Rising Stars

There was a phrase Professor Jaime Planas often repeated in the operating theatre, and those who worked alongside him still remember it clearly:

"A good idea can come just as easily from the most experienced surgeon as from the newest resident."

That openness to new ideas, wherever they come from, is exactly the spirit DECODED wants to bring to the stage.

RISING STARS is the 2027 Planas Congress initiative created to discover two surgeons who represent the next generation of surgical talent.

We are looking for surgeons with between three and seven years of experience, a strong clinical practice, independent judgement and something genuinely worth sharing.

The two selected Rising Stars will join the scientific programme of DECODED 2027, taking the stage alongside the congress faculty to present their work to fellow speakers and attendees.

We are not looking for well-known names. We are looking for talent. Perspective. And a distinctive way of thinking about surgery.

Want to present your work at DECODED?
The Rising Stars call for applications is now open. The stage could be yours.

Apply

Call for applications

The 2027 Planas Congress opens its Rising Stars call for applications to young surgeons with a strong clinical practice, independent judgement and a commitment to excellence who want to present their work in a high-level scientific environment.

Under the title DECODED, the congress goes beyond surgical technique to explore everything surrounding the patient's journey. Becoming a Rising Star means joining the scientific programme as a speaker and sharing the stage with internationally recognised surgeons.

DECODED is looking for surgeons with between three and seven years of professional experience and a solid track record who, beyond presenting an interesting clinical case, have something more to contribute: What makes your practice different? How do you manage no-shows? Why did you say no to a particular patient? How do you manage patient conversion rates?

Professor Jaime Planas understood something fundamental: "A good idea can come just as easily from the most experienced surgeon as from the newest resident." What matters is not where you begin. It is the quality of your judgement.

We are looking for 2 Rising Stars. Applications are now open.

Rising Star Profile

Speciality: Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. Exceptionally, ENT or Maxillofacial Surgery candidates whose practice is closely linked to rhinoplasty or facial rejuvenation may also apply.
Experience: Between 3 and 7 years in private practice.
Area: Rhinoplasty, facelift surgery, breast surgery or aesthetic body surgery.
Activity: Demonstrable, active surgical practice within the selected area.
Availability: Candidates must be available to defend their application and to participate actively in the congress if selected.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official form on the congress website, either through the Rising Stars section or the private area. The entire process (application, scientific panel and, where applicable, oral defence) will be managed online. No printed or physical material is required.

Apply now

Your application must include

Introduction video: A link to a short video of no more than 3 minutes. Tell us: who are you? What is your area of expertise? What makes your approach different and why do you want to become a Rising Star?
CV: An up-to-date CV. Maximum length: 1 page.
Abstract (maximum 400 words): The abstract should follow the following structure: introduction, case presentation, surgical strategy, results and conclusions. The author's name and clinic or institution must not be included, as submissions will be evaluated anonymously.
DECODED video questions: In keeping with the philosophy of DECODED, every candidate will also be asked to respond to at least three direct questions about areas of professional practice rarely discussed at traditional surgical congresses: time outside the operating theatre, business, criteria and future plans.

Questions

1
If we set aside the time spent operating, what role do we play throughout the rest of the patient journey? How much value do we give that time?
2
How do we involve our teams in ensuring the patient feels cared for throughout the rest of their journey?
3
How much importance do we give to the business itself? Whether we own a practice or work within a larger organisation, how do we protect the business and generate sustainable revenue?
4
Could we become more profitable, achieve better outcomes, increase our reach or improve patient experience? And how do we prepare patients for what lies ahead?
5
Do we use artificial intelligence? Technology and medical devices? Before-and-after cases? How are we preparing our practice for the future?

Additional questions

1
When an outcome is not as expected, how do you communicate that to the patient? What is more difficult: managing the complication itself or managing the conversation?
2
If you had to stop operating for a month, would your practice continue to function at the same level? How much depends on you personally, and how much depends on the team and system around you?
3
Have you ever said «no» to a patient who continued to insist on a procedure? What made you say no, and how did you manage that conversation?
4
What role do social media and digital content play in how you attract and select your patients?
5
Where do you draw the line between advising and selling?
6
What would you tell a surgeon starting today about something you had to learn the hard way?

Scientific Panel (Digital format)

Format: One single PDF file in portrait orientation.
Submission: Digital submission only, through the official congress website. The panel will not be printed or displayed physically.
Dimensions: 90 cm wide × 120 cm high (reference format for the design; the file is submitted digitally and is not printed)
Minimum Resolution: 150 dpi
Maximum Size: 10 MB
Typography: Arial, Calibri or similar. Minimum title size: 28 pt. Minimum body text: 18 pt.
Confidentiality: No patient-identifying information may appear in either images or text.

Oral Defence

5-minute presentation + 3 minutes of questions from the Scientific Committee. The defence may take place either in person or online. Details of the platform will be communicated in due course. Maximum: 10 PowerPoint slides.

What should the panel show?

The panel should not focus on surgical technique in isolation. It should combine the clinical case, surgical judgement and the wider patient journey. We want to understand: how you think, how you organise the process and how you manage the patient experience from beginning to end. Particular value will be placed on the following:

Indication: Why this case? How was the decision made?
Consultation: How was the pre-op assessment structured?
Surgical strategy: Technical approach and clinical reasoning.
Post-op care: Follow-up, recovery and resources used.
Complications: How were they managed, where applicable?
Differentiating value: What does your approach bring to the patient's overall experience?

Assessment & Selection

The Scientific Committee will assess applications in two stages. First, the abstract and complete application before the congress and finally the oral defence. Applications will be evaluated according to:

Scientific quality of the case or series presented
Surgical judgement and decision-making
Integration of the patient journey
Originality and relevance
Clarity of presentation
Potential as a speaker and emerging voice within the specialty

Two Rising Stars will be selected. The Scientific Committee's decision is final.

Key Dates

Application Deadline: 1st March 2027
Congress: 24th – 25th September 2027, Barcelona

What does it mean to become a Rising Star?

The two selected candidates will receive:

Complimentary access to the 2027 Planas Congress
Participation in the scientific programme as a speaker
Participation in sessions alongside internationally recognised surgeons
The opportunity to participate as an assisting surgeon in the live surgery session within their chosen area
An invitation to the Speakers' Dinner

For all shortlisted candidates:
50% discount on registration for the 2027 Planas Congress.

Apply

General Rules

Submissions must be original and must not previously have been presented at another congress.
A maximum of two authors may be included per application. The candidate presenting the work must be the first author.
Each candidate may submit only one application.
Oral presentation is mandatory in order to be considered for final selection. It may take place either in person or online.
No patient-identifying information may appear in images or text.
Acceptance is subject to the decision of the Scientific Committee.
Selected candidates must agree to the congress participation conditions.

Contact and Applications

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official form on the congress website.

Form

Taking part in Rising Stars means becoming part of a new way of thinking about medical congresses: more open, more practical and more deeply committed to understanding the complete patient experience.