Medicine is not a single fixed answer but a continuously evolving path. Dr. Lee Sang-joo, the lead director of Yonsei Star Dermatology, discusses why he never stops researching amidst the changing trends in scar treatment. This article is a record of his genuine philosophy on treatment and research, as told by him.
A Year Filled with Treatment, Research, and Conferences
Dr. Lee looks back on the past year as being very busy. While continuing to provide treatment five days a week, he also conducted research with patients, and a new paper is soon to be published.
- He spent a lot of time attending international conferences and educating others on new treatment methods.
- Even on days off from treatment, his schedule was packed with conference activities.
He laughed, saying that even his days off were tight.
Naturalness Comes from Balance
In recent treatments, the most important aspect for him is naturalness. Rather than focusing on completely eliminating scars, it's about making them similar to the original skin, creating appropriate naturalness that suits the patient's age and area.
Anything too excessive is not beautiful.
Therefore, he considers finding the appropriate balance for each patient to be key. It's about finding a balance that is neither excessive nor insufficient.
He Does Not Recommend Treatment to Those Who Don't Need It
Dr. Lee's consultations are more about realistic explanations than promises of unconditional improvement or complete eradication. His principle is clear: he sent two people away in the morning session alone, telling them they didn't need treatment.
- He does not recommend treatment to those who do not need it.
- He naturally recommends treatment to those who can benefit from it.
- The first question he asks is what he would do if a family member were in the same situation.
Then, he discusses with the patient how much medical help can be provided, balancing these two criteria.
The Reason for Not Letting Go of Research
He emphasizes that medicine does not have a single fixed answer and is constantly evolving. In the early 2000s, scar treatment was limited to surgery, but now laser treatment is becoming the mainstream.
If no one walks on a snow-covered path, you won't know where it leads.
Therefore, he takes the first steps on new paths for patients with intractable scars, using his knowledge and skills. Documenting the difficulties and successful cases of this process is what his papers are for. He feels great satisfaction when he meets colleagues who have followed his records or been inspired by them.
The Doctor Must Take the First Step for Patients to Follow
Attempting new treatments is also a burden for him. However, he believes that since patients trust and seek out doctors, doctors must take the first step to walk that path together. He believes that once a new path is created, fellow doctors can further develop it.
2026, Compiling Data into a Book
When asked about his New Year's resolution, he replied that he wants to compile the scar treatment data and papers he has accumulated into a book. He plans to prepare steadily, as writing a book is more difficult and time-consuming than expected.
Finally, he urged patients to seek treatment from doctors with sufficient experience or those whose medical data is reliable, as there is a lot of inaccurate information in this era of information overload.
Written by Dr. Lee Sang-joo, Lead Director (Yonsei Star Dermatology) · Medical Staff Introduction · Last reviewed 2026-06-04