Philosophy
There are four interconnected pillars that comprise my life. The first pillar is truth; the second, goodness; the third, love; and the fourth, beauty.
I found that beauty yields the purest, most genuine form of joy to humans. Whether it may be manifested in music or paintings, humans appreciate it and thus surround themselves with things they consider beautiful. Furthermore, I found that the highest form of beauty exists within humans themselves. This is because unlike other things that we consider beautiful, such as sculptures or landscapes, humans exhibit two forms of beauty rather than just one; they possess both an inner beauty and an outer beauty. Thus came my ultimate pursuit in life; to help my patients achieve true radiance by enabling them to find their individual outer beauty, to match their inner beauty.
When I chose plastic surgery as my life’s work, I wanted to help change the lives of those who come to see me. I wanted to see through their exterior, and find light, determination, and love in their heart. I was compelled to create harmony between their exterior and interior. This inspired me to pursue plastic surgery.
Redefining Surgery – Why accept the status quo?
Why accept the risks of major surgical complications?
Why accept delayed recovery?
Why accept unnatural appearing results?
Why accept results that do not last?
Why accept postoperative pain that requires opioid medication?
The essence of plastic surgery is to improve one’s quality of life. Surgeons have been satisfied with temporary results and patients have accepted the risks that come with surgery. However, that is not quality. Quality means not only giving patients the results they seek, but also providing long-lasting results without putting them at risk.
Patients are taking health risks by undergoing general anesthesia and intravenous sedation, as these can lead to life-threatening blood clots and respiratory distress (breathing difficulties). If a patient does not experience these immediate life-threatening complications, their surgery may be deemed without adverse events. However, research has also shown that general anesthesia and IV sedation induce memory loss and significantly increase the risk of dementia. The risk of developing any cognitive decline or early onset dementia is not worth receiving elective surgery.
An example of quality can be seen with food. Quality food has the most nutrients without the negatives such as pesticides and seed oils. Quality food is made with conscientious care when we think about what is best for others. Surgery, in a similar manner, can be performed by removing the toxic compounds (general anesthesia and IV sedation) that create negative sequelae. In addition, surgical precision takes surgery into new heights, offering superior safety with clear visualization.
My surgical method is designed to improve a patient’s quality of life without the anesthetic and surgical risks of standard surgery. My goal has been to deliver the best surgery possible – which is the safest surgery with long-lasting natural results.
The way surgeons perform surgery has not changed much in the last hundred years. Surgeons are subjecting patients to surgical risks when there is a superior alternative. Standard surgery involves altering the patient’s physiology. This includes putting patients to “sleep” and cutting unnecessary blood vessels. The human body function (physiology) is not meant to be altered, and doing so has severe consequences. Forcing the patient to be asleep (comatose state) and immobile (paralyzed) can induce memory loss and blood clot formation. Blood clots can be life-threatening and memory loss increases the risk of dementia as one ages. In addition, damaging blood vessels and blood loss in surgery also alter the natural human physiology. Yet, it is blindly accepted by surgeons as a part of surgery. Blood vessel damage and bleeding not only cause bruising, prolonged recovery, pain, and internal scarring, but it also accelerates cellular aging, as oxygen and nutrients cannot reach the surgical site through severed vessels. Furthermore, white blood cells are also obstructed from reaching the surgical site, leading to higher infection rates. All of these elements of surgery alter one’s natural physiologic state. My surgical philosophy is to operate while maintaining one’s physiologic state, and this involves keeping patients awake where they are mentally alert and their bodies are not paralyzed. This also involves preserving as many blood vessels as possible during surgery. Advanced Physiologic Surgery is what I consider plastic surgery in its most optimal and highest form.
To accomplish this ideal way of operating, it requires truth, goodness, and love. Surgeons should pursue truth – the harmful effects of anesthesia, limitations of standard surgery, and negative effects of bleeding and inflammation. Knowledge is not enough and the surgeon must act on it. Goodness means doing the right thing in the interest of others. Performing Advanced Physiologic Surgery requires a great deal of personal and physical sacrifice. It requires intense, prolonged training and decades of time commitment. Physical sacrifice involves the surgeon being in top physical shape to maintain peak mental acuity. The surgeon must be disciplined in their daily life, in and out of work, like a world-class athlete. The prolonged, continuous sacrifice and dedication are powered by love. Love fuels the fire to stay committed and deliver the optimal surgery. These three pillars allow a surgeon to create beauty. Reciprocally, it is the love of beauty that supports the three pillars. The four pillars are required to achieve Advanced Physiologic Surgery and provide the utmost care for my patients.
Beyond Boundaries
Progress and the pursuit of perfection is an ongoing process. To rise, one needs a strong foundation. Standard medical education is based on teaching prior knowledge and methods. However, to progress and go beyond the current surgical treatment, standard methods, and human biology, one needs to go deeper, understanding the molecular and cellular levels. While attending Yale University School of Medicine, I spent a year as a fellow for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Howard Hughes Medical Institute supports groundbreaking scientific research and has supported 35 Nobel Prize laureates. As a fellow, I studied how the tension in tissue affects surgical healing and tissue regeneration at the molecular and cellular levels. In addition, I also dedicated a year as a fellow at the AO Institute in Switzerland. The AO Institute is a global foundation focused on musculoskeletal and trauma research. I was the first U.S. resident to serve as a fellow at the AO headquarters in Switzerland. During this time, I learned about macro system designs and developed surgical instrumentation and navigation systems for minimally invasive surgery. Surgical advancements are limited by instrumentation, technology, and visualization. I developed new instrumentation and incorporated advanced technology to enhance visualization that went beyond the current state. Knowing the micro and macro aspects of biology and surgery, I understand the human body in a more complete way and how to provide optimal care.
I believe that a doctor should go to the ends of the earth to find the best treatment for patients. Innovation occurs not only from research but when ideas flow between different cultures and backgrounds. For example, the Renaissance occurred when ideas from different cultures mixed, taking us out of the Dark Ages. South Korea is a leader in plastic surgery and performs more plastic surgery per capita than any other country. For the past twenty years, I have been collaborating with the leading plastic surgeons in Korea, developing advanced surgical techniques. I am also a clinical faculty at Seoul National University College of Medicine. In addition to teaching, I have shared this knowledge through numerous peer-reviewed journal publications.
Based on years of research and experience, I have developed the most optimal way to perform surgery which is to preserve and maintain a patient’s natural physiology. My approach eliminates the medical risks of general anesthesia and the surgical risk with clear visualization due to minimal bleeding.
My surgical journey has been guided by my four pillars of life. Ultimately, it is all based on how to best serve my patients. It required a tremendous sacrifice of my personal life. The ultimate form of love is sacrifice.
The Journey of Personal Growth
Civilization has developed and continues to evolve through progress. Although there are many external factors that contribute to this, one of the most influential factors is one’s actions. It is by our actions that we advance and improve society as a whole. In order for this progress to occur, we must first embark on our own personal journey toward fulfillment.
And as individuals, each with our own set of unique characteristics, we are predisposed toward the things that interest us and those areas where our talents can best be used. Therefore, our pursuit is likely to be one-of-a-kind, and we must often be the first to pave the way.
Despite all the barriers we face, we must take a look at these challenges as motivators to push us even harder toward our goal. This journey takes a tremendous amount of self-determination and perseverance. We must be ready to dedicate our time, let go of personal desires, and step beyond our daily comforts. And if we are not motivated enough, we will likely give up. However, for the dedicated few, the human psyche is stronger than we think. During those moments when we think we have reached our breaking point, we must not give up. We must transcend. To do this, we will need to discover and tap into our inner fire, which often lies deep within us, hidden from view. This fire comes from love, and provides the needed fuel when all else has been exhausted.
Love is the most powerful motivator. This feeling of love drives us to persevere, even when we feel we have reached our limit. It comes from deep within our hearts, because when we pursue things closest to us, our heart is set aflame. The power of love not only burns within us, but also radiates outward and energizes others. And those who see the value of our dream will feel compelled to reach out to help. This power of love not only gives us strength to propel us forward, but also shines a light on our path.
We will know an evolution has taken place within us when we learn to feel empathy for others. Our minds will be open to the notion that everyone shares in life’s great journey and that we all go through difficult times. We also begin to see others not as separate from us, but as an extension of ourselves. And when we see other people struggle, we are reminded of our own pain during times of hardship. As such, we will naturally want to help others. In doing so, we are also healing ourselves and, in a sense, dealing with the memories of our own past. This is how our dream – a dream that began with our own desire for happiness and fulfillment — changes to encapsulate the happiness and well-being of those around us.
Clarity and Commitment
Clarity is the ability to see and process things from every dimension without obstruction. From the front, back, above, below, three dimensionally, cellularly, molecularly, genetically, structurally, mechanically, physiologically, aesthetically, and emotionally. To have clarity, the surgeon must have a deep understanding of all the above components. The surgeon’s mind must be in an optimal state of calm and focus, a state achieved by an absolute, all-consuming commitment to both his craft and patients. This commitment is rooted in the responsibility bestowed on the surgeon, which he solemnly embraces. By understanding and accepting this responsibility, the surgeon commits himself and his life to the mastery of his craft and the ultimate well-being of his patients. The surgeon not only masters the procedures, but continues to innovate and teach others in the field, often consumed by thoughts of surgery and his patients even when not performing surgery. It is only with this level of absolute commitment that the surgeon can truly see with clarity.
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