Faculty in MAFAC: Melbourne University 2012
MAFAC Faculty 2012 in Melbourne University
This is an original article written by Dr. Minhee Ryu from RNWOOD Plastic Surgery in Seoul, South Korea, translated in English for convenience:
The Melbourne Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC), led by Dr. Bryan Mendelson and supported by the Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, is an annual program at Melbourne University that provides in-depth study of facial anatomy and facelift techniques through lectures and cadaver dissections. Esteemed surgeons including Dr. Mendelson, Dr. Ian Taylor, and Dr. Chin-Ho Wong guided participants in exploring the anatomical foundations of facial aging and rejuvenation. The course emphasized the importance of understanding retaining ligaments, SMAS, and lymphatic anatomy for achieving safe, effective, and lasting facelift outcomes.
Dr. Minhee Ryu notes that MAFAC offered an invaluable opportunity to deepen anatomical insight, refine surgical concepts, and build meaningful connections with global leaders in facial rejuvenation surgery.
Please enjoy the full article below:
Now in its 4th year, the MAFAC (Melbourne Advanced Facial Anatomy Course) is a program that focuses on studying facial anatomy related to wrinkle-reducing surgery in depth. It is led by Dr. Bryan Mendelson, a globally renowned expert in facial aging and wrinkle surgery. With support from ASAPS (Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), it is held annually at Melbourne University. Around 30 plastic surgeons from around the world participate each year. I was able to attend thanks to a recommendation from Dr. Mendelson’s clinic, where I trained in facial surgery in 2011.
With the recent advancements in facial anatomy, the methods of facelift surgery have also diversified. However, it’s not easy to grasp these methods in the operating room alone. In particular, in facelift surgery (facial rejuvenation), it is important to carefully detach the retaining ligaments that connect the superficial tissue and deeper structures in order to lift sagging facial tissue. But to perform such procedures safely, in-depth anatomical knowledge and extensive surgical experience related to facial aging are essential.
Dr. Mendelson created this workshop to help surgeons study facial anatomy in detail and perform facelift surgeries safely and effectively through actual dissections and anatomical learning.
The main participants of this gathering included Dr. Bryan Mendelson, Dr. Ian Taylor, Dr. Norman Eisenberg, Dr. Chris Coombs, Dr. Justin O’Brien, Dr. Chin-Ho Wong, and Dr. Mark Ashton. Together, they led in-depth discussions on facial anatomy and various facelift techniques.
Dr. Mendelson is recognized as one of the world’s top authorities in facial anatomy related to facelift surgery. He has proposed detailed and profound theories on facial aging and reconstructive procedures, gaining wide respect from plastic surgeons and physicians around the globe. In particular, his anatomical theories on the individual structural layers of the face are now being added to new textbooks and are offering more precise standards for facelift procedures. Through continuous research and surgeries, he is shedding light on new concepts and techniques. His theoretical path is now considered a landmark contribution in the history of facelift surgery.
Dr. Chin-Ho Wong is a plastic surgeon from Singapore with extensive experience, who studied under Dr. Mendelson and has taught many facelift specialists in the U.S. I had remembered reading his impressive papers in the prestigious journal PRS (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery), so I had always wanted to meet him in person. I was able to spend a lot of time with him during the workshop and had many conversations. We shared thoughts on facelift surgery and the key anatomical structures related to facial aging. He asked direct questions and expressed his opinions on various topics, including facelift techniques, midface lifts, and retaining ligaments. Hearing his insights on facelift surgeries in the U.S. gave me many helpful ideas for planning my own future work. His passion for facial aging and facelift surgery was truly inspiring, and I felt he was a fellow traveler walking the same path.
This year’s MAFAC (Melbourne Advanced Facial Anatomy Course) was held from November 8 (Thu) to November 10 (Sat) at Melbourne University in Australia. On November 8 (Thu), there was an orientation session where participants from around the world introduced themselves and exchanged greetings, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
On Friday, November 9, from 8:30 AM for two hours, there was a detailed lecture and discussion on the understanding and characteristics of the human face, with a particular focus on the forehead, temple, and lateral orbital area, and how these relate to facelift surgery.
(Bryan C. Mendelson. Facelift anatomy, SMAS, retaining ligaments and facial spaces. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, SAUNDERS ELSEVIER)
Although other animals have facial structures primarily for basic survival functions (such as vision, hearing, and smell), these structures vary in size depending on the species. Humans, however, developed not just structural but also social functionality, allowing for a wide range of facial expressions and the appearance of “human-like” modern faces.
The author is currently studying facelift surgery and the anatomical structures involved, but found Dr. Mendelson’s explanation of the fundamental design of the human face particularly impressive. His insights provided clarity on long-held questions, and his discussion on the forehead, eyes, temple, and lateral orbital region, as well as the surgical approaches to those areas, was very in-depth.
(Bryan C. Mendelson. Facelift anatomy, SMAS, retaining ligaments and facial spaces. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, SAUNDERS ELSEVIER)
(Bryan Mendelson and Chin-Ho Wong, Anatomy of the Aging Face. Aesthetic Surgery of the Face. Plastic Surgery. SAUNDERS ELSEVIER.)
After finishing the morning lecture, a two-hour cadaver dissection was conducted to identify the anatomical structures related to forehead and glabellar wrinkles. There was also an active discussion on various techniques for brow lift (forehead lift) surgery.
(Bryan Mendelson and Chin-Ho Wong, Anatomy of the Aging Face. Aesthetic Surgery of the Face. Plastic Surgery. SAUNDERS ELSEVIER.)
After the morning dissection session, we had a 30-minute break to eat lunch with prepared sandwiches, and then immediately proceeded to the afternoon lecture.
The afternoon lecture focused on the aging of the lower face and surgical methods to address it. Dr. Mendelson introduced meaningful theories about anatomical structures in the face that can be easily overlooked. The lecture also provided an organized overview of previously presented theories on facial aging and various lower face lifting techniques (face and neck lifting).
(Bryan Mendelson and Chin-Ho Wong, Anatomy of the Aging Face. Aesthetic Surgery of the Face. Plastic Surgery. SAUNDERS ELSEVIER.)
After the afternoon lecture and a short coffee break, a hands-on cadaver dissection on lower facelift (face and neck lift) was conducted.
In 2011, I had the opportunity to train at Dr. Mendelson’s clinic, where I learned various facelift concepts and techniques. I later presented those techniques under the title “High SMAS Facelift with FAST (Finger Assisted Spaces dissection Technique)” at the Spring 2012 Korean Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery international academic conference.
Because of that experience, I was already familiar with Dr. Mendelson’s surgical methods and concepts, which helped me support the other participants during this session.
The first dissection session ended a little after 5 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., we attended a dinner party held at a gentleman’s club in the city called The Savage Club. With a dress code in place, everyone wore lounge suits, gathered first on the first floor for drinks, and then moved to their seats upstairs for dinner.
The elegant and classic atmosphere left a strong impression, and it was a rare opportunity to meet participants from all over the world. I had many meaningful conversations with Dr. Wong in particular.
Currently, under the mentorship of Dr. Mendelson, I was able to connect with many peers — Dr. Daniel from Melbourne, Dr. Mark from Sydney, Dr. Kampee from Thailand, colleagues from Europe, and plastic surgeons from Hong Kong all became friends.
On the morning of the second day, Dr. Ian Taylor gave a lecture on the Principles of vascular and lymphatic anatomy, and there was also a lecture from Dr. Mendelson and Dr. Wong on facial aging and midface rejuvenation.
In particular, Dr. Taylor’s lecture on lymphatic drainage helped organize the understanding of its close relationship to postoperative swelling (edema) in a systematic way. He explained that when the periosteum—the membrane covering the bone in the facial surgical area—is peeled off, the lymphatic drainage becomes less effective, resulting in more swelling and slower recovery.
This made me realize the importance of this anatomical relationship, and I thought I should pay more attention to postoperative edema and recovery moving forward.
(Bryan C. Mendelson. Facelift anatomy, SMAS, retaining ligaments and facial spaces. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, SAUNDERS ELSEVIER)
Dr. Wong’s lecture on the tear trough (tear trough groove) was also very impressive. The tear trough ligament is an anatomical structure that has long been debated and is also believed to be a cause of dark circles. Based on the work of Dr. Mendelson, Dr. Wong clearly demonstrated that the tear trough ligament is the structural cause of the tear trough.
This served as solid evidence for understanding the aging of the under-eye area and how to improve it.
（Chin-Ho Wong. Michael KH Hsieh. Bryan Mendelson. The Tear Trough Ligament: Anatomical Basis for the Tear Trough Deformity. Plastic Reconstr Surg 129: 1392, 2012.)
After that, we had lunch and then performed cadaver dissections focused on the neck and lower face. Unlike the facial area, aging in the neck tends to appear more dramatically with age, so there was great interest among participants in neck rejuvenation surgery and related procedures.
The current dissection revealed a lot about neck aging, and it was meaningful to learn that fat deposits in the lower neck area are often caused by the platysma muscle.
In cases where satisfactory results are not achieved with simple fat removal (liposuction), better outcomes may be expected by correcting the platysma muscle, deep fat, and ligaments. This deepened our understanding of relevant surgical concepts.
(Oscar M. Ramirez. Advanced Considerations Determining Procedure Selection in Cervicoplasty: Part One: Anatomy and Aesthetics. Clin Plastic Surg 35 (2008) 679–690)
Through the program held at Melbourne University, I was able to comprehensively organize the concepts of facelift surgery and facial anatomy. Spending time with global leaders in the field allowed me to learn a great deal about their passion and expertise.
It was also a valuable opportunity to meet other plastic surgeons from around the world who share a common interest in facelift surgery. In particular, I felt very fortunate to have met Dr. Wong, a sincere colleague with whom I connected deeply. I look forward to walking this path together as mutual supporters.
I hope this program will serve as a new milestone in facelift surgery and facial anatomy. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Mendelson for sharing his knowledge and experience so generously through MAFAC (Melbourne Advanced Facial Anatomy Course).
Dr. Minhee Ryu, M.D.
RNWOOD Plastic Surgery
Seoul, South Korea
(Source: https://blog.naver.com/rejuvemaster )
Dr. Minhee Ryu is a World-Class FACELIFT Specialist and Global Educator, who is deeply committed to sharing his facial rejuvenation surgery and anatomy expertise. As a lecturer, tutor, and demonstrator, he is invited to deliver DEEP PLANE FACELIFT presentations and perform live surgery and cadaver dissection Demonstrations in more than 15 countries, including Korea, the US, Europe, Singapore, Australia, Japan, and beyond.
Recognized worldwide for his expertise in DEEP PLANE FACELIFT, Dr. Ryu is a Faculty Member at MAFAC since 2016, a guest Faculty Member at Mayo Clinic since 2023, and an Editorial Board Member for the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal (SCI) since 2019. He is an active member of KSPRS, ASPS, ASAPS, and ISAPS. As a global top-tier leader in Facelifts, Dr. Minhee Ryu makes dedicated contributions to academic advancement and surgical education.
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