Park Hyungjoon, Chief Medical Director of JAYJUN Plastic Surgery Clinic, hopes for a change in life beyond appearance through genuine medical treatment.
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With sincere medical practice
Hope for a change in life beyond appearance
Park Hyungjoon JAYJUN Plastic Surgery Chief Medical Director
The power to change your life begins with small changes. Plastic surgery is a bold decision for those who want to improve their lives by changing their appearance. Therefore, plastic surgery cannot be limited to simply being a means of realizing blind desires for beauty. This is because solving a problem that caused functional and aesthetic discomfort restores low confidence and provides the strength to take on another challenge.
In fact, even now that plastic surgery has become widespread, it is not an easy decision. Those considering plastic surgery go through a long period of deliberation, and after deep deliberation, they make a decision with the will to change their entire life. Park Hyungjoon, head of JAYJUN Plastic Surgery Clinic, works for these patients with a strong sense of professionalism and mission as a doctor. His medical philosophy is, ‘As a doctor, not a director, I will practice the art of medicine, not merely offer medical services, for patients, not customers.’ His goal is to provide the best medical treatment for patients based on medical knowledge and experience. <Weekly People> met Park Hyungjoon, Chief Medical Director of JAYJUN Plastic Surgery.
Aiming for safe surgery through collaboration with specialists in each field
JAYJUN Plastic Surgery is establishing a collaborative consultation system with 7 specialists across different fields in addition to Chief Medical Director Park Hyungjoon. The safety of surgery was promoted by adopting a one-on-one responsibility system for responsible surgery. Specialists and staff with abundant clinical experience and surgical know-how design and carry out all processes, from consultation to surgery and follow-up care, for each field. In preparation for emergency situations, an anesthesiology specialist is always present, and a follow-up care program is systematically operated through collaboration with a dermatologist.
JAYJUN Plastic Surgery has a reputation for having many visits, especially from male patients. From the beginning, there were many male patients visiting the clinic, and as the number of surgical cases accumulated, word of mouth naturally spread. It is said that there are frequent cases in which patients refer friends after undergoing surgery themselves or come to visit after seeing a family member's success story. It is said that a significant number of soldiers wear military uniforms and come for counseling while on leave.
“For men, in the past, most surgeries were done on the eyes, nose or contour, but these days, it is expanding into various fields such as lifting, body shaping, and skin care. For eye surgery, demand is expanding beyond the previous focus on double-eyelid surgery and ptosis correction to canthal procedures in various directions and improvements under the eyes. It is a customized solution that is different from female plastic surgery, so satisfaction is high.”
We must meet the needs and expectations of patients
Dr. Park does not limit the role of a plastic surgeon to simply changing a patient's appearance through surgery. The goal is to help people develop positive values through external changes and ultimately become more attractive people. Therefore, rather than recommending excessive plastic surgery, the principle is to perform appropriate surgery based on correct beauty standards. There have even been cases where patients who requested unnecessary plastic surgery were sent away after a calm explanation. This is because it is believed that there is an obligation to provide realistic guidance rather than misleading patients with coaxing.
In this way, the value of viewing plastic surgery as a medical technique has been established for a long time. It is said that ever since he worked as an assistant professor at a university hospital after graduating from medicine, he has had doubts about calling patients who visit the hospital “customers.” He also expressed disappointment at the view held by some that plastic surgeons are closer to service industry workers. They are no different from doctors in other fields in that they use medical knowledge and surgical techniques to treat and heal patients' problems.
“The hospital I dream of is a hospital that may feel a bit ‘OLD.’ Although people come to a plastic surgery clinic, I hope it will be a hospital where they receive customer service and also leave feeling that they came as patients, met a doctor, and received medical care.”
“At the time, I was in charge of plastic surgery for three people, and I think I was nervous in the beginning and only focused on filming. I was only aware of the camera and gave basic explanations such as ‘It may be dangerous and there may be aftereffects’ and asked if they were mentally prepared for such things. The answer I received was a firm one. ‘I came prepared to even die.’”
"I felt the patient’s desperation and how deeply they had suffered throughout their life from insecurities about their appearance. At that moment, I realized that I was focusing on the broadcast rather than the patient, and I felt sorry and ashamed for the patient. I could clearly feel the patient's earnestness and expectations before deciding to have plastic surgery. This shock became the basis for dealing with all patients in the future."
Satisfaction will increase if you approach it with realistic expectations.
However, Director Park asked patients to keep in mind that ‘plastic surgery is by no means a magic wand’ when considering plastic surgery. Of course, you can increase your self-esteem and confidence through plastic surgery, but you should not approach it with the illusion that it will magically solve all your problems.
“If you approach it only with the ideal aspect in mind, it can be difficult to be satisfied. Plastic surgery clearly has its limitations. One of the complexes can be corrected, but overcoming the rest requires effort from the patient. Therefore, we provide objective and accurate guidance on what can be achieved through surgery and only recommend what is absolutely necessary. I am confident that I do not over-treat because I only tell you what is necessary. “For this reason, I think we can have a deep bond with patients.”
In fact, the public's view of plastic surgery medical staff is often not very positive. This is because medical errors and accidents are sometimes reported sensationally in the media and are criticized.
“Medicine can never be 100%. As a doctor, I try my best, but there are unfortunate cases where unintended results occur. However, most doctors approach their work with a strong sense of responsibility and belief as a medical professional. During my medical school education, I remember professors telling me, ‘Even if I end up walking sideways, try to walk upright.’ I hope you know that I am always trying to act morally with a sense of ethics.
Grit, the passion to overcome difficulties and failures, is important
Director Park chose ‘GRIT’ as a word that influenced him. Grit is a term conceptualized by American psychologist Angela Duckworth, and refers to the passion and persistence to stick to a goal despite difficulties and adversities. In other words, determination and consistent effort to achieve a goal, rather than talent or innate ability, play a decisive role in achieving success.
“When I look back on my life so far, I didn’t get everything easily. From the process of entering medical school to majoring in plastic surgery. However, even if I experience failure, I think I can achieve it someday if I try again.”
“When I was a third year in middle school, a sentence my church teacher wrote on a New Year’s card strengthened me. It was, ‘Hyeongjun, I hope you will rise above your circumstances…’ When I was young, many of the surrounding environments were difficult. Those words, which I heard as a teenager, gave me the strength to overcome the difficulties that come my way and continue to take on challenges.”
At the end of the interview, Director Park gave advice to juniors who dream of becoming doctors, saying that he hopes they will not stop trying to pursue their goals even if they fail.
“This is in line with the ‘grit’ explained earlier, and I was impressed by the fact that writer Kim Hong-sin on a TV program singled out ‘those who fail are given no second chance’ as a problem in our country. In order to have a healthy society, there must be a safety net and support for losers to get back up and take on the challenge, but in the midst of fierce competition, once you fall behind, the atmosphere makes it impossible to try again.”
“The same goes for doctors. There are many people who say that the reality doctors face will not be easy in the future. But I think such difficulties have existed regardless of the era. The forest you find yourself in may be difficult right now, but I want to tell you that the more forests you pass through, the greater your sense of achievement will be. Keep this in mind, and I hope you will get up again and continue to challenge yourself even if there are difficulties.”
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Graduated from Chung-Ang University College of Medicine
Plastic surgery specialist, Gwangmyeong Sungae Hospital
Clinical instructor, Seoul National University Hospital
Assistant professor of plastic surgery, Konkuk University Medical Center
Full member, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Full member, Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons
Full member, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Full member, Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Full member, Korean Society for Microsurgery
Full member of the Korean Society of Hand Surgery