Thai surgeon says a doctor in the 60 Minutes exposé told him a different story

Dr. Surawej Namhawm, a prominent Thai plastic surgeon, has cautioned against accepting everything at face value from the Australian 60 Minutes investigation into Thai cosmetic surgery. Dr. Surawej posted a response following the 9 August broadcast of the Nine Network programme titled "Destination Disaster". The investigation featured Australian women who reported disfigurements after procedures, including misplaced nipples and severe scarring, at Bangkok’s largest medical tourism operator.

Dr. Surawej emphasized that he presented his post as a call for balance and not a rebuttal of any specific claim. He received a message from another surgeon involved in one of the cases shown, who described a different reality than what appeared on screen. Dr. Surawej regarded this account with considerable weight and believed viewers should approach the broadcast with caution.

As a fellow plastic surgeon, Dr. Surawej found the broadcast deeply uncomfortable, particularly because 60 Minutes is a widely followed and trusted programme. He acknowledged that bad practitioners exist, but argued that those who work to standard are the majority. Dr. Surawej also removed an earlier post where another doctor, Dr Tany, had criticized the industry based on the programme's content, as the criticism assumed everything in the broadcast was true.

He warned that cosmetic surgery requires careful thought and thorough research, as it can take every form, good, bad and grey, especially when it operates as a commercial business. Dr. Surawej's post does not dispute any individual patient's account but asks that the surgeon's side, which he has heard privately, be weighed before drawing conclusions about the industry as a whole.