Following the establishment of the Mu Xiongzheng Studio for Craniofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Weilin Medical Aesthetics, we had the privilege of interviewing the studio's leading expert—Professor Mu Xiongzheng, Director of the Plastic Surgery Department at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Chief Physician, and Doctoral Supervisor; former Professor and Chief Physician of the Plastic Surgery Department at the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Doctoral Supervisor;President of the International Society of Craniofacial Surgery. He also serves as Director of the Expert Committee at Weilin Medical Aesthetics Group and is one of the specially appointed experts who initiated and developed the Weilin Plastic Surgery and Reconstruction Center's public welfare platform. This interview delves into four key areas: Professor Mu's professional expertise, his contributions to society, his international collaborations, and his esteemed global standing.
Expressing Gratitude to His Mentor: The Initial Motivation for Entering Craniofacial Surgery
Throughout the interview, Professor Mu repeatedly mentioned and expressed deep gratitude toward his mentor, Professor Zhang Disheng—the founding pioneer of Chinese plastic surgery and the first academician in the field of plastic surgery elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering.He described how Professor Zhang provided meticulous guidance and immense support throughout his career, inspiring him to carry forward this dedication to reconstructive medicine. Reviewing Professor Zhang Disheng's legacy reveals how he challenged traditional perspectives in plastic surgery. He pioneered a distinctive approach in reconstructive surgery by integrating the aesthetic restoration of tissue and organ defects with the maximal recovery of physiological function.He guided students like Mu Xiongzheng through a journey from destruction to reconstruction. Under Academician Zhang Disheng's tutelage, Professor Mu Xiongzheng entered the field of craniofacial reconstruction—encompassing the entire craniofacial structure from the skull to the orbital bones, maxilla, and mandible.
When first entering craniofacial surgery, Mu Xiongzheng was profoundly moved by many of Professor Zhang's surgeries. During clinical practice, he encountered numerous children born with severe cranial defects—crooked heads, uneven eye levels, nasal defects, cleft palates, and various facial deformities. Beyond the children's immense suffering, the burden on their families was unimaginable.Many families abandoned their children due to financial hardship, while others faced village ostracism stemming from superstition. Thus, these patients endured not only physical suffering but also profound psychological trauma, plunging their families into profound misfortune.
Thus, Professor Mu, following in the footsteps of Professor Zhang Disheng, quietly vowed: to carry forward the craniofacial surgery pioneered by Professor Zhang Disheng step by step, using exceptional medical skills to transform lives and bring rebirth to more people!
Returning to the Essence of Medicine: Benefiting Society Through Complex Craniofacial Conditions
Professor Mu recounted that during three to four decades of pro bono clinical surgeries, he encountered numerous children with deformities. Most hailed from rural areas with poor economic conditions, facing abandonment and the inability to receive treatment. He participated countless times in charitable rescue missions with international organizations.
Through this work, Professor Mu discovered profound joy in using medical expertise to help patients. Though these treatments were entirely free and offered no material compensation, he experienced an unprecedented sense of fulfillment. He described it as "a spiritual elevation beyond words."
Craniofacial Deformity Surgery Performed by Professor Mu
Each time he held a child with deformities in his arms, he could sense the pain in their young hearts. Yet, the smiles that blossomed on the faces of children and parents after surgery allowed him to tangibly feel society's recognition of our medical profession. It transformed the lives of suffering patients and their families, bringing profound spiritual fulfillment to doctors.
Professor Mu shared a moving case: a boy who received charitable assistance returned to his clinic ten years later to visit him.
Young Boy: "Dr. Mu, I've never forgotten you."
Professor Mu: "You? How could I forget you?"
Young Man: When you came to operate on us, I kept staring at your face. Though I was small then, I somehow knew this uncle would save me. Subconsciously, I just kept remembering your face!
So when they met again at the follow-up appointment ten years later, even though Professor Mu didn't recognize him, this child given a new lease on life would always remember his doctor.Professor Mu, as a physician, described this feeling as a cherished memory—the profound spiritual fulfillment doctors gain from healing patients.
Beyond professional obligations, doctors must return to medicine's essence: healing and saving lives! Professor Mu Xiongzheng urges colleagues to engage in charitable service, benefiting society. This embodies their original mission and reflects a spirit of great love in giving back.
Medical internationalization means "bringing in and going out."
The craniofacial surgery techniques practiced by Professor Mu represent cutting-edge treatments globally. Within China's plastic surgery field, physicians specializing in altering facial craniofacial structures remain exceptionally rare.
Twenty years ago, when Professor Mu Xiongzheng studied abroad, he was most impressed by the advanced equipment, excellent hospital environments, and standardized treatment processes he encountered. However, he notes that after two decades of progress, China has now achieved hardware and software standards on par with the international level.By hardware standards, he refers to hospital quality, environment, and medical equipment, which have long been on par with top international hospitals. The challenge lies in further improving the accessibility of our physicians' technical capabilities. This is precisely where Professor Mu is focusing his efforts. Standardizing medical techniques, making advanced technologies routine, and extending these benefits to more patients will significantly advance the entire field of medicine.
Professor Mu believes Weilin Medical Aesthetics could serve as a potential avenue for development in this regard. Specifically: how to standardize and enhance surgical techniques; how to leverage the advanced medical technologies currently available domestically—including the expertise and clinical experience of specialists from Professor Mu's Craniofacial Reconstruction Studio, Wang Guomin's Cleft Lip and Palate Reconstruction Studio, and Zhang Ruhong's Ear Reconstruction Studio—and integrate them into domestic platforms to help more people.
He also noted that internationally, we can already engage in seamless exchanges with top-tier physicians in countries like the UK, US, Europe, and Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea. However, for craniofacial medical technology, there remains a need for us to export these techniques to poorer nations.Take India as an example: the disparities are stark. While some private high-end hospitals in India are extremely luxurious, medical equipment, software environments, and the tools and training available to doctors in some public hospitals for the poor remain relatively inadequate.Similarly, impoverished patients in Cambodia often lack adequate national medical support. Neighboring countries like Pakistan also face significant gaps in healthcare infrastructure compared to China. Consequently, Professor Mu and his team frequently organize overseas missions to export technology and provide assistance.
He stated: "We Chinese have personally experienced this developmental journey. We too learned advanced medical techniques from developed nations like Europe and America. While we continuously update and improve ourselves, we must simultaneously assist neighboring underdeveloped countries and regions. The 'Belt and Road' initiative represents such an excellent strategic plan—one that awaits implementation not only in economic spheres but also in healthcare and other domains.While receiving assistance from others, we must also extend aid to those in need." Thus, Professor Mu and a group of like-minded colleagues, along with medical aesthetics practitioners, aim to benefit more patients both domestically and internationally through platforms like Weilin Medical Aesthetics—which boasts excellent hardware facilities and a strong international presence.