Faculty at Amsterdam MAFAC 2025

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

The 34th Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC) was held on November 18–19, 2025, at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, bringing together 57 participants from 33 countries and 23 faculty members for an intensive hands-on cadaver-based program focused on deep plane facelift and facial anatomy. Dr. Minhee Ryu, a MAFAC Faculty member since 2016, participated as a demonstrator and dissection tutor, presenting his proprietary PUSH DOWN Technique for the safe release of retaining ligaments in deep plane facelift surgery. This marked the second formal demonstration of the technique following its debut at MAFAC Mayo Clinic Rochester 2025, representing a meaningful academic contribution to improving safety and nerve preservation in deep plane facelift procedures. Through close collaboration with senior MAFAC faculty and hands-on tutoring of international participants, Dr. Ryu contributed to MAFAC’s mission of advancing facial rejuvenation surgery through rigorous education, shared expertise, and respect for diverse surgical approaches.

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Faculty at Amsterdam MAFAC 2025

The 34th Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC) was held on November 18–19, 2025, at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. MAFAC is an academic and educational organization dedicated to advancing facial rejuvenation surgery through systematic education and research, providing structured understanding and surgical skill acquisition in deep plane facelift and facial anatomy through hands-on cadaver dissection. This course brought together 57 participants from 33 countries and 23 faculty members. I have been actively contributing to MAFAC education and research as Faculty since 2016, and for this course, I participated as both a Demonstrator and Dissection Tutor.

Over the two days, an intensive program covered Deep Plane Facelift, Deep Neck Lift, Endoscopic Deep Plane Facelift, Secondary Deep Plane Facelift, and Facial Nerve Anatomy. The course began with a facial anatomy lecture by Dr. Bryan Mendelson, Founder and Chairman of MAFAC. The Deep Neck Lift lecture and demonstration by invited guest faculty Dr. Jerry O’Daniel were truly outstanding. Dr. Zekeriya Kul’s demonstration of Endoscopic Deep Plane Facelift reflected the mastery of a true expert. In addition, the Facial Nerve Anatomy lecture by Dr. Lennert Minelli, a graduate of the MAFAC Fellowship, was exceptional, and I was impressed by how continuously updated and refined the concepts were.

The concepts and approaches of deep plane facelift surgery vary among surgeons, and the detailed techniques are equally diverse. Viewing deep plane facelift from multiple perspectives and demonstrating different methods has significant educational value. This diversity—and the culture of respecting it—is one of MAFAC’s greatest strengths. For this reason, the Secondary Deep Plane Facelift session was developed, and participant satisfaction with this session was particularly high.

I performed a cadaver dissection demonstration of the technique I developed, “How to Safely Release Retaining Ligaments in Deep Plane Facelift: Dr. Ryu’s PUSH DOWN Technique.”

This technique preserves nerves and key anatomical structures through blunt dissection. The core of deep plane facelift surgery lies in safely releasing retaining ligaments without injuring the facial nerve. Until now, sharp dissection has been more commonly introduced, but it requires extensive experience and high-level judgment, making it difficult to apply consistently. Moreover, there had been no prior reports or presentations specifically addressing a safe method for releasing retaining ligaments.

The first demonstration of Dr. Minhee Ryu’s PUSH DOWN Technique took place at MAFAC Mayo Clinic Rochester 2025 in July 2025, and Amsterdam MAFAC 2025 marked its second demonstration. Through this technique, I was able to share a method for safely releasing retaining ligaments and present, for the first time, a focused discussion on a core principle of deep plane facelift surgery.

I worked as part of a team with Dr. Ruth Graf, Dr. Basel Sharaf, and Dr. Chin-Ho Wong. As long-standing MAFAC faculty members, we communicated seamlessly without the need for many words and supported one another closely. Thanks to their help, I was able to perform the demonstration comfortably, and I am deeply grateful. I hope this technique will contribute to safer performance of deep plane facelift surgery. Following the teachings of my mentor, Dr. Bryan Mendelson, I will continue striving to share my knowledge and experience more actively.

Each group consisted of four participants, with one cadaver assigned per two participants, forming a total of 14 groups. I served as the Dissection Tutor for Group 2. The members of Group 2 at Amsterdam MAFAC 2025 came from the Netherlands (2), the United States (1), and Canada (1). What MAFAC values most is allowing participants to personally experience cadaver dissection, to feel and realize the anatomy for themselves. Watching outstanding faculty lectures and demonstrations, followed by hands-on practice, is the core of MAFAC education.

As a Dissection Tutor, I shared my knowledge and experience in deep plane facelift surgery with them without reservation. Since 2016, I have participated as MAFAC Faculty more than twice each year, and what I have learned and experienced during this time is immense. Being invited each year to work closely with the world’s leading masters as guest faculty and to learn and exchange ideas with them is a tremendous honor.

The MAFAC Faculty are another family to me—friends I am always happy and grateful to see. Dr. Van Der Berend and Dr. Ali Peralish joined as local Dutch faculty, and I had many meaningful conversations at the same table with my buddy Dr. Georgios Kolios. It was also wonderful to see Dr. Marc Mani and Dr. Sydney Ch’ng again. Moving from table to table, sharing drinks and conversations with these great friends, I spent an incredibly happy time.

The Van Gogh Museum is a place I visit every time I come to Amsterdam. His works are universally known and deeply loved, but each visit moves me profoundly because of the story of Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo. His life, his works, and the museum itself all originate from that story. I strongly recommend experiencing it in person.

The museum goods are also excellent. I purchased several mugs and plates for my staff and patients at RNWOOD Plastic Surgery. Drinking coffee from them feels different and somehow tastes better. I hope everyone at RNWOOD Seoul can feel Van Gogh’s art and story through these pieces.

MAFAC is the foundation of both my surgery and academic journey. It is a tremendous honor not only to learn closely from the world’s greatest masters but also to share the techniques I have developed. I look forward to meeting everyone again in 2026 at Mayo Clinic Rochester and in Amsterdam.

Dr. Minhee Ryu, M.D.

RNWOOD Plastic Surgery

Seoul, South Korea

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

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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