International Meeting of MSPRS in Mongolia 2019

 International Meeting of MSPRS in Mongolia 2019

This is an original article written by Dr. Minhee Ryu from RNWOOD Plastic Surgery in Seoul, South Korea, translated in English for convenience: 

Dr. Minhee Ryu participated as a faculty member at the 3rd International Annual Meeting of the Mongolian Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (MSPRS) in Ulaanbaatar in September 2019. The conference marked the society’s first international event, showcasing Mongolia’s growing academic and surgical community. Dr. Ryu presented on “Asian Facelift and Surgical Anatomy” and engaged with colleagues from several countries, emphasizing the society’s enthusiasm and global outlook. Beyond the academic exchange, the visit included cultural experiences across Mongolia’s vast landscapes, reflecting both professional collaboration and the spirit of friendship that defines international medical exchange.

Please enjoy the full article below:

The 3rd International Annual Meeting of the Mongolian Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (MSPRS) was held in Ulaanbaatar on September 7, 2019. I was invited to participate as a faculty member. When I received the lecture request a few months ago, I accepted it without hesitation. I was grateful they reached out to someone as inexperienced as me, and I wanted to contribute in any way I could to an association that had just begun to take its first steps.

Though this was their third official academic meeting, it was their first as an international conference. You could feel how much effort and preparation had gone into it, as well as the sense of nervous anticipation. The event began with a welcoming speech from the conference president, followed by congratulatory remarks from a government official of the Ministry of Health. Then came a presentation by Dr. Oyun Namjil, considered the pioneer of plastic surgery in Mongolia. After studying in Cuba, Russia, and the United States, she returned to her homeland and planted the first seeds of plastic surgery there. Microsurgery and various other surgical procedures all began with her. Her life itself could be said to embody the history of plastic surgery in Mongolia.

I gave a presentation on "Asian Facelift and Surgical Anatomy," which was followed by some discussion. Among them, the questions and comments from Dr. Baya Huyag, who was chairing the session, stood out as particularly insightful. He had worked as a physician in Switzerland for over 20 years and even acquired citizenship there, but he returned to Mongolia to contribute to its development and serve his home country. We had an honest conversation during the dinner banquet, where he also expressed some frustration over the inappropriate behavior of certain Korean doctors.

​Alongside Mongolian doctors, participants from six other countries — Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Portugal, and Japan — attended the conference. As it was their first time hosting an international meeting, there was some visible nervousness, but overall, everything proceeded smoothly. I was particularly impressed by the harmony between the senior doctors, who were wholeheartedly planting seeds with the knowledge and experience they had gained abroad, and the juniors, whose eyes sparkled with the determination to absorb everything. The energy of this young society and its bright future were palpable.

What stood out even more was the number of doctors who, in addition to their native language, were fluent in Chinese, English, and Russian. During Q&A sessions and discussions, they held their own effortlessly against global trends. I really admire people who think alike; while their talent is exceptional, you can feel the intense effort and passion that lies beneath it.

During the 4-day conference, I spent most of my time with two friends: Dr. Adrian Ooi, a professor at Singapore General Hospital and the conference president, and Dr. Jeremy Sun, a rising star in the field. They attended as representatives of the Singapore Society of Plastic Surgery, signed an MOU with the Mongolian society, and delivered outstanding performances as lecturers and session chairs.

Singapore has around 70 board-certified plastic surgeons. While the number is small, each of them possesses exceptional skills. English and Chinese are a given, and most have trained abroad — in the UK, the US, Australia, or Taiwan.

Adrian is incredibly charismatic and someone with much to learn from, so I invited him to join our Beijing study group. His academic and surgical breadth and depth are truly impressive. Plastic surgery is generally divided into reconstructive and aesthetic fields, and within reconstructive surgery, there are further sub-specialties such as craniofacial, head & neck, breast, and microsurgery.

Most people start broad and gradually narrow their focus to go deeper, as it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the ever-evolving knowledge and skills in every area due to limited time and energy. But Adrian is different; he manages to cover nearly the entire spectrum of both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, all while staying at the forefront of academic advancement.

He freely incorporates the latest techniques in craniofacial and microsurgery, as well as robotic surgery, and consistently publishes high-quality papers and textbooks with world-renowned experts. It’s nothing short of remarkable.

I recently decided it was time to start taking better care of my fitness, and the ones who truly inspired me were Dr. Adrian Ooi and Dr. Yen-Chou Chen from Taiwan. I spent a few days with them during a conference in Taiwan last year and was genuinely impressed by their energy. Their mental and physical vitality clearly stem from a deep commitment to self-discipline and personal wellness, and I found that incredibly admirable.

They pursue excellence in their respective fields while consistently challenging themselves through daily training and new goals—completing the Boston Marathon full course being just one of many examples. Their active, adventurous approach to life gave me a fresh perspective. On top of that, we connected over music—they play in a band, and we bonded over our shared love for guitar and similar musical tastes.

When we talked about the future, we realized we also shared a similar vision from a business standpoint. Next month, we’ll be working together again in Australia and Singapore, and it looks like we’ll be joining forces at conferences in Seoul and Manila this November as well. It’s been a privilege to learn from and grow alongside these gentlemen who embody both academic excellence and true class.

The day after the conference was reserved for sightseeing, and we kicked off the city tour early in the morning. We visited a temple with a massive Buddha statue, stopped by the Mongolian Museum of Natural History, and even did some cashmere shopping—understandable, as with Mongolia’s vast grasslands, livestock and cashmere products seem to be a big part of local culture.

We had hot pot for lunch, followed by a quick coffee break before heading to the national park where Terelj is located. The roads and infrastructure along the way seemed somewhat underdeveloped, but that added to the sense of adventure. One of the highlights was spending time at the site of the famous Genghis Khan equestrian statue—it was a fun and memorable experience.

The endless grasslands, dotted with freely grazing herds of sheep, cattle, and horses, felt incredibly peaceful. Watching them cross the roads without a care in the world, it was clear—we were in their territory. One of the most memorable local experiences was trying the traditional fermented mare’s milk. It had a unique, tangy, and nutty flavor—something between the nostalgia of Korean fermented pastes and the character of European cheeses. Each household makes it a little differently, and the taste can be surprisingly addictive.

We stopped by a countryside home for a tasting session, and after sampling a few, we all agreed it was excellent. We bought plenty to share and enjoy together—it was a real highlight of the trip.

        One of the most memorable parts of the day was our guide, a truly impressive individual. He’s currently a fourth-year medical student and fluent in five languages: his native tongue, Russian, Polish, German, and English. He explained that he received a Russian education as a child and spent several years living in Poland.

I was curious as to how he learned English, so I asked. His answer? Korean dramas! I was confused at first, but he explained that he used the English subtitles while watching them to pick up the language. I couldn't help but laugh, and honestly, feel a little defeated. Here I am struggling to master just one foreign language, while he casually speaks five and jokes about what to learn next.

He’s still deciding on a medical specialty, but he mentioned he’s likely to do his training in Australia. Not for any particular reason—he just figured, since he’s lived in both Asia and Europe, it’s time to explore another continent. Apparently, the Mongolian government offers good support for students studying abroad, which helps make this possible. It’s encounters like these that remind me just how many remarkable people are out there.

To wrap up the tour, we moved into a ger, the traditional Mongolian dwelling on the open grasslands. Over dinner, I took a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to the friends who had taken such good care of us throughout the trip. Parting was bittersweet, and we exchanged deep hugs in place of words.

That night, I shared a ger with two friends from Singapore and one from Portugal. Under a sky full of stars, surrounded by the vast quiet of the steppe, it was a night to remember. A meaningful gift and a memory I’ll truly cherish.

Academic conferences are meant to be a space where we share, learn, and grow together through presentations and discussions around common themes. At the same time, they offer a valuable opportunity to experience the local culture and connect on a more personal, human level.

I truly applaud the enthusiastic spirit of the Mongolian Society of Plastic Surgery and sincerely wish them continued growth and success in the years to come.

​

Dr. Minhee Ryu, M.D.

RNWOOD Plastic Surgery

Seoul, South Korea

(Source: https://blog.naver.com/rejuvemaster/221706560626 )

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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