Doctor Phung Manh Cuong, a specialist in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, has become a highly familiar name in the field of cosmetic surgery in Vietnam and among leading cosmetic surgery experts worldwide. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Korean Society of Aesthetic Surgery (KSAS) in Vietnam. Additionally, he is a visiting lecturer at Catholic University – one of the three largest medical universities in South Korea – and also a lecturer at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
With over 15 years of experience in the field of cosmetic surgery, Dr. Cuong has successfully performed and corrected over 10,000 cases of damaged noses and eyes for both domestic and international clients. It is no exaggeration to say that Dr. Phung Manh Cuong’s skilled hands have helped “revive” many individuals who were “victims” of cosmetic surgery. Currently, Dr. Phung Manh Cuong is the Director of Gangwhoo Cosmetic Hospital.
DOCTOR PHUNG MANH CUONG – A REMARKABLE MICROSURGERY CASE
In 2012, Dr. Phung Manh Cuong, along with colleagues from the Orthopedic and Trauma Department of Dong Nai General Hospital (a first-class provincial hospital in Dong Nai), made headlines by successfully performing a surgery to reattach a severed hand for a patient in Long Khanh, Dong Nai.
After more than six hours in the operating room, Dr. Cuong and his team successfully reconnected the tiny blood vessels in the patient’s hand, enabling it to move normally and regain a healthy appearance after 20 days post-surgery.
With a desire to deeply engage in the field of cosmetic surgery, Dr. Cuong left his position at the hospital and pursued advanced training in cosmetic surgery in countries with leading cosmetic surgery industries, such as the United States and South Korea. He also frequently learns from renowned cosmetic surgeons in Vietnam.
MEMORABLE COSMETIC SURGERY CASES BY DR. CUONG
Dr. Cuong cannot recall the exact number of clients he has helped “rejuvenate,” as the number is vast. Each client who comes to him presents unique challenges that not every doctor can address.
Dr. Cuong shares that in cosmetic surgery, performing a new procedure for a client is not as difficult as correcting a procedure that has been previously performed one, two, or even six or seven times.
Here are some notable cases performed by Dr. Cuong:
In the case of Ms. D.T.T., a 29-year-old from Binh Phuoc, she suffered from peripheral facial nerve paralysis (Bell’s palsy) for 15 years, resulting in a severely asymmetrical face. For 15 years, Ms. T. never experienced a true smile, as she faced ridicule and isolation from those around her. She lived behind a face mask and sought treatment at numerous hospitals, but none could help.
Recognizing this as an extremely challenging case, Dr. Phung Manh Cuong consulted with Korean doctors and innovatively used a technique involving autologous thigh muscle fascia to adjust the sagging facial tissues and correct the asymmetry. After 40 minutes, Ms. T.’s face was balanced, allowing her to rediscover herself and smile again.
In December 2019, Ms. Ngoc from Ho Chi Minh City was “reborn” after Dr. Phung Manh Cuong successfully corrected her nose, which had been damaged by six prior failed surgeries.
After those six procedures, Ms. Ngoc’s nose was severely retracted, with the right nostril so small that even a cotton swab could not fit through. Feeling self-conscious, uncomfortable, and deeply discouraged, Ms. Ngoc was emotionally devastated.
Fortunately, through a friend’s introduction, she was examined and advised by Dr. Cuong.
Her nose was severely deformed, with a shortened and retracted tip, scarred skin around the nose, and asymmetrical nostrils that were aesthetically displeasing. Dr. Cuong used a vascularized skin flap to address the nostril deformity, enlarging the retracted nostril.
He then used autologous fat stem cells to fill and regenerate blood vessels around the nose, treating the scarred tissue. After 1.5 months, the next step of nose augmentation was performed. The result?
Fifteen days after the surgery, Ms. Ngoc’s nose was “reborn.” Both nostrils were symmetrical, with no signs of upturning or retraction, and the tip was no longer short. The nose was elevated, straight, and had a refined, Western look.
Another case involved Ms. Thuy Kieu from Ho Chi Minh City, whose nose was damaged after two failed surgeries, leaving her face resembling a “broken doll.” Despite seeking help from numerous hospitals and cosmetic clinics, other doctors refused her case.
Everything seemed hopeless until she met Dr. Phung Manh Cuong. Through examination, he determined that her nose was deformed, with internal tissue necrosis caused by overly high silicone implants from previous surgeries, leading to tissue compression, a crooked nose, infection, and slow-healing wounds.
With 15 years of experience and advanced equipment, Dr. Cuong successfully repaired Ms. Thuy Kieu’s nose. Two days after the “rescue” surgery, her nose was unveiled from its splint, revealing a refined, appropriately elevated nose free of infection and unnatural stiffness. The nose harmonized her face, making it balanced and captivating.
DR. CUONG – CHANGING THE PERSPECTIVE OF GLOBAL COSMETIC EXPERTS ON VIETNAM’S COSMETIC INDUSTRY
In 2017, while attending an international cosmetic surgery conference in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Phung Manh Cuong met many renowned cosmetic surgeons from countries such as the United States, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, and Singapore.
“When I introduced myself as a cosmetic surgeon from Vietnam, most of them were polite and engaged in conversation. However, I overheard them whispering behind my back, and I felt a lack of respect,” Dr. Cuong recalled.
However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically after Dr. Cuong presented his research topic at the conference. His presentation focused on a surgical technique that offered numerous advantages, particularly ensuring minimal pain and complications during and after surgery.
Dr. Cuong stated, “The foreign doctors who were previously indifferent approached me proactively, asking about the techniques and methods used in my surgeries, particularly those rescuing damaged noses, eyes, and V1 cases. They were astonished that Vietnam’s cosmetic surgery industry had advanced so rapidly. This made me, as a doctor and a Vietnamese citizen, feel incredibly proud.”
Dr. Cuong shared that when invited to international cosmetic surgery conferences, his greatest concern was ensuring that foreign surgeons recognized and were impressed by Vietnam’s cosmetic surgery industry. To achieve this, he presented cases of rescuing damaged noses, eyes, V1 cases, and congenital deformities that he had performed over the years. These highly complex cases demand not only expertise, experience, and skill but also dedication and a unique talent to achieve success.
Dr. Cuong accomplished what he set out to do. Following that conference, numerous doctors from South Korea, China, Singapore, India, and other countries contacted him, expressing a desire to visit Vietnam to learn from his expertise. Some Korean doctors even booked flights to Vietnam immediately after the conference to meet Dr. Cuong. Others referred their family members to Vietnam for surgeries performed by Dr. Cuong.
Notably, leading Korean cosmetic experts, such as Professor and Doctor Park Yong Song, entrusted their own eyes to Dr. Cuong for surgery. Post-surgery, Dr. Park appeared 15 years younger, with no visible scarring and a natural look (retaining single eyelids, characteristic of Koreans). To date, over 10 Korean cosmetic surgeons and experts have registered for surgeries performed by Dr. Phung Manh Cuong.
In addition to applying advanced techniques and cutting-edge equipment in the beauty industry, Dr. Phung Manh Cuong has also innovated surgical techniques. For instance, his research on anesthesia techniques revealed that using smaller needles and targeting areas with fewer nerves minimizes patient discomfort during anesthesia. By administering anesthesia near sensory nerve points, only a small amount of anesthetic is needed to achieve long-lasting effects during and after surgery. His research on “Plus Anesthesia” has been highly praised by Korean professors, with many traveling to Vietnam to study this method.
Another notable contribution is his technique for V1 augmentation using rib cartilage, employing a selective partial rib cartilage harvesting method with minimally invasive endoscopy.
Unlike traditional methods that involve removing an entire rib cartilage segment, causing pain, functional impairment, and scarring, Dr. Cuong’s method harvests only two-thirds of the cartilage, preserving the structural connection. This selective harvesting prevents cartilage breakage during and after extraction, resulting in no pain, no functional impact, and minimal scarring due to the use of endoscopic techniques with tiny incisions. Remarkably, Dr. Cuong’s method eliminates the need for general anesthesia, relying solely on local anesthesia without pain or complications during rib cartilage surgeries. This sets his approach apart, as even in South Korea, rib cartilage surgeries typically require general anesthesia, a standard practice in advanced countries.
DR. CUONG: PHILOSOPHY ON COSMETIC SURGERY
I don’t pursue beauty for profit at all costs; instead, I carefully consider the best options to enhance my clients’ appearance. For a nose, a pair of eyes, or a V1 case that has undergone multiple surgeries, a doctor cannot afford to rush or make another mistake. For a doctor, a surgery is just one procedure, but for the client, it’s their entire life.”
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK ON DR. PHUNG MANH CUONG
Ms. Ngoc shared, “I am extremely satisfied and truly grateful to Dr. Phung Manh Cuong – a cosmetic surgeon with both expertise and compassion, always striving to do what’s best for his clients. I will recommend Gangwhoo Cosmetic Hospital to many friends and family members so they can achieve a beautiful appearance like mine.”
Ms. Thuy Kieu expressed her admiration, “Dr. Phung Manh Cuong is truly my savior. I don’t know where my life would have gone without meeting him. I hope that before deciding to undergo cosmetic procedures, people will choose highly skilled and compassionate doctors like Dr. Phung Manh Cuong.”
