A Major Milestone from Guangzhou to Istanbul 2027

Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz at the 2nd International Congress of Chest Wall Surgery (ICWSO) • Guangzhou, 2026

The first international presentation of an innovative surgical technique developed in Türkiye at a global scientific congress represents far more than a conference lecture. It reflects years of experience, determination, scientific innovation, and the successful transformation of a pioneering idea into measurable clinical outcomes recognized by the international medical community.

The Ribella Procedure, developed by Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz, was presented for the first time on an international scientific platform at the 2nd International Congress of Chest Wall Surgery (ICWSO) held in Guangzhou, China.

The congress brought together leading chest wall surgeons from China, Japan, the United States, Russia, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and many other countries, all specializing in chest wall deformities. Among the scientific sessions, the Ribella Procedure emerged as one of the most discussed and highly anticipated innovations of the meeting.

The Ribella Procedure Performed Outside Türkiye for the First Time

The first major milestone in Ribella’s international journey occurred not in the lecture hall, but in the operating room.

As part of the congress’s official educational program, Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz performed the Ribella Procedure outside Türkiye for the very first time, in Guangzhou, China. During the live surgery, attended by international participants, every stage of the procedure—including surgical planning, controlled rib remodeling, and patient-specific stabilization—was demonstrated in real time.

For the first time, chest wall surgeons from around the world had the opportunity to evaluate Ribella not only through theoretical explanations or postoperative photographs, but by observing the complete procedure in a live operating room environment.

The performance of a surgical innovation developed in Türkiye by its creator in another country, while sharing the technique directly with international colleagues, marked a historic milestone for the Ribella Procedure. The successful live operation significantly increased interest in the technique even before its formal scientific presentation.

First Clinical Series of 70 Patients Presented with Scientific Data

During the main scientific program, Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz presented the clinical outcomes of the first 70 patients treated with the Ribella Procedure.

One of the presentation’s most distinctive aspects was that the results were not limited to before-and-after photographs. Instead, objective anatomical improvements were demonstrated using measurable parameters such as rib angle, trunk contour, and the Masa Curve Angle, providing quantitative evidence of surgical correction.

Patient selection, three-dimensional surgical planning, operative technique, rib remodeling principles, personalized postoperative stabilization, and clinical outcomes were presented within a comprehensive scientific framework.

This approach positioned the Ribella Procedure not merely as an aesthetic intervention but as a scientifically measurable surgical technique suitable for objective clinical evaluation and international academic discussion.

Following the presentation, surgeons from multiple countries raised numerous questions regarding patient selection, surgical details, stabilization methods, and clinical outcomes, clearly demonstrating the growing international interest in the Ribella Procedure within the global chest wall surgery community.

Rather than representing the conclusion of Ribella’s scientific development, this presentation marked the beginning of a new phase that will continue through larger patient series, long-term follow-up studies, and international peer-reviewed publications.

One of the Congress’s Standout Participants: Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz

The scientific program in Guangzhou represented much more than the international introduction of the Ribella Procedure for Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz.

During the intensive three-day educational program, a total of 97 surgical procedures were performed. Dr. Ersöz participated throughout the entire educational and observational program and served as an operating surgeon in 15 live surgical procedures.

In recognition of his outstanding performance during live surgeries, rapid mastery of new techniques, and exceptional participation throughout the educational program, he received the Best Trainee Award.

However, the significance of his achievements in Guangzhou extended well beyond this distinction. Performing the first Ribella Procedure outside Türkiye, presenting the first clinical series of 70 patients with objective scientific data, and establishing strong academic collaboration with surgeons from around the world made Dr. Ersöz one of the most prominent participants of the congress.

Throughout this process, Türkiye was represented not merely as a participating country but as a center contributing innovative surgical techniques and meaningful scientific advancements to the field of chest wall surgery.

Appointment to the ICWSO Executive Board

Another important decision announced during the congress was the election of Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz to the ICWSO Executive Board.

This appointment reflected not only his outstanding performance in Guangzhou but also the international recognition of his years of work in pectus deformities, rib anomalies, advanced chest wall surgery, and patient-specific surgical planning.

As an Executive Board member, Dr. Ersöz will contribute to shaping the future scientific and educational activities of ICWSO.

Yet the most significant announcement from Guangzhou was still to come.

ICWSO 2027 Will Be Held in Istanbul

By decision of the ICWSO Executive Board, the 3rd International Congress of Chest Wall Surgery will be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, in 2027, with Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz serving as Congress President and Host.

Founded in Guangzhou, China, in 2024 by Prof. Wenlin Wang, ICWSO will organize its first congress outside China with the Istanbul 2027 meeting. Consequently, Istanbul will represent not only the organization’s third congress but also the first major milestone in its global expansion.

Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Istanbul offers an ideal location that will facilitate participation from physicians across Europe, the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, and the Americas.

The congress aims to bring together Türkiye’s leading thoracic surgeons with international experts, promote the exchange of surgical experience, encourage discussion among different surgical schools, and further expand ICWSO’s global scientific network.

The successful organization of Istanbul 2027 is expected to establish a model for future ICWSO congresses in different regions of the world.

For this reason, Dr. Ersöz’s responsibility extends far beyond hosting a scientific meeting; he will play a central role in expanding an international scientific organization founded in China to a truly global platform.

Wang, Wenlin, and Wung Procedures to Be Introduced in Türkiye

The achievements of the Guangzhou congress were not limited to the Ribella Procedure.

Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz had the opportunity to study and perform the Wang, Wenlin, and Wung procedures, developed by ICWSO founder Prof. Wenlin Wang, during live surgical sessions.

Having focused for many years on the Nuss procedure and other chest wall operations, Dr. Ersöz directly observed the advantages these innovative techniques may provide over conventional methods for different types of chest wall deformities.

This experience significantly expanded the available surgical options for patients with pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, pectus arcuatum, and other complex chest wall deformities.

Today, Dr. Ersöz’s surgical portfolio includes:

• Nuss Procedure
• Abramson Procedure
• Ravitch Procedure
• Customized 3D silicone implant reconstruction
• Conventional rib flare correction techniques
• Ribella Procedure
• Wang Procedure
• Wenlin Procedure
• Wung Procedure

The guiding principle is not to apply a single operation to every patient but to select the most appropriate technique according to the deformity type, severity, chest wall anatomy, and each patient’s individual needs.

The experience gained in Guangzhou has further strengthened Dr. Ersöz’s ability to provide highly personalized treatment strategies with a broader range of surgical alternatives.

A Surgical Innovation from Türkiye Reaching the World

For Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz and the Ribella Procedure, ICWSO 2026 Guangzhou represented far more than participation in an international congress.

The first Ribella operation performed outside Türkiye, the presentation of the first 70-patient clinical experience supported by objective scientific data, the remarkable international interest from chest wall surgeons worldwide, the Best Trainee Award, election to the ICWSO Executive Board, and the selection of Istanbul as the host city for ICWSO 2027 all became defining milestones in the same scientific journey.

As the Ribella Procedure was introduced to the world in Guangzhou, Türkiye’s scientific expertise and surgical innovation in chest wall surgery were showcased on the international stage.

The next chapter of this journey will be written in Istanbul.

In 2027, Assoc. Prof. Hasan Ersöz will welcome leading chest wall surgeons from around the world to Istanbul, representing Türkiye not only as the host nation but also as a center of excellence where innovative surgical techniques are developed, diverse surgical approaches converge, and international scientific collaborations flourish.

The story of the Ribella Procedure and ICWSO, introduced to the world in Guangzhou, will continue in Istanbul in 2027.