In Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Renato Saltz has spent more than four decades combining precise surgical innovation and with heartfelt community service. Dr. Saltz is a past president of ISAPS and The Aesthetic Society, founder of the American-Brazilian Aesthetic Meeting (ABAM), and a pioneer in endoscopic facial surgery. He founded Saltz Plastic Surgery and Saltz Spa Vitoria and later launched the Image Reborn Foundation, which has provided thousands of breast cancer survivors with no-cost healing retreats.
In this interview, Dr. Saltz shares how his deep empathy and passion for aesthetic medicine drive his “patients for life” philosophy.
Interviewer:
What initially drew you to plastic and reconstructive surgery, and how did your vision evolve into creating Saltz Plastic Surgery and Spa Vitoria?
Dr. Saltz:
I discovered early, while still in high school in Brazil, that plastic surgery perfectly combined my love of art, anatomy, and the meaningful impact on patients. Determined to master both reconstructive and aesthetic techniques, I trained in general surgery at the University of Miami and completed my plastic surgery training at the University of Alabama. Academic life was rewarding, yet by 2002, I saw the specialty expanding beyond the operating room. To meet the need for comprehensive care in my area, I established the Intermountain West’s first medical spa. This model enables my team and me to deliver a full spectrum of treatments—from advanced laser therapies to plastic surgery.
Interviewer:
How do you consider the whole person when shaping treatment plans through your ‘patients for life’ approach?
Dr. Saltz:
At our practice, we design results-focused treatment plans that may include education, non-surgical treatments, and surgery—each integrated thoughtfully based on the patient’s goals and lifestyle. That interdisciplinary model enables us to personalize care for longevity and safety, whether a patient is in their mid-20s, considering preventive skincare, or in their mid-50s seeking a full facelift. The philosophy is integral to our culture: every team member greets patients by name, collaborates on after-care calls, and stays reachable 24/7. Our goal is to earn “patients for life” by blending advanced techniques with the empathy you’d expect from family.
Interviewer:
Your core values of hard work, discipline, respect, and outstanding customer service guide your practice. How would you summarize your treatment philosophy in a few core principles?
Dr. Saltz:
Our approach rests on four interconnected pillars. First is safety: every decision starts with the question, “Will this keep my patient out of harm’s way?”—trends never outrank well-being. Second is education: I make sure each person truly understands their options and recovery roadmap, because informed patients heal faster and feel empowered throughout the process. Third is access: anxiety doesn’t follow clinic hours, so my team and I are reachable 24/7 by text or phone to troubleshoot concerns in real time. Fourth is service: from greeting patients by name at the front desk to checking in years after surgery, we strive to treat everyone with the warmth and attentiveness you’d expect from your own family.
When those pillars work together, aesthetics become just one part of a broader mission: building lifelong relationships founded on trust, transparency, and genuine care.
Interviewer:
Can you share a patient experience that deeply impacted you and shaped your approach to care?
Dr. Saltz:
Gail Benjamin’s story stays with me. She and her husband, Arthur E. Benjamin, were loyal donors to Image Reborn long before cancer touched their household. When Gail herself developed an aggressive tumor, she attended multiple retreats. In her final days, she kept a diary, nearly half of whose pages reflected on how the retreats had spiritually prepared her for what lay ahead. After she passed away, Arthur became chair of our advisory board and continues to fund scholarships in her honor. Gail taught me that no amount of wealth or technical skill shields a family from cancer’s toll, but compassion and community can transform the journey.
Interviewer:
How does founding Image Reborn complement your aesthetic philosophy, and what has it taught you about the link between physical transformation and emotional healing?
Dr. Saltz:
The Image Reborn Foundation applies that same whole-person philosophy outside the clinic walls. Every three-day retreat is completely free, so financial concerns never get in the way of the healing process. What started in Park City has now served more than 4,000 breast cancer survivors across five states and Puerto Rico, hosting roughly 40 retreats each year with plans to expand to Italy.
“I can’t fully explain the bonding, but you share so much of your souls, and give each other strength.” – Attendee
Each weekend is tailored to its guests. Stage IV gatherings include chaplains and on-site oxygen; young-survivor camps cover fertility issues; Spanish-language, adventure, and Deaf-community sessions ensure that every woman finds her tribe. Sunrise yoga, chef-prepared meals, and group counseling quickly foster a sense of sisterhood, and many return as volunteers to welcome newcomers or cook breakfast the following year. Seeing strangers arrive on Friday and depart on Sunday as lifelong advocates reminds me daily that aesthetic medicine is about restoring spirit as much as silhouette.
“Witnessing the profound transformation that takes place in the survivors
over the course of just one weekend fills my spirit for a year. I received
so much more in return than I could ever hope to give. I feel honored to
have had the privilege of serving as a volunteer for Image Reborn.” – Attendee
One of the retreats’ benefactors is the American-Brazilian Aesthetic Meeting (ABAM), a ski-themed aesthetic conference structured as a 501(c)(3) organization. ABAM donates 100 percent of its post-expense profits directly to Image Reborn. Held annually in Park City, Utah, ABAM is a collaboration between leading U.S. and Brazilian plastic surgeons, created to foster the exchange of advanced surgical techniques, cultural perspectives, and emerging technologies.
Interviewer:
What inspired your involvement with 4S Summit, and how does it reflect your broader mission to elevate aesthetic medicine?
Dr. Saltz:
After seeing the impact Terri Ross and Izhak Musli’s APX training had on my own practice in 2021, I invited them to join me in creating 4S Summit. Our goal was straightforward: give owners, injectors, aestheticians, managers, and marketing leads one focused weekend to master the skills that 15-minute conference talks never cover. That collaboration, anchored in the idea of “full aesthetic success,” not just financial gain, became the blueprint for 4S Summit.
Today, the 4S Summit runs from early Friday through Sunday afternoon, pairing high-energy keynotes with parallel tracks on finance, marketing, staff culture, safety, and holistic wellness. The result is a sustainable, patient-first model where strong internal systems drive safety, team engagement, and long-term practice success.
Interviewer:
What key takeaways do you hope Ailm Atelier readers will gain from your story?
Dr. Saltz:
Fulfillment, for me, rests on a tripod of community service, lifelong teaching, and dedicated patient care. When surgeons balance those legs, success follows naturally, and ego stays in check. I urge colleagues to find their tripod and serve something bigger than the operating room; the rewards come back tenfold.
Whether mentoring residents, skiing with ABAM attendees, or holding hands at a survivor’s retreat, I’ve learned that transformative medicine happens when skill meets heart. My hope is that readers, both patients and physicians, feel inspired to pursue excellence while uplifting those around them.
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