The Big Interview: Dr Kieren Bong

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 12th January 2010

Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetics Magazine interviews top cosmetic doctor Dr Kieren Bong

What inspired you to become a cosmetic doctor?

I have always believed that aesthetics is a combination of art and science. The medical training provides the scientific knowledge but you also need to appreciate the artistic side of beauty.

At the beginning of my medical training I specialised in surgery and it was then that I developed an interest in medical aesthetics as I realised that not many people relish going under the knife and there was actually huge potential in the non-surgical side of the aesthetics industry.

It used to be that people had to have surgery to achieve cosmetic enhancement but now that can be achieved through non-invasive means. However, although non-surgical treatments are now very popular they do have limitations, as everything does in life, and there are some patients who are just not suitable candidates for non-surgical procedures.

My job as a cosmetic doctor is to sift through all the new treatments that hit the market. Safety is our utmost priority so we have to make sure that the treatment that is chosen has extensive clinical trials to back it up. But it also has to be something that will work as the one thing I don't want is a disappointed patient.

What is your background in the industry?

I went to medical school at Glasgow University and started out in surgery when I graduated. That's when I developed a special interest in minor surgery and medical aesthetics.

I have since been trained by world-renowned cosmetic doctors and plastic surgeons. The treatment I am most excited about now is the Miracle Frame Face Lift Treatment and I was trained by Dr Woo Jung Ho, one of Asia's most prominent plastic surgeons. I was privileged to be the first doctor from the UK to train with Dr Woo in this procedure.

The consultation is the first stage in your relationship with the patient. What is a successful consultation in your eyes?

What is most important is to come up with an integrated holistic package of treatments for patients that will provide the best results and meet their expectations. You need to explain to them both the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure, which includes side effects, potential complications and also the pre and post care.

What we are aiming for is the patient to be able to make an informed choice about their treatment so I have to provide that information in a way they can digest. We are not trying to impose on our patients our own sense of beauty.

What do you think makes a good patient/doctor relationship?

Although non-surgical procedures are very popular and for the most part they are incredibly safe and straightforward they are still medical procedures and patients should approach these treatments with care. Many procedures are not one-off treatments so patients need to feel comfortable with their doctor because this should be the start of a long-term relationship.

Honesty is crucial and I believe that cosmetic doctors should not react passively to patients' demands otherwise they are doing the patient a disservice. Often patients look in the mirror and they focus on the dark circles under the eyes or their frown lines but the cosmetic doctor's job is to look at the face as a whole and work out what will provide the best results. This isn't about pushing unnecessary treatments but if you just deal with that one thing they will be ultimately dissatisfied because it won't be the magic cure they are imagining.

You are well known for your facial treatments, what body treatments do you offer?

We have been concentrating on our facial treatments but in 2010 we're very excited about the body contouring treatments we'll be offering our patients, such as liposelection and SmartLipo.

Of all the new treatments that have been introduced in recent years, what do you feel has been the standout treatment?

I am absolutely passionate about the Miracle Frame Face Lift Treatment as it is the first, 100 per cent, non-invasive treatment that works. The patient achieves instant results with very little or no downtime.

There are two big advantages of this treatment compared to other thread lift procedures.

Firstly, there are absolutely no incisions. The second advantage is the number of threads that are used. Commonly, thread lifts employ about four threads on each side of the face whereas the Miracle Frame Face Lift uses about ten, longer threads on each side. This creates a frame which supports the face just like the steel frames in a concrete building.

This treatment has been performed and trialled extensively in Asia and America and over 2,500 procedures have been performed to date.
CS&AM