The Malaysia International Conference of Plastic Surgery was held in Kuala Lumpur from May 24 to 26. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its founding, renowned plastic surgeons from over ten countries were invited to a conference. Along with Dr. Maniram Ragbir, President of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), Swedish expert Dr. Charles Randquist, and two representatives from Korea—Prof. JP Hong from Asan Medical Center and I—were also in attendance.
I mentioned the history and conceptual evolution of the ‘Deep Plane Facelift’ in the introduction and specifically demonstrated my technique along with a video. In the discussion, I provided a detailed explanation of the surgical anatomy.
There were many questions and discussions regarding key aspects such as the dissection range. It seems that the trend of the ‘Deep Plane Facelift’ is slightly changing. I exchanged opinions with Dr. Charles Randquist, Dr. Kim Siea Lee, and Dr. Lok Huei YAP, and they aligned with my views. Enhancing completeness, ensuring problem-free procedures, and achieving rapid recovery are essential goals. It may seem like an obvious statement, but it holds significant meaning. It’s about eliminating problems rather than just focusing on the results. This is not something new; it’s what Dr. Mendelson and Dr. Nahai have always emphasized.
The President of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) also had a positive view of my surgery, and several colleagues requested to observe my surgeries and inquired about participating in MAFAC. Although Prof. JP Hong from Asan Medical Center was invited, he participated through online lectures and discussions. Many attendees from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were present, and I learned a lot from these highly skilled colleagues. Such valuable experiences provide fresh inspiration and motivation.
I shared friendships with Dr. Regu Villanayer, President of the Malaysian Association of Plastic, Aesthetic and Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons (MAPACS), and the world-renowned Dr. Kim Siea LEE, as well as Dr. Lok Huei YAP, who invited me after we met in Singapore five years ago. Additionally, I had many great conversations with wonderful colleagues from Singapore and Jakarta.
After the official dinner, we gathered separately for an even more enjoyable time. I spent time with Prof. Lin and Prof. Hsiao from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, as well as Dr. Lee, whom I met ten years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and have continued academic exchanges with since then. Dr. Lee studied in the UK and completed his fellowship at Chang Gung Hospital, where Prof. Lin and Prof. Hsiao were his mentors at that time. We enjoyed ourselves together until we were completely inebriated.
It was my first visit to Malaysia, and the first thing I noticed was the high level of expertise. There are about 150 certified plastic surgeons in Malaysia, with only 5-6 new specialists being certified each year. This means that most of them are elite among elites, having studied in the UK, Australia, or the US. They reminded me of the plastic surgeons in Singapore. Their great pride and sophisticated manners were impressive. Perhaps that’s why the Q&A sessions were very high-level, and I greatly enjoyed sharing knowledge with them. I feel that I will meet these colleagues frequently in the future.
