Past PRESIDENT, PHILIPPINE SOCIETY FOR COSMETIC SURGERY 2019-2020, 2023-2024

FELLOW, PHILIPPINE SOCIETY FOR COSMETIC SURGERY

FELLOW, PHILIPPINE SOCIETY OF GENERAL SURGEONS

FELLOW, PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

Honorary Member, Korean College of Cosmetic Surgery (KCCS)

Life Honorary Member, Korean Society of Korean Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine (KSKCS)
Member, Korean International Center for Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetic Surgery (KICAMCS)

Cosmetic Surgeon, Military Officer, Surgical Educator, Author, International Speaker, and Healthcare Entrepreneur


Dr. Al Farabi Lee Jaafar is a Filipino-Chinese cosmetic surgeon, board-certified general surgeon/cosmetic surgeon, military officer, educator, author, academic editor, and healthcare entrepreneur whose career spans more than three decades of service in medicine and over twenty years of surgical practice. Recognized as one of the leading figures in cosmetic surgery in the Philippines, he has distinguished himself through his contributions to aesthetic surgery, surgical education, military medicine, academic publishing, and professional leadership both nationally and internationally. 

Over the course of his career, Dr. Jaafar has performed more than 5,000 surgical procedures encompassing general surgery, cosmetic surgery, facial aesthetic surgery, body contouring, breast surgery, reconstructive procedures, and minimally invasive aesthetic treatments. His work has attracted patients from the Philippines, North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia, contributing to the growth of the Philippines as a recognized destination for aesthetic surgery and medical tourism. 

Early Education and Medical Training 

Dr. Jaafar began his academic journey at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), one of the oldest and most respected educational institutions in Asia. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology from 1986 to 1990, where he developed a strong foundation in the biological sciences and cultivated his interest in medicine. 

He subsequently enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, earning his Doctor of Medicine degree in August 1994. During his years in medical school, he developed a particular interest in surgery, recognizing its unique combination of scientific rigor, technical precision, and direct impact on patients' lives. 

Following graduation, he completed his internship training at the Santo Tomas University Hospital from 1994 to 1995, gaining broad clinical exposure across multiple specialties while refining the clinical skills that would later define his surgical career. 

Military Service and General Surgery Career 

In pursuit of advanced surgical training, Dr. Jaafar entered the General Surgery Residency Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC), formerly known as V. Luna Medical Center, in 1998. 

Simultaneously commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Corps with the rank of Captain, he underwent rigorous surgical training from 1998 to 2003. The residency exposed him to a broad spectrum of surgical disciplines, including trauma surgery, emergency surgery, critical care, vascular surgery, abdominal surgery, oncology, and battlefield medicine. 

His leadership, clinical competence, and dedication earned him appointment as Chief Resident during his final year of training, a position entrusted with overseeing resident education, coordinating surgical services, and maintaining clinical standards within the department. 

His service coincided with one of the most significant security crises in Philippine history, including military operations associated with the Abu Sayyaf kidnappings that involved American missionary Gracia Burnham and other foreign hostages. The experience provided him with invaluable lessons in leadership, resilience, crisis management, and surgical decision-making under pressure.During his military service, Dr. Jaafar participated in medical and military missions in conflict-affected regions of Mindanao during the height of military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group between 2001 and 2002. These deployments brought him to remote island communities and conflict zones where medical resources were limited and security conditions remained highly volatile. 

In addition to providing surgical care to military personnel, Dr. Jaafar played a significant humanitarian role in the treatment of civilians affected by armed conflict. Many of the communities served by military medical teams had limited access to healthcare due to ongoing hostilities, displacement, and disruption of local medical services. Working alongside military and civilian healthcare personnel, he participated in missions that provided emergency treatment, surgical interventions, and humanitarian assistance to residents caught in the crossfire of conflict. 

As a military surgeon, he was actively involved in the management of combat-related injuries sustained by soldiers engaged in counterinsurgency operations. These cases included gunshot wounds, blast injuries, penetrating trauma, soft tissue injuries, and other life-threatening conditions requiring immediate surgical attention. His work frequently involved emergency stabilization, damage-control surgery, critical care management, and preparation of patients for transport to higher-level medical facilities.
During this period, Dr. Jaafar also participated in the treatment of civilian hostages who had been rescued from captivity. Some of these patients (hostages) sustained severe injuries inflicted by their captors, including deep lacerations and mutilating wounds caused by bladed weapons locally known as "bolos." The management of these patients required urgent wound care, hemorrhage control, surgical repair, infection prevention, and comprehensive postoperative treatment under difficult field conditions. 

A significant component of his duties involved aeromedical and logistical coordination for the evacuation of critically injured patients from remote islands and conflict zones to tertiary referral centers in Metro Manila. Working closely with military commanders, flight crews, and medical teams, he helped ensure the safe transfer of wounded soldiers, rescued hostages, and civilian casualties requiring advanced surgical and critical care services unavailable in local facilities. 

Many of these operations were conducted through military medical facilities in the Sulu Archipelago and Western Mindanao, as well as through the Southern Command Station Hospital (SouthCom Station Hospital) in Zamboanga City, which served as a major referral center for casualties arising from military operations in the region. These experiences exposed Dr. Jaafar to some of the most challenging environments in surgical practice, where rapid decision-making, resourcefulness, teamwork, and leadership were often critical to patient survival. 

The lessons learned from caring for wounded soldiers, rescued hostages, and conflict-affected civilians profoundly influenced his professional development and helped shape the discipline, resilience, compassion, and commitment to service that continue to define his surgical career today. 

For his military and professional service, Dr. Jaafar received several military decorations and commendations, including:
• Military Merit Medal (2002), awarded for meritorious achievement and exemplary service.
• Military Commendation Medal (2003), awarded for outstanding performance and exemplary execution of military duties.

Following completion of residency training in 2003, Dr. Jaafar successfully passed both the written and oral examinations of the Philippine Board of Surgery in 2004, earning the title of Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Surgery (DPBS), one of the highest professional credentials in Philippine General Surgery.

From 2003 to 2007, he served as Active Consultant in the Department of Surgery at AFPMC while simultaneously holding several important leadership and educational positions, including:
• Assistant Training Officer, General Surgery Residency Training Program
• Ward Officer, Female Surgical Ward
• Ward Officer, Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

In these capacities, he was actively involved in resident education, curriculum development, surgical mentorship, critical care management, and institutional quality improvement initiatives.

In recognition of his contributions to surgery and commitment to professional excellence, Dr. Jaafar was conferred Fellow status by both the Philippine Society of General Surgeons (PSGS) and the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) in 2007.

Today, he continues his association with military medicine as a Visiting Consultant of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center General Surgery Service.

Transition to Cosmetic Surgery

Although highly accomplished in General Surgery, Dr. Jaafar developed a strong interest in aesthetic and cosmetic surgery, particularly the ability to improve quality of life, confidence, and self-image through surgical enhancement.
He subsequently completed formal fellowship training in Cosmetic Surgery through the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery (PSCS), eventually becoming a Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Cosmetic Surgery (PBCS).

Founder of the Asian Butt Lift (ABL)

Among his most significant contributions to cosmetic surgery is the development of the Asian Butt Lift (ABL), a body-contouring philosophy specifically designed for Asian body types and aesthetic ideals.

Recognizing that traditional Brazilian Butt Lift techniques were largely developed around Western body proportions, Dr. Jaafar pioneered modifications emphasizing:
• Waist reduction
• Lower-back contouring
• Hip enhancement
• Moderate-volume fat grafting
• Preservation of natural body proportions

The ABL concept has been presented at numerous scientific meetings and international conferences and has become one of his signature contributions to modern aesthetic surgery.

His ongoing clinical research continues to focus on body contouring, liposuction safety, fat grafting techniques, and Asian-specific aesthetic outcomes.

Founder and Medical Director of NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center

Dr. Jaafar is the Founder and Medical Director of NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center, a premier cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine facility located at Centuria Medical Makati in Metro Manila.

Under his leadership, NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center has become known for combining advanced surgical technology, personalized patient care, evidence-based practice, and international standards of safety.

The center serves a large international patient population and offers comprehensive surgical and non-surgical aesthetic services in a medical tourism setup.

Academic and Editorial Contributions

In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Jaafar maintains a strong commitment to academic medicine and scientific publishing.

Since 2017, he has served as Reviewing and Contributing Editor of the Journal of Cosmetic Medicine (Korea), contributing to peer review, scientific evaluation, and the dissemination of evidence-based knowledge in aesthetic medicine and surgery.

His published academic works include:
"Nose Abscess After Thread Rhinoplasty: A Case Report"
which provides important clinical insights into the diagnosis and management of complications associated with minimally invasive rhinoplasty procedures.

He is also the author of the forthcoming publication:
"Serial Autologous Fat Grafting in Hemifacial Atrophy: A Case Report"
which explores the role of staged fat grafting techniques in restoring facial symmetry and volume in patients with complex facial atrophy.

His academic interests include:
• Fat grafting
• Rhinoplasty
• Facial rejuvenation
• Body contouring
• Cosmetic surgery complications
• Aesthetic surgery outcomes research


International Memberships and Professional Affiliations

Dr. Jaafar maintains active collaborations with several international aesthetic surgery organizations.

His affiliations include:

• Honorary Member, Korean College of Cosmetic Surgery (KCCS)
• Member, Korean International Center for Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetic Surgery (KICAMCS)
• Life Honorary Member, Korean Society of Korean Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine (KSKCS)
• Reviewing and Contributing Editor, Journal of Cosmetic Medicine (Korea)

These affiliations reflect his ongoing commitment to international collaboration and the advancement of cosmetic surgery education throughout Asia.

National Leadership in Cosmetic Surgery

Dr. Jaafar has held numerous leadership positions within organized cosmetic surgery.
He served as President of the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery (PSCS) during two separate terms:
2019–2020
2023–2024

During his tenure, he strengthened scientific education, international cooperation, and professional standards while expanding opportunities for surgeon training and continuing medical education.


He currently serves as:

• Chairman, Philippine Board of Cosmetic Surgery (2025–2026)
• Chairman, PSCS Training Program Committee (2025–2026)
• Chairman, PSCS Membership and Admissions Committee (2025–2026)

Through these roles, he actively shapes the training, certification, and future direction of cosmetic surgery in the Philippines.


International Lecturer and Faculty Member

Dr. Jaafar is a sought-after speaker and faculty member at national and international scientific meetings.

Selected presentations include:
• Fat Congress of KCCS and KSKCS, Seoul, South Korea (2016)
• 4th ASEAN Meeting of Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine (AMAS), Bangkok, Thailand (2019)
• 23rd HSAPS/VSAPS Annual International Scientific Congress, Can Tho City, Vietnam (2023)
• 1st Annual Convention, KCCS-Philippines, Manila (2024)
• 9th ASEAN Meeting of Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetic Surgery, Makati (2025)
• Asian Forum for Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine (AFAS), Seoul, South Korea (2025)
• 10th ASEAN Meeting of Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine (AMAS), Penang, Malaysia (2025)
• 119th Philippine Medical Association Annual Convention, Manila (2026)

His lectures have focused on body contouring, fat grafting, cosmetic surgery innovation, patient safety, rhinoplasty, and the Asian Butt Lift.

Legacy and Vision

From military surgeon to board-certified general surgeon, from cosmetic surgery fellow to society president, and from academic editor to international lecturer, Dr. Al Farabi Lee Jaafar has built a career defined by service, leadership, innovation, and education.

His unique combination of military discipline, surgical expertise, academic scholarship, and entrepreneurial vision has allowed him to influence not only the lives of thousands of patients but also the development of future generations of surgeons.

Today, he continues to advance the science and art of aesthetic surgery while promoting excellence, ethics, patient safety, and innovation throughout the Philippines and the broader Asian region.

Biography of Dr. Al Farabi Lee Jaafar, MD,

DPBS, FPSGS, FPCS, DPBCS, FPSCS , FPFCS