Dr. Evelyn Alfonso, speaker in the surgical session at the 10th SOCHIMCE International Congress

October 17, 2026 · By Dr. Evelyn Alfonso

From October 9 to 11, 2025, Santiago hosted the 10th SOCHIMCE International Congress, organized by the Chilean Society of Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine, the meeting that brings together specialists in aesthetic surgery and medicine from across the country.

Dr. Evelyn Alfonso, medical director of Clínica Lumos in Viña del Mar, took part as a speaker in the surgical session of the congress, in the segment dedicated to operative techniques. There she presented her surgical technique alongside other professionals in the field, before colleagues and specialists from all over Chile.

Beyond the news, we want to use this space to tell you why participation in scientific congresses matters to you as a patient, what you should look at when evaluating the technique and safety of a procedure, and how all this translates into care at Clínica Lumos. The idea is to give you concrete tools to make an informed decision, whether with us or elsewhere.

Sharing technique with other specialists

Presenting at a scientific congress means opening one’s own way of operating to the scrutiny of other surgeons: indications, procedure steps, results and lessons learned. For a patient, it is a sign that their doctor stays in touch with the scientific community and submits their work to peer review.

Every surgery is more than a technique: it is art, precision and a commitment to transforming lives. Being able to share that vision with colleagues and specialists from all over Chile is an experience that inspires and reaffirms the purpose that drives us every day.

Dr. Evelyn Alfonso

Preparing a presentation forces you to organize your clinical experience, rigorously review what you do and why, and be willing to receive questions and opinions from colleagues. That review exercise, repeated over time, is part of what keeps medical practice up to date.

What is an aesthetic surgery and medicine congress

A scientific congress is a space where specialists in a field present techniques, experiences and cases, discuss advances and share safety criteria. It is usually organized into thematic sessions —for example, a surgical session dedicated to operative techniques— where different speakers show how they work.

For aesthetic medicine, these events are especially important. It is a field with high demand, where new technologies constantly appear and where it is not always easy for patients to distinguish between what is backed by medical practice and what is just marketing. Specialists meeting to discuss openly helps bring order to that landscape.

Why continuing education matters to you

Surgical techniques evolve. In hair transplant, for example, the way follicles are extracted, hairline design and donor area management have been refined, always with the goal of achieving more natural results and safer processes. The same is true in body surgery, with technologies such as LipoVaser and LipoLaser.

A doctor who keeps continuously up to date has more tools to:

• Choose the right technique for each patient, rather than applying the same recipe to everyone.
• Recognize when not to operate, because the case requires a different type of treatment.
• Incorporate safety improvements in preparation, the procedure and the post-operative period.
• Explain clearly to you what can be expected and what the limits of each procedure are.

Training and scientific societies

Besides being a member of the Chilean Society of Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine, Dr. Alfonso is a member of FUE Europe and the Società Italiana di Tricologia, and trained in Barcelona (EIMEC) in the use of LipoLaser and Vaser technologies. Learn more in Why choose Clínica Lumos.

In hair restoration, her FUE training includes Turkey, Italy and Barcelona. That experience at different centers has allowed her to learn different schools of practice. Her participation in congresses continues: she was invited as a speaker at the Santiago Hair Restoration Workshop 2026, as we report in this article. You can learn more about her career at Dr. Evelyn Alfonso.

What to look for when evaluating your surgeon’s technique

You do not need to be a doctor to ask good questions. When choosing where to have surgery, whether a hair transplant or body surgery, we recommend checking:

• Who evaluates you and who operates on you: ideally, the same person who defines your diagnosis is the one who leads the procedure.
• Specific training in the procedure you are interested in.
• Health authorization of the operating room where the surgery will be performed.
• Complete prior evaluation, with a diagnosis and tests when appropriate, not just a quote.
• Real results from patients and verifiable reviews.
• Follow-up after surgery and a clear channel for your questions.

At Clínica Lumos, Dr. Alfonso evaluates you personally and leads every procedure, which is performed in an operating room authorized by the SEREMI de Salud. Pre-operative tests can be done at the clinic itself, and during treatment you have direct contact via WhatsApp.

How all this translates into your care

Training and participation in congresses only make sense if they are reflected in the consultation room and the operating room. At Clínica Lumos, a hair patient’s process usually follows these steps:

• Personal evaluation with Dr. Evelyn Alfonso, reviewing your history, the type and degree of alopecia and your donor area.
• Diagnosis supported by digital trichoscopy, follicular density measurement, a 3D model of the head and AI-assisted trichoscopy.
• Agreed plan with you: if you are a candidate, the design is agreed; if not, another option is proposed.
• Pre-operative tests, which can be done at the clinic itself, if surgery is indicated.
• Procedure in an authorized operating room, led by the doctor.
• Follow-up with post-operative check-ups and direct contact via WhatsApp during treatment.

The details of the evaluation are in trichological evaluation: what tests we do, and if you are wondering whether you are a candidate, see am I a candidate for a hair transplant?.

In body surgery too: safety first

Dr. Alfonso also leads the body department at Clínica Lumos, with procedures such as LipoVaser and LipoLaser, technologies in which she trained in Barcelona (EIMEC). As in hair restoration, these procedures are surgeries: they require a prior evaluation, tests according to each patient, an authorized operating room and clear instructions before and after. Continuing education at aesthetic surgery and medicine congresses covers both fields, and the safety principles are the same.

The FUE technique in a nutshell

Since hair transplant is one of Dr. Alfonso’s main areas of work, it is worth recalling what it involves. In the FUE technique, follicular units are extracted one by one from a donor area —usually the back and sides of the head— and implanted in areas with lower density, respecting the natural direction and angle of the hair. It is an outpatient, minimally invasive procedure, but it is still surgery.

The result is not immediate: it is common for implanted hair to shed temporarily in the first weeks and for growth to become visible over the months. Timelines vary from patient to patient. We explain it in the progression after a hair transplant and in myths and facts about FUE hair transplant.

Red flags when choosing where to have surgery

• There is no medical evaluation before you are given a fixed price.
• It is not clear who will perform the procedure.
• You are promised guaranteed results for any case.
• Tests, risks and aftercare are not mentioned.
• You do not know where you will be operated on or whether the facility is authorized.

How to prepare for your evaluation

• Write down your questions, including the ones you read online or heard from acquaintances.
• Tell your story: when you first noticed the problem, what treatments you have tried and what medications you take.
• If it is a hair consultation, come with clean hair and no styling products; for the first consultation you do not need any prior tests.
• Ask about the complete plan: what happens before, during and after the procedure, and what follow-up will look like.

A good evaluation may also conclude that surgery is not the right choice today, and that is part of responsible care.

Frequently asked questions

What is SOCHIMCE?

It is the Chilean Society of Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine, which organizes the international congress that brings together specialists in this field from across the country. Dr. Alfonso is a member of this society.

Why is it important for a doctor to present at congresses?

Because it means sharing their way of working with other specialists and submitting it to their analysis. It is a sign of contact with the scientific community and of continuous updating.

Does taking part in a congress guarantee a good result?

No. No single factor guarantees a result, and results vary from patient to patient. Continuing education is one more element, along with a good evaluation, an authorized facility and proper follow-up.

What procedures does Dr. Alfonso perform at Clínica Lumos?

In hair restoration, FUE hair transplant, beard and eyebrow implants and the Hair Protocol; in body treatments, procedures such as LipoVaser and LipoLaser.

Can I have my first evaluation if I live outside Viña del Mar?

Yes. The clinic is in Viña del Mar, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Santiago, and the first evaluation can be done by teleconsultation. More information in where we are.

In summary

Dr. Evelyn Alfonso’s participation as a speaker in the surgical session of the 10th SOCHIMCE International Congress, in October 2025, reflects her commitment to continuous updating and to sharing her technique with other specialists. For you as a patient, what matters is that this training translates into a personal evaluation, a clear diagnosis, surgery in an authorized operating room and close follow-up. See real patient results and, if you would like to discuss your case, book your evaluation.

Relive her participation in the congress on our Instagram.

This information is educational and does not replace a medical evaluation. Results vary from patient to patient.

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