Invited Lecture and Faculty: PAPRAS ISAPS in Manila 2019

  Invited Lecture and Faculty: 

PAPRAS ISAPS in Manila 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 was invited to lecture at Plastic Surgery Manila 2019, co-hosted by the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) at St. Luke’s Medical Center. The conference featured global experts, including Professors Peter Neligan, Nolan Karp, Francisco Bravo, and Martin Huang.

Dr. Ryu presented on facial rejuvenation and facelift techniques, contributing to an active exchange on advanced anti-aging surgery. The event fostered international collaboration and highlighted the growing influence of Asian plastic surgeons in global academia. Dr. Ryu also strengthened professional ties with colleagues from around the world, reflecting his ongoing commitment to education and innovation in aesthetic surgery.

Please enjoy the full article below:

The Plastic Surgery Manila 2019 academic conference was held from November 29 to December 1 at St. Luke’s Medical Center, with the support of the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

The event featured renowned experts in the field, including Professor Peter Neligan—lead author of a major textbook in plastic surgery—Professor Nolan Karp from NYU, Dr. Francisco Bravo, and Dr. Martin Huang from Singapore. It was an honor to be among such distinguished figures.

I had the honor of being invited to give a lecture at the conference in the Philippines last year, and thanks to the warm hospitality of the friends I made at that time, I felt a genuine sense of camaraderie during this visit.

I arrived the day before the conference and shared dinner with colleagues. The current standard American plastic surgery textbook is titled Neligan, with Professor Peter Neligan from Washington as the lead author. While he is widely known as a scholar and plastic surgeon, to me, he is also a talented guitarist—I’ve often enjoyed his impressive performances of pieces like With or Without You. He has even played as part of an excellent band at the Gala Party of the American society.

As we chatted over dinner, I asked him which song or band he liked the most. He replied that his preferences vary depending on his mood at the time.

The dinner was hosted by the conference president and the scientific chair, and we had a wide-ranging and engaging conversation. One particularly interesting topic was the comparison of plastic surgeons in different countries. In the Philippines, with a population of 110 million, there are currently about 120 board-certified plastic surgeons—up from around 110 last year with the addition of 11 new specialists. In contrast, South Korea, with a population of 50 million, has over 2,500 board-certified plastic surgeons.

Jokingly, someone remarked that now they understood why I was based in China. In truth, the reason I am in Beijing is to pursue my dream and get closer to achieving it. But instead of explaining, I simply smiled.

The morning session on the first day featured lectures by the President of PAPRAS and Professor Peter Neligan. As expected from a world-renowned expert, Professor Neligan’s presentation reflected profound depth and expertise, leaving a strong impression and deepening my respect for him.

The afternoon session focused entirely on facial anti-aging. Topics ranged from minimally invasive procedures such as injectable treatments and thread lifting to surgical techniques, including facelift, neck lift, and submentoplasty. Each speaker gave a 30-minute lecture on anatomy and surgical technique, followed by a panel discussion.

The discussion was lively and extended to nearly an hour. Interestingly, I received only one question—perhaps out of sympathy, as the moderator eventually directed one to me. In contrast, Dr. Francisco Bravo from Madrid, Spain, was the center of attention, receiving a flood of questions and, after the session, becoming the second most popular figure after Professor Neligan.

Participants lined up to take photos with him, and he was surrounded for quite some time. While his lecture was excellent, his striking appearance surely played a role—tall, well-built, and remarkably handsome. I even heard some entertaining anecdotes about his friendships with Real Madrid football stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Dinner on the first evening featured local Filipino cuisine. I had previously met Dr. Francisco Bravo at the ASAPS 2018 conference in New York and shared a panel session with him at IMCAS 2019 in Bali. I recall us exchanging papers and encouraging each other’s work. We also currently serve together on the Editorial Board of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (SCI).

We agreed to have a drink together at upcoming meetings—one in Las Vegas next spring and another in Vienna in the fall. As we are of a similar age and share academic interests, I anticipate that we’ll stay in close contact. Still, I must admit I’m slightly worried—standing next to someone so handsome might make me look like a squid by comparison!

On the second day, there were lectures by Professor Nolan Karp and Dr. Frederick Menick, among others. Personally, I was especially pleased to see a presentation by a good friend of mine, Dr. Lee-Seng Khoo, who trained at both the Pitanguy Institute and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

I first met him in 2014 at the ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I was there to give a presentation, and at the time, he was a fourth-year resident at the Pitanguy Institute. We spent several days together, enjoying the lively atmosphere of Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, and local clubs—memories that remain vivid to this day.

Since then, we’ve continued our friendship through collaborative research and co-authored publications.

As a joke, I often call him the “crazy guy.” He studied in the UK for many years and left his first-year position in plastic surgery at a university hospital in Kuala Lumpur after a confrontation with a professor in the operating room. Regardless of who was at fault, there’s no denying he’s full of bold spirit and eccentric energy.

Afterward, he became captivated by the Pitanguy Institute in Brazil. Despite not knowing a word of Portuguese, he passed the language exam within a year and proudly entered the institute as a resident. 

Dr. Ivo Pitanguy, the legendary Brazilian plastic surgeon, left an indelible mark on the history of the field and is highly respected worldwide. After completing four years of training there, he went on to do a one-year fellowship under Professor Yu-Ray Chen at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. He now runs his own private clinic.

What makes him truly remarkable is not just his lively personality, but also his academic excellence. We’ve co-authored a couple of papers together—one of which was nearly abandoned, but he took the lead and successfully revived it, eventually getting it published in a U.S. journal. In his own field, he has published over ten SCI-indexed papers and continues to be actively involved in academic research. I also invited him to join our Beijing study group, where he contributes significantly to collaborative research and networking.

Linguistically gifted, he is fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Portuguese. Despite teasingly calling him "crazy" or even “trash” with affection, I have great respect for him. He’s a brilliant and genuinely enjoyable colleague—and his lecture at the conference was truly outstanding.

Although the number of board-certified plastic surgeons in the Philippines is relatively small, most have trained or gained experience abroad, particularly in the United States, which contributes to a high standard of practice. Since English is an official language, it’s easier for them to build rapport with international speakers, and it seems that visiting faculty also feel a strong sense of connection.

The Philippine Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS) is actively establishing MOUs with societies not only in Korea but across various countries in Asia. This increasing exchange of people and ideas contributes meaningfully to the advancement of the field. It reflects the undeniable trend of globalization in medicine and surgery.

I’ve heard that PAPRAS plans to sign an MOU with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) next year in San Francisco. I sincerely support the efforts and growth of my colleagues in the Philippines, and I’d like to once again express my gratitude for their warm invitation and hospitality.

Dr. Minhee Ryu, M.D.

RNWOOD Plastic Surgery

Seoul, South Korea

(Source: https://blog.naver.com/rejuvemaster/221782858758)

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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