Chair and Panel Presentation at PRS KOREA 2019

 Chair and Panel Presentation at PRS KOREA 2019

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

PRS KOREA 2019 was held from November 8–10 at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas, attracting over 1,500 participants, including 300 from abroad. Dr. Minhee Ryu served as session chair and panel speaker, and as part of the International Cooperation Committee, invited Prof. Basel Sharaf from the Mayo Clinic to present.

The congress featured active academic exchange and warm fellowship among global colleagues, with sessions on facial anatomy and lower-face contouring emphasizing collaboration and respect in discussion. 

PRS KOREA 2019 highlighted Korea’s growing leadership and global engagement in aesthetic plastic surgery.

Please enjoy the full article below:

The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons International Congress (PRS KOREA 2019) was held from November 8–10 at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas. Since fully adopting English three years ago, the congress has been taking significant steps toward globalization. With its accumulated academic achievements and growing international network, the event continues to flourish year by year. It is a truly impressive sight. This year, over 300 participants came from abroad, with more than 1,500 attendees in total, making it a great success.

   I served as a session chair and gave one panel presentation. In addition, as a member of the International Cooperation Committee of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, I invited a close friend as a speaker, Prof. Basel Sharaf. He is a Harvard Medical School graduate and currently a Professor of Plastic Surgery at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. Like me, he studied under Dr. Bryan Mendelson and serves as faculty at MAFAC. We meet several times a year in the U.S. and Australia as MAFAC instructors, sharing not only academic exchange but also stories of life as friends. At this congress, he delivered two lectures, both of which were insightful and outstanding. True to his role as a professor at one of the world’s leading hospitals, his lectures showcased the latest knowledge and exceptional results.

   On the first day of the congress, I gathered a few close friends for dinner. One of them is someone with whom I can share my true thoughts—we encourage and rely on each other, and I’ve learned a great deal from him, especially in business. Another is Dr. Yen-Chou Chen from Taiwan, whom I first met at the Melbourne MAFAC last year, and we’ve grown close since then. He has the boldness of a “true man,” is academically outstanding, and has a very likable personality. His lecture at this congress was also excellent.

   Talking with international friends, I often feel how much affection they have for Korean culture. Beyond K-pop and dramas, they also enjoy Korean food and drinking culture—especially BBQ, fried chicken, and the ever-popular so-maek (soju mixed with beer). Since I travel frequently to the U.S., Australia, Singapore, and across Southeast Asia, this topic comes up without fail. We always end up laughing and debating about the best ratio and method for mixing so-maek, each recalling our own experiences. Truly, the diversity and creativity of Korea’s food and drinking culture might be the best in the world! To share a taste of it, I took them to a Korean restaurant where we enjoyed marinated galbi together.

        For the past few years, I’ve been invited to international conferences almost every month, and in a way, I’ve built up a kind of “debt.” People often joke that academic meetings are where you discuss both hak (study) and sul (drinking). Along with studying hard, it’s also about sharing good food and drinks, and deepening friendships. Since I’ve mainly been working in Beijing for several years, I’ve been away from Korea, while traveling more often to the U.S., Australia, and Southeast Asia. During that time, I mostly received hospitality from foreign colleagues but rarely had the chance to return the favor. I always felt a little indebted.

      Thankfully, many close friends and colleagues came to this year’s congress, and I was able to at least offer a bit of my own hospitality. It’s still far from enough to repay what I’ve received, but at least I could show them that I’m not someone who just takes. On the second day of the congress, I hosted a lunch with marinated galbi set menus and paired it with Hwarang soju. I teased them with some daytime drinking, turning their faces red, which made me laugh quietly inside. After lunch, Basel and I took a walk around Bongeunsa Temple, enjoying, if only for a moment, the beauty of autumn in Seoul together.

        On the second evening of the congress, there was a gala party. It had been a while since I last attended one, and it was wonderful to spend time with my mentors, colleagues, and juniors again. Meeting such important people after a long time, I was deeply grateful for their warm attention and encouragement. I also came to realize, through my juniors who have been quietly watching my journey, that I should carry myself with even greater care.

        It was also a pleasure to finally meet in person Prof. Bernard Lee from Harvard Plastic Surgery and Prof. Justine Lee from UCLA Plastic Surgery, whom I had long known through social media. In addition, I enjoyed a delightful evening with a professor and a friend who had come from Beijing as invited guests.

        I served as the session chair for a session on facial anatomy. After three speakers finished their presentations, a panel discussion followed. One of the speakers presented an idea that differed from the widely accepted theory. I view such diverse opinions and hypotheses as the foundation for academic progress and see them positively. At the same time, the way ideas are expressed and supported with solid evidence is also important, and ultimately, these discussions are refined through engagement with colleagues and the passage of time. It was a valuable opportunity to reflect on the importance of mutual respect in academic discourse.

   The session focused on lower-face contour improvement, covering facial bone surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and lifting procedures. I approached the topic by identifying sagging and bulkiness as the main causes, and presented on neck lift and submentoplasty procedures.

        A few months ago, I was asked to participate and spent some time thinking about it—what content to include and how deeply to go. Even though all attendees are plastic surgeons, each has their own subspecialty. This session didn’t focus solely on lifting procedures; it aimed to examine a single topic from different perspectives. Thus, I focused on delivering the content clearly and comprehensively, rather than going in too deep.

        After the session, I shared a glass of soju with the organizers and received positive feedback on the overall direction. It left a strong impression on me. Of course, showcasing the latest techniques or challenging procedures is important, but sometimes it’s equally necessary to take a step back for the sake of overall balance. Evaluation is, after all, in the hands of our colleagues.

        

        The largest plastic surgery academic event held in Korea is the PRS KOREA International Congress, held every fall. It was an honor to contribute, even in a small way, as a member of the International Cooperation Committee, and serving as a session chair and panel speaker was a valuable learning experience. It seemed that my international friends also enjoyed themselves, and I believe we created precious memories together in Seoul that will be remembered for a long time.

Dr. Minhee Ryu, M.D.

RNWOOD Plastic Surgery

Seoul, South Korea

(Source: https://blog.naver.com/rejuvemaster/221782840634 )

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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