CSPS NEWSLETTER 9/26

CSPS NEWSLETTER
September 2026

FROM THE PRESIDENT
SCOTT HANSEN, MD

Dear Members and Colleagues,

It is a privilege to connect with you as President of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. Our community thrives because of your dedication, expertise, and commitment to the highest standards of patient care and surgical innovation.

Right now, we have a critical opportunity to showcase the incredible work happening across our state. Our official call for abstracts is now open with a submission deadline of September 21, 2026. I strongly encourage you, as well as your residents and fellows, to submit your latest research, challenging cases, and clinical advancements. This is your chance to shape the scientific discourse of our community and gain well-deserved recognition among your peers.

An organization is only as strong as its membership. I invite each of you to get more deeply involved in the society this year. Whether by joining a committee, mentoring a young surgeon, or participating in our advocacy efforts, your unique voice and active engagement are what propel CSPS forward. 

Finally, please mark your calendars for our premier event of the year. Our CSPS Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 9-11, 2027, at the historic Claremont Resort & Club in Berkeley, California. The educational program is already nearly finalized, covering all subspecialty areas of plastic surgery to ensure an enriching experience for every attendee.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our specialty. I look forward to reviewing your abstract submissions and seeing you all in Berkeley this April.

Warm regards,

 Scott L. Hansen, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Professor and Chief, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Stephen J. Mathes Endowed Chair
Program Director, Plastic Surgery Residency
Chief, Hand and Microvascular Surgery
University of California, San Francisco
Director, UCSF Microsurgery Fellowship

CSPS Advocacy Update: September, 2026

The California Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS) continues to monitor new bills and regulations proposed in Sacramento. With the assistance of our lobbyist, Tim Madden, the Legislative Committee reviews the proposed bills and regulations that specifically affect our practice of Plastic Surgery, and the safety of our patients. Once it is determined whether CSPS supports or opposes a Bill or regulation, we then work directly with the legislator’s office authoring the bill, as well as relevant policy committees or with the Department proposing the regulation to provide input on our support or opposition. We also coordinate with the CMA and other physician groups to leverage our positions for the benefit of our members.

This year both the Physical Therapists and the Naturopaths were intent on expanding their scope of practice. Naturopaths wanted the right to perform minor surgical procedures, without any training or experience. Our Opposition helped to stop these bills from advancing this year, but there will be a new session in 2027, and we will continue to stay vigilant of this matter. The California Nurses Association once again tried to pass legislation for a California Single-Payer Health System, and it was once again defeated.

Our Legislative Committee is currently working on improving the regulation of Med Spas. There has been an uptick in unqualified health professionals (Nurses, Aestheticians, Medical Assistants, etc.) and even laypeople opening Spas and providing Botulinum toxin injections, Hyaluronic Acid filler injections, High Frequency Ultrasound, Radiofrequency, and laser treatments. They often use material illegally imported from Asia. There are instances of Nurse Practitioners running Med Spas without the required physician oversight. The Medical Board investigates such illegal activity and stops them once the MBC becomes aware of them. We ask our members to please report on any nefarious activity you know of in your community. CSPS is in consultation with the CMA, as well as CalDerm and the California Facial Plastic Surgeons, to develop protocols to better regulate Med Spas. We are hoping to have a legislative proposal ready to be submitted this coming year.

We have also been working on improving access to lymphatic reconstruction. The procedures involved are no longer considered “experimental”, but some health plans continue to deny coverage. We have found that when Denials are appealed to the Department of Managed Health Care for reevaluation, 80% of them are overturned. Two health plans, Cigna and Blue Shield, do cover lymphatic reconstruction. We are working with the Department of Managed Health Care to inform all health plans active in California that these necessary surgeries must be covered. We thank CSPS member Phil Brazio MD for bringing this problem to our attention and working with us towards a solution.

From the CSPS PAC
Terry Zimmerman, MD

The California Society of Plastic Surgeons Political Action Committee (CSPS PAC) works in conjunction with the CSPS Legislative Committee and CSPS Lobbyist to ensure that our message is being heard by the appropriate State legislators. By supporting legislators like minded with our causes in both the State Senate and the State Assembly we can further our advocative efforts. These efforts benefit all California plastic surgeons so contributions from all surgeons towards this effort is highly recommended.

Donate to the PAC today!

Has Plastic Surgery Robotics Arrived?
Jack Bruner, MD

Have you heard of the single-port robotic systems (de Vinci, ARTAS, Symani). Well, it seems that they have arrived and already have potentially changed the future of some areas of our specialty. Robot-assisted surgery has already begun to gradually show broad applications in plastic surgery and other surgical specialties. The results so far show that it offers enhanced precision and stability as compared with conventional techniques. Current reviews of robotic surgeries summarize the technological evolution, clinical applications, and future perspectives of these robotic systems in our specialty. Currently, robotic surgical platforms for cosmetic surgery are being developed in several countries that are achieving similar acceptable to excellent results. Specifically, the single-port robotic surgical systems seem to have ushered in a new era of aesthetic surgery. Accompanying this new robotic device is the arrival of AI that may enhance preoperative planning that could possibly enable faster and more accurate surgery. Is this the beginning of a new surgical approach that will domineer part of the future of our surgical specialty? We shall soon see!