A Taiwanese plastic surgeon, Chen Weinong, has made headlines after performing a vasectomy on himself, calling it a “gift” to his wife.
Chen, known for his expertise in eyelid, nose, and breast augmentation procedures, previously worked with burn patients before establishing his own plastic surgery clinic in Taipei. On January 9, he shared a video of himself conducting his own vasectomy, which quickly went viral, amassing over 4 million views.
Explaining the procedure, Chen noted that female sterilization is a more complex process, whereas male vasectomies are relatively straightforward. He described how the surgery involves locating the sperm-carrying duct externally and tying it off.
In the video, he meticulously outlines the 11 steps of the procedure, which include identifying the sperm duct, administering anesthesia, making the incision, tying off the duct, and suturing the wound. Seated cross-legged, he provides real-time commentary on his experience. At one point, upon touching his sperm duct, he exclaimed, “Oh, this is super sore!” Later, as he stitched the wound, he remarked, “This feels so weird.”
While vasectomies typically take about 15 minutes, Chen’s self-administered operation lasted over an hour. He admitted to feeling exhausted afterward and described experiencing pain that night, though the discomfort had significantly reduced by the following morning.
The unusual nature of Chen’s self-performed procedure led some online commenters to question his qualifications. In response, he clarified that he holds a surgical license and emphasized that the operation was conducted in a legally authorized facility with a supervising urologist, a nurse, and three doctors present to ensure safety. He further asserted that the procedure was entirely self-funded.
The Taipei City Health Department confirmed the legality of Chen’s actions, stating that he possessed the necessary surgical qualifications. A local official also pointed out that it is not uncommon for male doctors to perform their own vasectomies. Chen, a father of three, explained that his decision was influenced by both his and his wife’s ages.
Despite his successful self-surgery, Chen warned against others attempting the same, stressing the risks involved in performing a vasectomy without professional guidance. “Performing a vasectomy at home is extremely dangerous. I strongly recommend consulting a professional urologist,” he advised.
His video has sparked widespread discussion on social media, garnering over 100,000 shares. Some netizens praised him for his responsible approach to family planning, with one commenter stating, “You are very thoughtful. Recovery from male sterilization is much quicker than for females.” Others, however, expressed concern about people attempting to replicate his actions, cautioning that professional medical assistance is necessary.
In Taiwan, painless vasectomies are commonly performed at a cost ranging from 18,000 to 25,000 TWD (approximately US$550 to US$750), with patients typically being discharged on the same day. —The Star
Image—SCMP composite /Instagram / @docchen3
