Faculty in MAFAC Brisbane 2019

 Faculty in MAFAC Brisbane 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 served as faculty at the 2019 Melbourne Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC) in Brisbane, led by Dr. Bryan Mendelson and held alongside the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) meeting. Distinguished guests Dr. Sam Hamra and Dr. Andrew Jacono shared their expertise in facelift surgery and anatomy.

Dr. Ryu highlighted the value of learning from these masters through live demonstrations and academic exchange, emphasizing MAFAC’s evidence-based, global approach to facial anatomy education. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, MAFAC continues to advance surgical knowledge and collaboration among leading plastic surgeons worldwide.

Please enjoy the full article below:

The Melbourne Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC) is a workshop led by Dr. Mendelson. It is held twice annually, with the spring session coinciding with the meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). I first became acquainted with Dr. Mendelson in 2011 and joined MAFAC as a full-time faculty member in 2012. Since then, I have participated as an instructor every year. The recent MAFAC session was a Graduate MAFAC, featuring guest faculty, which made the event particularly meaningful. Additionally, it was held in conjunction with the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), adding further significance to the occasion.

Dr. Sam Hamra and Dr. Andrew Jacono were invited as guest faculty. Both are renowned for pioneering innovative surgical techniques and have significantly contributed to the history of facelift surgery and facial anatomy. I once traveled to Dallas to seek direct teachings from Dr. Hamra, which led to a meaningful connection. I vividly recall being deeply impressed by his books and publications at the time. Analyzing their strengths and limitations greatly helped me refine my own perspective. I had the pleasure of greeting him again with an old photo from that time — his charisma remained unchanged. Through lectures and live demonstrations at MAFAC and the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery meeting, I was able to reflect on this remarkable surgical odyssey.

Dr. Jacono is widely recognized for his outstanding results in facial and neck lift procedures. Earlier this year, he published a study that I had been following with great interest. It demonstrated excellent outcomes in improving the lower face and neck. As for midface anatomy, he offered a different interpretation, which led to a separate discussion between us.

The MAFAC workshop is typically conducted based on Dr. Mendelson's theories and surgical techniques. However, it also provided the opportunity to learn about the surgical approaches and concepts of Dr. Hamra and Dr. Jacono. During facial dissection, surgical planes can differ, and their application may vary accordingly. What matters most is a solid, evidence-based, and rational foundation. Both Dr. Mendelson and Dr. Hamra are towering figures in the history of facelift surgery and facial anatomy. Therefore, being able to study and reflect on the theories and achievements of such masters side by side was especially meaningful.

For me, the highlight of this MAFAC workshop was witnessing Dr. Hamra’s live demonstration. Assisting him and observing the coordination during the procedure was truly remarkable. Even the simple gesture of helping him with his gloves reflected both deep respect for a living legend and the dignity of a master surgeon. Despite the physical challenges of the dissection, he carried it out with grace, while I, as moderator, facilitated various questions to fully convey his theories. The moment was deeply moving and left a lasting impression—it felt like being part of a historic scene in the evolution of facial surgery.

    Each group was assigned one tutor and four participants, with two cadaver specimens provided per group. The participants, like myself, were all board-certified plastic surgeons. As this was a Graduate MAFAC, all attendees had previously completed the course at least once, so there was little need for direct instruction. I served more as a facilitator, offering occasional guidance. Some participants even demonstrated their own techniques and theories. Over the course of two intensive days, we supported one another and studied rigorously. I hope the experience proved valuable for everyone involved.

The evening banquet at MAFAC is always a highly anticipated event. Held against the stunning backdrop of Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge, this year’s dinner included a celebration of MAFAC’s 10th anniversary and expressions of gratitude to the two guest faculty members. MAFAC has been shaping its own history, led and built by Dr. Mendelson.

Dr. Mendelson has authored numerous influential papers and contributed to major plastic surgery textbooks, with some of his theories even featured in Grey’s Anatomy. His contributions to surgical and functional facial anatomy are truly remarkable. It is this unique content that sets MAFAC apart from other cadaver-based workshops. Equally notable is his leadership—tirelessly developing his theories and surgical techniques while cultivating a strong organizational culture.

The MAFAC faculty continually engages with the latest academic knowledge and theoretical advancements, contributing to the ongoing evolution of the field.

Although the theories and techniques of the two guest faculty members invited this time differ, I believe the true value lies in being given continuous opportunities to grow and develop—even for someone like myself, who still has much to learn. The sense of mutual growth and encouragement is what defines the spirit of MAFAC. The ten or so MAFAC faculty members are not only leaders in their own countries but are also actively engaged on the global stage.

MAFAC, which originated in Australia, is now held annually in the United States as well. Plans are currently underway to expand to France next year. I sincerely hope that MAFAC will soon be held in Asia, too. While gaining surgical experience through facial anatomy workshops is important, I believe there is even greater value in absorbing the educational content and methodology that MAFAC offers. I respectfully look forward to continued guidance and support.

The success of the MAFAC event is always supported by the dedication and hard work of the team members. Jilda and Harriet take care of the schedule and protocol, while Terry manages all the equipment and demonstrations. They once again provided invaluable assistance at this event. We gathered in the lab the day before to prepare and share dinner together, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie. I am deeply grateful to them all.

The first evening was dedicated to a banquet, followed the next day by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) scientific conference. Dr. Dirk Richter was invited as a keynote speaker; he is currently the president of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) and also the mentor of Dr. Nina and Dr. Georgio Kolius, with whom I had the pleasure of exchanging greetings. The upcoming ISAPS meeting will be held in Vienna, where I have been invited as faculty, and I am greatly looking forward to it.

Dr. Tim Papaioannou called me aside, and when I went over, I found myself with the president and vice president of the Australasian Society, as well as Dr. Basel Sharaf from the Mayo Clinic. While dining at a Greek restaurant, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Naveen, the president of the Australasian Society. During our conversation, I learned that he had attended last year’s MAFAC. We immediately got in touch afterward and exchanged greetings.

Afterwards, I shared another beer with a friend who came from Beijing. The meeting reminded me of the 2014 conference held in Beijing, where I first became friends with this couple—the husband is a renowned researcher. They were my first Chinese friends, and over time we have developed a deep mutual respect, shared personal thoughts, and maintained a close family relationship. We have traveled together to various places, but due to tight schedules, we had to settle for a brief moment over beer to ease our regret.

The two-day MAFAC workshop concluded successfully, followed by a three-day Australasian Society conference. On the first day, there was a session dedicated to eyelid surgery, featuring lectures by Dr. Mendelson, Dr. Hamra, and Dr. Jacono. Dr. Richter’s presentation was also particularly impressive, reflecting his passion and expertise in the field of eyelid surgery.

There was a MAFAC family dinner held in downtown Brisbane. Dr. David Choy from Singapore also joined us. Both are very charming friends, and we joked about organizing a clinical exchange between Beijing and Singapore whenever possible. While everyone is busy with their own work, we hope to make this a reality someday. Afterwards, we moved to a jazz bar. My wonderful junior colleague Adrian, knowing I enjoy jazz, kindly invited me there, for which I was truly grateful. Despite coming from various countries, we stayed late, enjoying each other’s company. A close friend from the clinic, Professor Basel Sharaf, played one of his favorites, "The Girl From Ipanema," for us.

Due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to attend the Gala Party the following day, which was regrettable. I heard that the event was very moving and filled with deep respect and gratitude toward Dr. Mendelson. MAFAC is always a gathering of outstanding colleagues and friends. It is a great honor to serve as faculty, and I am committed to continually striving to contribute, even in a small way, to the advancement of facial surgery and anatomy.

Dr. Minhee Ryu, M.D.

RNWOOD Plastic Surgery

Seoul, South Korea

(Source: https://blog.naver.com/rejuvemaster/221731625991 )

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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