Face To Face Program Sponsored By The American Academy Of Facial Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery Vietnam 2011

I just concluded one of the most unique and gratifying experiences of my career. I was asked to participate in a Face to Face program sponsored by the AAFPRS (The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery). This program sends a team of physicians to under developed countries to train them on how to perform surgery utilizing modern surgical techniques.

I spent a week at the ENT hospital in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). There were six surgeons from the U.S., as well as a number of local surgeons. There were 100 doctors from all over Southeast Asia attending this course. We spent the initial days lecturing on technique and then two days operating on local patients. We did thirty cases, ranging from complex facial deformities, to cleft lip, cleft noses and some combined functional and cosmetic rhinoplasties. I focused mainly on nasal reconstruction and did five cases in two days, including one of the staff physicians, who after seeing my results, asked me to do her nose and chin.

We were treated extremely well and were able to experience Vietnam on a more intimate level than tourists usually do. It is a fascinating country, combining modern hotels, shops and restaurants, with many more primitive conditions, particularly outside of the major cities.

Typical street scene in Saigon outside the hospital.

Dr. Glasgold teaching class of 100 Southeast Asian surgeons through an interpreter.

Dr. Glasgold selecting potential patients for surgery.

Dr. Glasgold teaching Asian surgeons how to perform rhinoplasty on Asian noses.

Dr. Glasgold guiding local plastic surgeon.

After seeing his results, Dr. Mai, staff surgeon, requested Dr. Glasgold to perform rhinoplasty and mentoplasty (post op in recovery room).

Dr. Glasgold and the surgical team.

It wasn't all work!