Faculty in MAFAC: ASAPS 2016 Las Vegas
The Melbourne Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC) was established in 2009 by Dr. Bryan Mendelson to enhance practical understanding of surgical facial anatomy for facelift procedures through cadaver dissection. It is held twice a year—in spring and autumn—-at the University of Melbourne. Spring courses are one-day long, whereas fall courses last two to three days. Since last year, the spring session of MAFAC has been incorporated into the annual academic conference of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The next spring course is scheduled to take place in San Diego, and just like this year, I have been invited to serve as a faculty member.
(MAFAC : https://rnwoodplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2012/11/mafac-in-melbourne-university-2012.html)
In 2011, I had met Dr.Mendelson in Melbourne, at The Centre for Facial Plastic Surgery, and participated in the fall course at MAFAC the following year. I was able to deeply appreciate Dr.Mendelson’s surgical anatomical theories, especially in regards to the concepts and techniques of the retaining ligaments—the most important anatomical structure in facelifting. Furthermore, through a lecture held by Dr. Ian Taylor, a renowned pioneer in microsurgery, I learned about the existence of subperiosteal lymphatic channels, which helped in understanding postoperative edemas. This recognition shed light in explaining why swelling tends to be more severe after facial bone surgery, therefore I have actively prioritized minimizing unnecessary dissections in order to reduce swelling and accelerate the healing process.
Australia’s MAFAC is traditionally held in Melbourne Medical University, but the ASAPS academic conference was held in Mandalay Bay Convention Center’s hall this year. It was my first time participating in a cadaver dissection that was not inside a medical school or a laboratory. This opportunity reflected the openness, infrastructure, organization, and strong approach to regulatory oversight of American education.
This MAFAC course was held with 36 participants and 12 faculty members. I was assigned two cadaver specimens and worked closely with three participants—two board-certified plastic surgeons from New York and one experienced surgeon from Tunisia. Given their high level of expertise and extensive experience, my role was more of a facilitator than a mere tutor. We also had meaningful discussions on key topics, including the anatomical differences between Asian and Caucasian patients in facial lifting, as well as surgical approaches to migraine treatment.
This program was a one-day course from 7:00AM to 4:15PM. It was centered around understanding key anatomical structures involved in facelifts, starting from the forehead until the neck, allowing participants to get first-hand experience through a demonstration of the entire procedure. The participants were able to actively participate in the dissection of the anatomical structures above and underneath the SMAS, and identify the facial nerve branches. They were also able to attempt Dr. Mendelson’s Limited Composite Facelift technique, which brought upon great satisfaction amongst the attendees.
I was able to observe and can confirm that this program was improving with each year. One of the main inconveniences during this course was the difficulty in observing the lecturer’s demonstrations. Due to the lack of space, the field of visibility was easily obstructed by other participants. However, starting last year, cameras were installed to solve that issue. During each session, Dr. Mendelson’s dissection was captured and broadcasted live on monitors on each table, allowing for an efficient and simultaneous demonstration. An extensive manual combined with a live demonstration promoted high engagement and immersive hands-on experience
At the end of the course, all the participants were asked to complete a program survey. Afterwards, the faculty members were immediately gathered to review the feedback and held a meeting that lasted for about an hour. It was encouraging to see the high satisfaction rates amongst the attendees, but it was particularly inspiring to see the faculty members review with utmost care at even the smallest comments that were left behind. Their dedication and system seems to be the driving force behind the continued growth and evolution of MAFAC.
After successfully completing today’s events, the faculty dinner party was held in Venetian Resort. Most faculty members brought their spouses, making this party culture a joyful experience. Myself and Professor Ruth Graf, from Brazil, were invited to join as faculty for this year’s MAFAC. Dr. Mendelson personally assigned us seats right next to him, warmly introduced us to the attendees, and showed thoughtful consideration throughout the event.
I have been deeply invested and studied Dr. Mendelson’s theories and surgical procedures for a very long time. After I visited him in Melbourne in 2011, I have come to ask for his guidance, whether it was big or small. My surgical techniques and academic paper (Ryu MH, Moon VA. “High superficial musculoaponeurotic system facelift with finger-assisted facial spaces dissection for Asian patients.” Aesthet Surg J. 2015, Vol 35(1), 1–8), (Ryu MH. Consideration of Facelift Methods and Facial Retaining Ligaments in Asian. Arch Aesthetic Plast Surg 2014;20(2):65-69) were highly influenced by him. Having learned from him closely over many years, I sincerely hope to contribute—however modestly—to the advancement of the field.
While aesthetic plastic surgery in Asia has made significant progress, I believe there is still a lack of theoretical foundation and clinical experience when it comes to Facial Rejuvenation Surgery. Since Asian facial anatomy and tissue characteristics differ from those of Western patients, research that reflects these differences must become a key area of focus moving forward. Even though MAFAC’s hardware infrastructure is commendable, its true strength lies in the foundations of Dr. Mendelson’s research and academic contribution, combined with the perpetual evolution of their organizational culture.
It is my great honor to be part of such an exceptional group and to have the opportunity to work alongside world-renowned experts. I am committed to learning as much as I can so that I may contribute meaningfully to the advancement of aesthetic plastic surgery in Asia.
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