraction in Afro-textured Hair
• The Gut-Hair Axis in Clinical Practice: Why the Microbiome May Be the Missing Link in Hair Loss Treatment
• Optimizing Platelet-Rich Plasma Preparation: A Personalized Approach Powered by Artificial Intelligence

"For the ISHRS, integrity isn't just a buzz word but a guiding principle that our members exemplify in their practices, professional development, and interactions," said Conradin von Albertini, MD, FISHRS, president of the ISHRS. "The integrity of a successful hair restoration surgery relies on physician-driven involvement from start to finish, which underscores the hands-on approach that sets ISHRS members apart from the rest."

About the ISHRS
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is a global non-profit medical association and the leading authority on hair loss treatment and restoration with 1,200 members throughout 80 countries worldwide. Above all, the ISHRS is dedicated to achieving excellence in patient outcomes by promoting the highest standards of medical practice, medical ethics, and research in the medical hair restoration industry. The ISHRS also provides continuing medical education to physicians specializing in hair transplant surgery and is committed to delivering the latest information on medical and surgical treatments to consumers suffering from hair loss, and most commonly from androgenetic alopecia – male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss. It was founded in 1993 as the first international society to promote continuing quality improvement and education for professionals in the field of hair restoration surgery. For more information and to locate a physician, visit www.ishrs.org. 

About the ISHRS 34^th World Congress
For a complete copy of the program and schedule, visit: Meeting Outline. Media interested in attending the meeting can register for complimentary press passes by contacting the ISHRS at [email protected].

SOURCE International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery