A Taiwanese plastic surgeon has caused a stir on social media after sharing a video of himself performing a vasectomy on himself.
Dr Chen Wei-nong, a father of three and a well-established professional at a plastic surgery clinic in Taipei, posted the unusual clip this week, garnering widespread attention and sparking both admiration and concern.
In a bid to reassure his wife, who had expressed concerns about the procedure, Dr Chen made the unconventional decision to undergo a vasectomy. However, instead of seeking help from another surgeon, he chose to perform the surgery on himself, recording the entire process for educational purposes.
The doctor outlined the steps of the operation, explaining that after administering local anesthesia, he proceeded with the procedure, which usually takes about 15 minutes. Due to the self-performed nature of the operation, the procedure lasted over an hour but was ultimately successful.
“I felt strange touching and suturing my own urethra,” Dr Chen shared with his followers on social media. He compared the difficulty of male vasectomy to female fallopian tube surgery, claiming the male procedure was comparatively simpler as it primarily involved locating and tying the vas deferens.
The video, which has garnered over 4 million views across social platforms, quickly went viral. Many viewers were impressed by his courage and praised his dedication to his wife. However, concerns were raised over the safety and ethics of performing surgery on oneself. Dr. Chen, in response, assured his audience that he was a licensed surgeon and had carried out the procedure under the supervision of a urologist, outside of working hours. Despite his self-assurance, he advised against attempting such a procedure and recommended that people seek qualified professionals instead.
The surgeon also shared his post-surgery experience, mentioning that while he felt pain and discomfort the night of the procedure, he woke up the following morning feeling fine. His feat earned him the title of "the bravest man in Taiwan" among many on social media.
Following the incident, the Taipei Department of Health conducted a preliminary investigation and confirmed that Dr. Chen, as a licensed physician, had not violated any legal guidelines by performing the surgery on himself.
