Landing in Muscat to serve as a stand-in surgeon for just two months 49 years ago he has stayed on in this beautiful country ever since doing more than 10,000 plastic ops and winning in the long, fruitful and trailblazing years of service to the Sultanate wholesome praise and rare honours, including the Order of Oman and Omani citizenship — this is the awe-inspiring tale of the healing touch offered by a well-respected personality in the medical-social field.

Dr. Thomas, the pioneer plastic surgeon in Oman, served as the head of the Plastic Surgery Service in the country, the largest department of its kind in the Middle East, from its inception.

Considering his meritorious service to the development of medical services in Oman, he was conferred the Order of Oman (Civil) and granted Omani citizenship in 1991 by the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur.

With over four decades of experience to his credit, Dr. Thomas’ skills in aesthetic (cosmetic), reconstructive, dermatological and hand surgery are unparalleled. He spearheaded the entire gamut of plastic surgery services in Oman for 32 years.

He landed in Oman in 1971 for an assignment at the only main hospital of that time in the entire country — American Mission Hospital in Muttrah— and has stayed back in Oman ever since then. “I landed in Oman on April 18, 1971, for a locum assignment of a surgeon’s vacancy for two months at Arrahma Hospital (the then American Mission Hospital) Muttrah. This was the only main hospital for the entire country at that time, and the hospital is not in existence at present,” Dr. Thomas recalls.

During this time, Thomas saw the rapid changes the country made from a humble beginning. “Living conditions at that time were very poor. But with a group of dedicated people, His Majesty’s government changed the whole picture of the country in a short span of time,” he says.

According to Dr. Thomas, the late His Majesty’s ‘Meet the People’ tour showed the true meaning of leadership. “His Majesty Sultan Qaboos used to get first-hand information about the people and their problems from the annual ‘Meet the People’ tour, and he formulated and implemented policies for the development based on the feedback from the people,” he points out.
“His Majesty’s passing away is a great loss to Oman.”

“We wish and pray that the spirit of Renaissance to be continued with prosperity and peace in Oman under the wise leadership of his successor His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.”

Dr. Chona Thomas

Dr. Thomas was awarded the distinguished Alumni Award from the Government Medical College, Trivandrum, and the Dr. Bhiman Das Bilwani Oration Award from the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India.
Despite the fame and his success, Dr. Thomas prefers to be humble.
“Passion and hard work is the key to success. And at the same time, you also need a good team who should back you and, thankfully, I had a set of people, including my wife, who always rallied behind me through these years,” he adds.

Dr. Thomas attained expertise in various surgical sub-specialties from some of the finest institutes in the UK, USA, Australia, Italy, Switzerland and India. His areas of special interest include aesthetic (cosmetic) plastic surgery and cleft surgery.

Currently, he is the senior consultant at Aster Al Raffah Hospital in Muscat and also a visiting consultant at Aster Medcity in Kochi, India.