DR. RENATO SALTZ

“The curve of life was a wake-up call,” says plastic surgeon Dr. Renato Saltz, founder of Saltz Plastic Surgery & Spa Vitoria. “It’s a reminder that, for me, fulfillment isn’t found in reaching the top — or in collecting cars, airplanes, or homes — but in finding meaning and purpose in your life.”

He shared this truth in one of the most memorable moments of his career. 

Dr. Saltz had been invited to deliver the distinguished Ohmori Lecture at the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. Yet rather than speak of surgical techniques or achievements, he stepped onto the stage and began with a single image: 

The curve of life. 

A reflective hush fell over the audience of more than 2,000 surgeons.

Tracing its arc — from birth, to medical school, to the summit of career success — he then paused. What followed, he explained, was a risk they all faced: a gradual slide into stagnation, crisis, or even death, when comfort and materialism replaced true fulfillment.

And then he offered a way forward — The Tripod of Fulfillment — the three pillars that have guided his life’s work: patients, teaching, and service.

“At an early age, I learned the value of hard work, service to community, and how to treat people with utmost respect,” he reflects. “That never left me.”

Long before he stood on a global stage, a young Renato helped his father and mother load their truck with blankets and clothing from Casa Vitoria, the family’s small department store in Uruguaiana, South Brazil, where he worked each day while going to school.

It was winter. The Uruguay River had flooded again, swallowing the homes along its margins. So father and son headed out to deliver the supplies to families in need.

In high school, Renato launched a photography business. When his uncle — a plastic surgeon — asked him to photograph patients in the operating room, a new world opened. With his camera held steady on its tripod, his love of art, anatomy, and making a meaningful impact, came into focus.

He would become a plastic surgeon — bringing the tripod with him as his framework for fulfillment, which begins with patient care.

“My satisfaction comes from happy patients,” says Dr. Saltz. “And that begins with trust.”

A trust built by listening, educating, and responding with honesty.

“What we provide as plastic surgeons is elective,” he imparts. “We must adapt to each patient’s emotional and physical place in life. We must make sure they understand their options and the recovery roadmap, because informed patients heal faster and feel empowered throughout the process.”

“Every decision starts with the question: Will this keep my patient out of harm’s way?” says Dr. Saltz. “Trends and innovation never outrank well-being. If we don’t pay attention to safety — we risk destroying a person’s life.”

“Our team knows every patient by name, and we’re reachable 24/7 to answer any concerns,” he adds. “Because we believe in treating every patient with the same warmth, dignity and attentiveness you’d expect from your own family.”

And it is through teaching, that Dr. Saltz carries patient care forward.

From teaching at universities and welcoming residents into his practice, to leading nationally and globally as former president of both the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) — Dr. Saltz has remained committed to shaping future generations.

“It’s so rewarding to mentor young surgeons,” he shares. “Not only do they learn anatomy and technique, and how to run a practice, but you can also instill how important it is to never lose sight of the patient.” 

Dr. Saltz also founded the American-Brazilian Aesthetic Meeting (ABAM), an annual gathering in Park City where fellow plastic surgeons, colleagues from other medical specialties, and residents and fellows come together to exchange knowledge, share innovation, and discuss the socioeconomic realities of their practice.

ABAM is also a meeting with a mission — all profits go directly to his Image Reborn Foundation. Founded in 1998, Image Reborn provides no-cost renewal retreats for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer, supporting them in living full, meaningful lives.

And for Dr. Saltz, service through Image Reborn brings his tripod, full circle.

The idea for the Foundation crystallized when one of his longtime clinical nurses was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She had symmetry. Yet she was sinking into depression — something deeper, something essential, was still missing.

Then she attended a fly fishing retreat — and returned with steadfast resilience. “That retreat helped renew her spirit,” says Dr. Saltz.

Together, they founded Image Reborn, which now offers nearly 40 retreats each year and has served close to 5,000 women.

“There’s something powerful that happens when the women gather,” says Dr. Saltz. “You share so much of yourselves, and give each other strength.”

He then speaks of Gail — a longtime donor who later became a retreat guest after developing Stage 4 breast cancer — filling her journal with thoughts on the spiritual peace the retreats had given her. Gail embodied how compassion and community can help unfold the final chapter of life.

“Witnessing the healing that takes place over one weekend retreat fills my soul for a year,” says Dr. Saltz. “I’ve received so much more than I could ever give.”

He smiles. 

“As surgeons, we are entrusted with the care of other human beings — and that’s a gift,” he adds. “We must serve our patients, teach and give generously. Because if we can touch a life through our work — that’s the ultimate fulfillment.”