‘Face Off’ ads provoke fine amid plastic surgery row

The Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) is to fine a cosmetic surgery hospital for failing to suspend adverts of its so-called “Face Off” facelift packages.

DHSS chief Boonrueng Trairueng-worawat said yesterday the department’s sub-panel met to discuss the advertisements by a Bangkok-based hospital.

The meeting found the hospital had allowed the exaggerated advertisements of the “Face Off” surgical procedures to be carried out and did nothing to stop them.

The act breached both the law governing medical establishments and the Public Health regulation that sets limits on methods and processes of medical advertisements.

The sub-panel will forward its decision to another panel next week to determine how much the hospital should be fined.

The hospital is liable for an initial fine of up to 20,000 baht, plus an additional 1,000 baht a day until the hospital pulls down the advertisements. If the hospital refuses to pay the fine within 30 days of being given notice, the department will file legal action against it.

The Bureau of Sanatorium and Art of Healing chief Arkom Praditsuwan said the hospital had run the advertisements in association with the “Face Off” campaign involving plastic surgery adviser Xeping Chaiyasan. The campaign’s profile was boosted by procedures performed on veteran country singer Surachai Sombatcharoen.

Dr Arkom said some clinics and cosmetic surgery hospitals showed pictures of their surgical facilities and rooms on Facebook, which is prohibited.