Faculty in MAFAC Amsterdam 2023

Faculty in MAFAC Amsterdam 2023

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

The MAFAC Amsterdam 2023 was held at Leiden University Medical Center, marking the 30th Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course — an internationally renowned educational and research program on facial anatomy and facelift surgery founded by Dr. Bryan Mendelson. The event brought together expert faculty and plastic surgeons from across Europe and beyond, emphasizing advanced surgical anatomy and evolving facelift techniques. Dr. Minhee Ryu of RNWOOD Plastic Surgery served as faculty, sharing insights on the Deep Plane Facelift with a focus on Asian anatomical characteristics.

The course was followed by the QMP Scientific Meeting, where discussions centered on surgical safety, precision, and the growing global consensus around Deep Plane Facelift principles. The program also included celebrations of academic achievements such as the PhD defense of Dr. Lennart Minelli at the University of Groningen and faculty meetings charting MAFAC’s future direction. MAFAC Amsterdam 2023 reinforced the academy’s mission of openness, collaboration, and continuous innovation in the advancement of facial rejuvenation surgery.

Please enjoy the full article below:

The MAFAC (Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course) is an educational and research group on facial anatomy and facelift surgery organized by Dr. Bryan Mendelson, and it holds the highest reputation worldwide in this field. Dr. Mendelson has made such significant academic contributions that he can be said to have led the history of facial anatomy and facelift surgery. Along with numerous influential papers, his theories and techniques have been published in authoritative references such as American plastic surgery textbooks and Grey’s Anatomy, the bible of anatomy.

Together with the MAFAC Faculty (the Mendelson Group), he organizes the MAFAC Course two to four times a year in the United States, Australia, and Europe, teaching and disseminating the latest theories and techniques to plastic surgeons around the world.

Since 2016, I have served as a member of the MAFAC Faculty, contributing every year in the U.S., Australia, and Europe to the education and research on facial anatomy and facelift surgery. At the same time, I have been both absorbing the latest knowledge and redefining theories and techniques from an East Asian perspective.

This year’s MAFAC was held at Leiden University Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The laboratory environment was excellent, and the cadavers were of high quality. This was the second collaboration with the U.S. publisher QMP, following last year, and it was highly satisfying in many respects. The event was led by Andrew, the CEO of QMP, with significant support from the local directors in the Netherlands, Dr. Berend van der Lei and Dr. Ali Pirayesh.

Since it was held in Amsterdam, most of the participants were from Europe, and the course sold out early. The students in my group were Dr. Soueid from Great Britain, Dr. Gumuscu from Sweden, Dr. Bendor-Samuel from Canada, and Dr. Gagliano from Colombia. They were all highly skilled and passionate. During the cadaver dissections, I only provided light guidance to help them set the right direction, and there were many questions and discussions. 

In particular, they showed great interest in my “Deep Plane Facelift” approach and techniques, which take into account the characteristics of Asian patients. I shared generously, even providing my surgical videos. This openness and inclusiveness are the culture of MAFAC, and the very reason it continues to innovate.

In fact, this MAFAC was the 30th, which carried its own special significance. Since its first beginning in 2008, it has continued to grow and develop to reach where it is today. To date, hundreds of plastic surgeons from more than 40 countries have participated, and it now serves as both an educational and research institute for the latest knowledge in facial rejuvenation surgery and anatomy.

I first became connected with MAFAC in 2011, and being appointed as a MAFAC Faculty member in 2016 has been the greatest fortune of my career. I consider it my mission to carry on Dr. Mendelson’s spirit and legacy, while redefining facelift theories and techniques in accordance with the characteristics of Asian patients. 

With gratitude, I continue to move forward step by step.

Each time, MAFAC invites one or two guest faculty members, demonstrating its culture of openness and inclusiveness, while ensuring diversity of content and incorporating the latest global insights to keep advancing. In the past, invited faculty have included Dr. Sam Hamra, Dr. Jerry O’Daniel, and Dr. Andrew Jacono from the United States, Dr. Giovanni Botti from Italy, and Dr. Daniel Labbe from France. 

This time, Dr. L. Mike Nayak from the U.S. joined us. He delivered a lecture on Deep Plane Neck Lift & Submentoplasty and gave a cadaver dissection demonstration. Having completed a fellowship with Dr. Andrew Jacono, he is now actively performing Deep Plane Facelifts from his own perspective.

    After completing the cadaver dissection, we had the MAFAC Faculty Dinner. Arranged by Andrew, the CEO of QMP, it brought together the Netherlands faculty members, Dr. Ali Pirayesh and Prof. Berend van der Lei, along with the MAFAC Faculty, all in one place.

    Along with invited faculty Dr. L. Mike Nayak, Dr. Pascal Castus, the president of the Belgian society, joined as faculty for the first time. To commemorate his becoming a MAFAC Faculty member, he was presented with the only monograph by Dr. Tord Skoog, which contains Dr. Mendelson’s handwritten signature.

         This trip to the Netherlands was mainly for MAFAC Amsterdam, as well as for the PhD defense of a MAFAC Fellow and a QMP meeting. Upon arriving at Amsterdam Airport, I took an Uber directly to Groningen and joined the evening dinner late.

    It happened to be my birthday, so we also had a small celebration. Together with my MAFAC family, I received congratulations from giants in plastic surgery such as Dr. Foad Nahai, Dr. Berend van der Lei, and Dr. Patrick Tonnard. I think it may have been the most spectacular birthday celebration of my life.

    The PhD ceremony of Dr. Lennart Minelli, a former MAFAC (Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course) Fellow, was held at the University of Groningen. Dr. Bryan Mendelson, Dr. Foad Nahai, Dr. Berend van der Lei, Dr. Patrick Tonnard, the MAFAC Faculty, as well as family and friends, joined both in person and via video.

The theme was “Facial Anatomy Revisited.” It presented an innovative reinterpretation of established concepts such as facial layers, muscles, ligaments, and the SMAS, and demonstrated outstanding research achievements. Dr. Mendelson’s legacy lies in approaching facial anatomy not as fixed structures, but with constant surgical and functional curiosity. 

As the MAFAC family, we offered heartfelt congratulations for this great accomplishment, which serves as a source of positive stimulation and inspiration to colleagues, and a driving force for the advancement of the field.

        True to the 400-year history of the University of Groningen, the ceremony was conducted in a traditional and serious manner, and it was truly a sight to behold. The high-level questions and defenses from the masters were fascinating, and it was an intellectual feast discussing the latest insights. Nearly all the questions I had carefully noted while reading on the plane were brought to the table, and I found myself deeply engaged, enjoying it like a conversation. As a proud member of the MAFAC Faculty, I look forward to seeing more remarkable performances in the future.

    There was a tour of the University of Groningen and its surroundings. Some buildings dated back to the 1200s, and most were more than a century old, with traces of history evident in the narrow, winding streets paved with various types of stone. At the same time, modern architecture and renovated structures blended in naturally. During World War II, parts of the city were bombed, and the buildings that were lost have since become open spaces put to practical use, while the ones that survived remain scattered throughout, preserving the city’s unique old-world atmosphere.

    During the city tour of Groningen, we came across students commuting to school by bicycle. They were riding in a long line, and when they encountered our group, they stopped; once we gave way, they continued on in formation. The bicycles felt almost like small cars, and I was impressed by the pedestrian-first culture and how well it was practiced.

    The hotel I stayed at was located almost in the university town, and in front of it stood a striking statue. It depicted King George slaying a dragon with a sword, the dragon’s head lying beneath his feet, and his expression was so solemn that it kept drawing my attention.

    Dr. Foad Nahai and his wife, who were touring together with us, were holding hands the entire time, and the sight of this elderly couple from behind was truly beautiful.

MAFAC Faculty Meeting in Amsterdam

It was a gathering to review MAFAC’s achievements and to discuss its future direction and vision. In 2023, MAFAC was held four times—April in Miami, August at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, October in Brisbane, and December in Amsterdam—marking a year of significant expansion and growth. For 2024, MAFAC at the Mayo Clinic in July has been confirmed, while the courses in Australia and Europe are still under discussion.

Everyone shared the sentiment of carrying forward Dr. Bryan Mendelson’s spirit and legacy, which has built MAFAC’s culture of openness and inclusiveness, and it is up to us, the MAFAC Faculty, to sustain it well. At the end of the meeting, I brought up a discussion on surgical techniques and manuals, which sparked a lively debate.

MAFAC is constantly moving forward!

Following the MAFAC Amsterdam cadaver dissection course, the QMP Amsterdam scientific meeting continued for three days.

It was reaffirmed that the global trend in facelift surgery is the Deep Plane Facelift, and the enthusiasm of plastic surgeons from around the world to master it was remarkable. Interpretations of surgical anatomy and techniques vary among surgeons, and the purpose of such scientific meetings is to present and discuss these differences.

Excessive obsession with results can greatly increase the risk of problems. What must take priority over achieving impressive outcomes is ensuring safety and minimizing sequelae. This is why the extent of skin and SMAS dissection in the Deep Plane Facelift remains a central issue. At the MAFAC Faculty meeting yesterday, I raised this topic for discussion and emphasized it. Securing safety is just as essential as producing excellent results, and it is only right to help colleagues who come to MAFAC reduce their trial and error.

It is important to understand why Dr. Bryan Mendelson placed such value on the concept of the Composite. At this conference, Dr. Foad Nahai and Dr. L. Mike Nayak also shared the same perspective. They emphasized it throughout their lectures and prioritized it in discussions as well. There is a growing sense that a consensus is forming around the theory and techniques of the Deep Plane Facelift, and it will be essential to understand and put into practice the common views shared by the masters.

It was a great pleasure to see Professor Jong-Woo Choi from Asan Medical Center invited as a faculty member. He gave an excellent lecture on Asian facial bone contouring surgery and rhinoplasty. At this MAFAC cadaver dissection and QMP conference in the Netherlands, he and I were the only Asian faculty members. We enjoyed pork belly and kimchi stew with soju together at a Korean restaurant in Amsterdam. From this European MAFAC and conference, I learned a great deal and also felt an even greater sense of responsibility.

Rijksmuseum – Amsterdam National Museum of Art. Since this was my first visit to the Netherlands, I felt it would be a waste to leave having only worked and studied, so I stopped by briefly on the way to the airport. In fact, I had hoped to visit the Van Gogh Museum, but the tickets were sold out, so I had to save it for next time.

The Rijksmuseum impressed me with its antique exterior and modern interior design. Rembrandt’s works seemed to be the main focus. As one of the leading painters of the Dutch Golden Age, he created countless masterpieces using the chiaroscuro technique, dramatically blending light and shadow. In particular, The Night Watch was displayed with a protective enclosure, accompanied by its history of struggles and detailed commentary. I also spotted one of Van Gogh’s self-portraits, along with other familiar paintings I had seen before in books.

Usually, when I travel, I do at least a little preparation, bringing along a book or two, but this trip to the Netherlands came so suddenly that I arrived without any planning at all. I even walked through the museum without any prior information, just like taking a stroll—but I would have regretted it if I had missed it entirely. Next time, I hope to take a boat ride along the canals and wander through the alleyways, enjoying a proper walk..

See you again, Amsterdam!

Faculty Invitations: 

• MAFAC in Mayo Clinic Rochester 2023

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2023/08/faculty-in-mafac-mayo-clinic-2023.html 

• MAFAC in Miami 2023

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2023/04/faculty-in-mafac-asaps-miami-2023.html 

• MAFAC in Melbourne 2022

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2022/10/faculty-in-melbourne-2022.html 

• MAFAC in Brisbane 2019

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2025/10/faculty-in-mafac-brisbane-2019.html 

• MAFAC in New Orleans 2019

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2019/05/asaps-mafac-2019-in-new-orleans.html 

• MAFAC in Melbourne 2018

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2018/12/mafac-faculty-in-melbourne-2018.html 

• MAFAC in New York 2018

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2018/05/aesthetic-meeting-2018-in-new-york.html 

• MAFAC in San Diego 2017

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2017/05/invited-faculty-in-mafac-san-diego-2017.html 

• MAFAC in Las Vegas 2016

https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2025/07/invited-faculty-participated-lecture.html 

Dr. Minhee Ryu, M.D.

RNWOOD Plastic Surgery

Seoul, South Korea

(Source: https://blog.naver.com/rejuvemaster/223293855777 )

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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