Breast Surgery Specialist Dr. Joowon Kim Attends 2025 Mentor Meet the Expert

Breast Surgery Specialist Dr. Joowon Kim Attends 2025 Mentor Meet the Expert

Hello. I am Dr. Joowon Kim, Chief Director of Melon Plastic Surgery, your breast specialist for all breast concerns.

On November 8th, I attended the Mentor ‘Meet the Expert’ session held at Grand Mercure Ambassador Hotel and Residences Seoul.

This session was personally meaningful because it was an opportunity to meet in person the individual whose name I frequently encountered while reviewing academic papers. I had the chance to meet Dr. Dennis Hammond, an authority in the field of breast augmentation.

It was a chance to learn new surgical techniques and also to expand my perspective on breast augmentation. Today, I'd like to share what I experienced at the conference.

Meeting a Global Authority | There's No End to Learning

Dr. Dennis Hammond is a globally recognized authority in the field of aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery.

He is not only the author of breast-related chapters in plastic surgery textbooks I studied during medical school but also serves as an associate editor for the prestigious academic journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has contributed to the advancement of breast augmentation surgery through active lecturing at international conferences.

He was a great source of inspiration during my studies, which made this opportunity even more meaningful.

Someone once asked me why I attend conferences despite my busy schedule. It's because medicine is constantly evolving. Every day, there are people researching better approaches and techniques, continuously moving towards directions that are more beneficial to people.

What was standard practice a few years ago might not be now. Therefore, if medicine continues to advance, medical professionals must also continuously strive for improvement to achieve more comfortable surgeries and more satisfactory results.

What is the Key to Natural-Looking Breasts? | Surgery that Preserves Body Structure

The lecture's theme was breast augmentation focusing on anatomical preservation. At this conference, Dr. Hammond introduced his devised S.A.F.E. technique.

S.A.F.E. stands for Submammary Anatomic Fascial Expansion, embodying a surgical philosophy of achieving anatomically precise, functionally superior, and aesthetically beautiful results while preserving the body's supporting structures.

Listening to this technique, I couldn't help but think of the many patients I've met.

‘I want natural-looking breasts.’‘I don't want it to look like I've had surgery.’

It's natural to desire a natural look before plastic surgery. No one wants an artificial feel. And it's surprisingly difficult to concretely explain what 'natural' means.

This is precisely why this conference was so impressive. I felt as if 'naturalness' was given a tangible form and materialized.

Dr. Hammond emphasized the importance of preserving the ligaments and septa around the breast, and thus preserving the body's inherent supporting structures. Ligaments and septa not only fix the position of the breast and maintain blood circulation but also play a role in creating natural movement.

The gist of Dr. Hammond's message was that if these structures are preserved without damage during surgery, even with an implant, the breast can feel as natural as a part of one's own body.

What was particularly impressive was the surgical approach.

Dr. Hammond stressed that avoiding dissection using balloons and invisible incisions where the field of view is not secured, and instead using direct dissection with fingers and ensuring sufficient visibility to handle the surgical area more delicately, is key to achieving naturalness.

He explained that if surgery is performed relying on instruments without a fully secured field of view, unnecessary tissue damage can occur. However, if the surgeon directly observes the internal body structures and confirms them with fingers during dissection, more accurate and stable surgery is possible.

Dr. Hammond's long-term follow-up showed that in cases where this method was chosen for surgery, the incidence of surgical complications like capsular contracture was only about 2%.

In fact, 'naturalness' can be expressed in dozens of ways, and among them, there's the desire for no artificial feel visually or tactilely. In other words, it's about concerns like whether it will be noticeable when wearing clothes or feel hard when touched.

The essence of Dr. Hammond's more natural surgical method is that this naturalness depends on how well the body's inherent structure is preserved during surgery. Ultimately, I believe the secret to creating natural breasts in the long term is delicacy.

How is Comfortable Recovery Achieved? | Respect for the Body's Original Structure

Post-operative recovery is a process that everyone undergoing surgery is curious about. Many questions arise during recovery, such as how many days until one can shower, when one can hold a child, or when it's best to return to work.

Recovery means returning to daily life. So, fast recovery also means quickly returning to daily life.

If surgery is performed less invasively, meaning if the damage to the body can be reduced, it becomes advantageous for recovery. The body recovers faster, and the time to return to daily life can be shortened.

To achieve this, Dr. Hammond emphasized the key was to create space delicately along the natural boundaries of the tissue without excessively disturbing the muscles. Dr. Hammond's philosophy of anatomical preservation resonated with the values I, as a physician, have always considered important.

That is to reduce unnecessary damage. If the body's burden is reduced, the body's condition from the day after surgery is different. This is why we have detailed discussions before surgery.

To find the most appropriate surgical method for an individual, one must consider not only breast size and shape but also each body's unique conditions, individual lifestyle patterns, and desired daily life after surgery.

Melon's breast philosophy is that by respecting the body's original structure, we can reduce the body's burden and create beautiful breasts.

Learning Always Leads to Better Results | The Path with Melon

Dr. Hammond's lecture was excellent in content and also served as an opportunity to reflect on my past approaches.

Dr. Hammond's emphasized S.A.F.E. technique had points worth considering, especially in how well it harmonized with the characteristics of Mentor implants. This is because I could confirm that Dr. Hammond's surgical method, centered on anatomical structure preservation, combined with Mentor implants' inherent stability and natural feel, led to excellent results.

I also felt that hearing the experience and know-how of a global authority means more than just learning new techniques for medical professionals.

Will the surgery go well?Will recovery be smooth?Will the results be satisfactory for a long time?

Anyone considering surgery comes to a medical institution with both anticipation and worry. It is the physician's role to address those concerns with appropriate individual feedback.

I believe Dr. Hammond showed a method to achieve fast recovery, natural results, and long-lasting satisfaction through an approach that respects body structure.

I will continue to attend conferences to learn new experiences and create a more comfortable breast journey.

If you have concerns about your breasts, please feel free to visit your physician. Melon Plastic Surgery will be with each and every one of your breast concerns.

Thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the S.A.F.E. Technique?

S.A.F.E. stands for Submammary Anatomic Fascial Expansion, an surgical philosophy that aims to create anatomically accurate, functionally superior, and aesthetically beautiful breast augmentation results while preserving the body's supporting structures. It emphasizes the preservation of ligaments and septa.

Who is Dr. Dennis Hammond?

Dr. Dennis Hammond is a globally recognized authority in the field of aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery. He is an author of plastic surgery textbooks, an associate editor of international academic journals, and a frequent lecturer at international conferences.

What is the key to natural breast augmentation?

The key to natural breast augmentation is surgery that preserves the body's structures. It is important to preserve the supporting structures around the breast, such as ligaments and septa, without damaging them, to create natural movement and feel like your own body even after implant insertion.

How does the S.A.F.E. Technique affect recovery?

The S.A.F.E. Technique aims for less invasive surgery, reducing damage to the body. Therefore, it promotes faster recovery and shortens the time to return to daily life, which is beneficial for a comfortable recovery.

Does the S.A.F.E. Technique lower the complication rate?

Yes, it does. According to Dr. Hammond's long-term follow-up results, the incidence of surgical complications such as capsular contracture was only about 2% when surgery was performed using delicate direct dissection and a method that ensured sufficient visibility.

What is Melon Plastic Surgery's philosophy on breast augmentation?

Melon Plastic Surgery's philosophy on breast augmentation is to respect the body's original structures. The goal is to create beautiful breasts while reducing unnecessary damage and minimizing the burden on the body.