Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suppapong Tirakunwichcha

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suppapong Tirakunwichcha (รศ.นพ. ศุภพงศ์ ถิรคุณวิชชะ) is a Bangkok ophthalmologist who sub-specialises in oculoplastic surgery. Oculoplastics is the branch of eye surgery concerned with the lids, the tear ducts, the orbit (the bony socket that holds the eye) and the replacement of a lost eye with a prosthesis. His documented home is the Chulalongkorn Eye Center, which is the Department of Ophthalmology within Chulalongkorn's Faculty of Medicine, and the hospital where that department works is King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Pathumwan, central Bangkok. The hospital's own doctor list, in a copy archived in June 2026, places him under ophthalmology.

Chulalongkorn publishes two roles for him. In the Eye Center's staff directory he sits among the special lecturers for oculoplastic and reconstructive ophthalmology, and on the page of the department's oculoplastic unit he is named as a consultant. His own profile page sets out four weekly sessions, including an oculoplastic and reconstructive clinic and a clinic for thyroid-related eye disease and artificial eyes. Beyond the university, ThaiSOPRS, the professional club for Thai eye-plastic surgeons, names him as Club Advisor and records him as the club's secretary when it was founded.

Several details that matter to patients are not published anywhere we could find: exactly which operations he carries out, whether he sees patients privately outside Chulalongkorn, where he studied medicine, and which languages he consults in. Where something could not be confirmed, this page says so rather than guessing. If you would like his view on a problem with the lids, tear drainage or eye socket, request a consultation. Our patient team first confirms his present clinic schedule with the hospital and then agrees a time with you; no appointment exists before that.

In English his name appears as Suppapong Tirakunwichcha on the ThaiSOPRS website and as the author name on his PubMed-indexed papers. Chulalongkorn writes it only in Thai, and one page, that of the oculoplastic unit, spells the surname ถิระคุณวิชชะ with an extra vowel. That variant is worth knowing if you search Thai sources.

Three qualifications appear on Dr. Suppapong's profile at the Chulalongkorn Eye Center:

• Thai board certificate in ophthalmology (วุฒิบัตรแสดงความรู้ความชำนาญในการประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม สาขาจักษุวิทยา), the specialist certification in eye medicine and surgery.
• Thai certificate of proficiency in oculoplastic and reconstructive ophthalmology (ประกาศนียบัตรแสดงความรู้ความชำนาญในการประกอบวิชาชีพเวชกรรม สาขาจักษุวิทยาตกแต่งและเสริมสร้าง), a further qualification in the eyelid, lacrimal and orbital branch of the specialty.
• Fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery, Duke Eye Center (part of Duke University Medical Center), United States.

Taken together, the list describes an eye surgeon who went on to sub-specialise in the plastic and reconstructive side of his field, with part of that training in the United States. For a patient comparing surgeons, the route matters. An oculoplastic surgeon comes to the eyelid from ophthalmology, with the health and function of the eye in view, while a general plastic surgeon reaches eyelid work through surgical and plastic surgery training. Surgeons from both backgrounds operate on eyelids; the point is to know which kind of specialist you are consulting.

What the profile leaves out is also worth stating. It gives no year for any of the three qualifications, does not name the bodies that awarded the two Thai certificates, and names no medical school. We have not supplied those details from secondary sources, so this page gives no graduation year and no figure for years in practice.

On his title: Chulalongkorn's profile, staff directory and unit page, and the ThaiSOPRS leadership page, all give him the rank of Associate Professor (รศ.). The ThaiSOPRS member directory shows the Thai abbreviation for a full Professor (ศ.) instead. We found no university page confirming a full professorship, so we use Associate Professor.

His professional listings are with eye-surgery bodies, described in the next section. We also went through the published membership of ThPRS, Thailand's society for general plastic surgeons, all 529 entries as fetched on 27 September 2026, and his name is absent; that fits a surgeon whose training ran through ophthalmology.

Special lecturer, Chulalongkorn Eye Center. The Eye Center's staff directory, in archived copies from December 2025 and April 2026, groups Dr. Suppapong with its special lecturers (อาจารย์พิเศษ) in oculoplastic and reconstructive ophthalmology, rather than with the full-time members of the department. He is also absent from the Faculty of Medicine's English-language staff directory for ophthalmology, which we checked on 27 September 2026. Neither source explains the arrangement. We draw no conclusion from it, beyond advising you to have his current clinics confirmed before planning travel.

Consultant, Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit. The unit's page, archived in February 2026, names him as อาจารย์ผู้ช่วยให้คำปรึกษา, which translates roughly as assisting consultant instructor. The hospital describes the unit's work as eyelid disorders, among them blepharoptosis and dermatochalasis, together with tear-drainage problems, orbital disease and artificial eyes. The unit holds its clinic on level 8 of the building Chulalongkorn abbreviates as สธ. (Sor Thor).

Club Advisor and founding secretary, ThaiSOPRS. The eye-plastic surgeons' society has an entry for him in its member directory, lists him as Club Advisor on its leadership page, and on its founding-members page records him as club secretary (เลขานุการชมรมฯ) at the time the club was set up.

Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand (RCOPT). A name search of the college's public find-an-ophthalmologist directory returns him, with Bangkok as his contact location.

Research. Of the 18 records a PubMed search for his surname returns, 16 are his. This profile lists eight whose author details give a Chulalongkorn ophthalmology affiliation, published between 2003 and 2026:

• steatocystoma simplex, a cyst arising in the eyelid (2009), and an eyelid nodule caused by the parasite Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis, identified by mitochondrial DNA sequencing (2022);
• folliculectomy, removing the roots of lashes that grow in the wrong direction, for segmental trichiasis and distichiasis (2006);
• the effect of mitomycin C in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, a tear-duct bypass performed through the nose (2011);
• ab interno evisceration, a technique for removing the contents of the eye, generally ahead of an artificial eye (2019);
• visual results after open-globe eye injuries were repaired by ophthalmology residents at a tertiary eye centre (2021);
• ocular sporotrichosis, a fungal eye infection passed from animals, with cases from Thailand and a review of reports across Southeast Asia (2026);
• an unusual complication after liquid silicone was injected into the forehead for cosmetic reasons (2003).

A published paper records an interest; it does not show that he currently offers that treatment to patients. We list the papers as background to his field, not as a menu of services.

No official source lists the individual operations Dr. Suppapong performs. What can be documented is the timetable on his Chulalongkorn profile and the scope of the unit he consults for, so the areas below follow those clinics, each with what a patient should know before contacting him. Session times are taken from the February 2026 archived copy of his profile. The department's website was returning an error when we checked in September 2026, so our patient team re-confirms times with the hospital before arranging anything.

Eyelid, tear-duct and orbit problems: oculoplastic and reconstructive clinic, Monday 13:00–16:00

This Monday-afternoon session is where eyelid concerns are most likely to be seen. The hospital describes the unit's Monday clinic as caring for lid, lacrimal and orbital problems and artificial eyes, citing blepharoptosis (the lid margin sits too low) and dermatochalasis (surplus, loose upper-lid skin) as examples. That describes the unit as a whole; no page states which of these conditions Dr. Suppapong operates on personally, so ask him directly.

If your goal is partly cosmetic, it helps to know that the two conditions are treated differently. In general, removing surplus lid skin is a blepharoplasty, whereas a low lid margin needs repair of the lifting muscle, and our blepharoplasty guide notes that the surgeon checks for ptosis before recommending anything. Background on both operations is in our guides to upper eyelid surgery and ptosis correction. Only an examination in person can show whether either operation is suitable for you.

Thyroid eye disease and artificial eyes: Wednesday 08:30–12:00

His profile lists a Wednesday-morning clinic for eye problems related to thyroid disease and for ocular prostheses. In general, a history of thyroid eye disease is one of the things an eyelid surgeon asks about before any operation on the lids, because it bears on safety and timing; our blepharoplasty guide names it together with dry eye, glaucoma and vision. If a thyroid condition has ever been diagnosed, include that in your very first message, even when what you want is cosmetic. People who already wear an artificial eye, or who have been told they may need one, may find this session the closest match; his 2019 evisceration paper belongs to the same area of work.

Routine eye assessment: general ophthalmology clinic, Tuesday 10:30–12:30

A general eye clinic also appears on his timetable. In general, vision, dryness and the health of the eye surface are assessed before lid surgery is considered, because they influence what is safe. If you have a recent eye test or specialist report from home, bring it with you.

Evening appointments: out-of-hours special clinic, Wednesday 16:00–20:00

The profile lists a Wednesday-evening session in the hospital's out-of-hours special clinic (คลินิคพิเศษนอกเวลาราชการ). It does not describe how appointments or fees there differ from the daytime clinics, so our team asks the hospital when it submits your request.

Watering eyes and misdirected lashes

Two of his papers deal with functional problems rather than appearance: bypassing a blocked tear duct through the nose, and removing the roots of lashes that grow toward the eye. The unit includes tear-drainage problems in its scope. If your main complaint is an eye that keeps watering, or lashes rubbing against the eye, state it plainly in your request. We do not have separate procedure guides for these operations, and they are distinct from cosmetic lid surgery.

Earlier fillers or injections around the brow and eyes

His 2003 paper reported an unusual complication following cosmetic injection of liquid silicone into the forehead. In general, before any assessment of the lids, brow or forehead, the surgeon needs to know about every filler, injection or implant you have had in the face, including any product you cannot name, because previous treatment can change both the examination findings and what is advisable next.

How Dr. Suppapong runs a consultation is not published. The questions below are general guidance for eyelid and orbital consultations, grouped around the clinics on his profile. Treat them as your own checklist rather than as a description of his practice.

His part in your care

• Is my problem one he treats himself, or would the unit pass me to a colleague?
• If surgery is advised, would he be the operating surgeon, and in which hospital?
• King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital trains doctors. Who would examine me, and who would be in theatre?

The diagnosis

• Is the heaviness in my upper lid due to extra skin, a low-set lid margin (ptosis), a brow that has descended, or a mix? When the brow has come down, our blepharoplasty guide says a brow lift may suit better than lid surgery alone.
• Do I have dry eye, and do my lids reduce my field of vision?
• If I have thyroid eye disease, is it settled enough for lid surgery to be considered now?
• How do my earlier operations or fillers in this area change the options?

If an operation is proposed

• Local anaesthesia with sedation, or general? Our guide lists both for eyelid surgery.
• Would it be a day case, as eyelid surgery usually is?
• When do the stitches come out, and when could I fly home? Speaking generally, our blepharoplasty guide expects stitches to come out at around 5–7 days, but the surgeon sets the timing for each patient.
• What are the main risks in my case? Among the complications our guide describes are irritated or dry eyes, short-lived blurring, lids that do not close completely, uneven results, visible scars, infection and, very rarely, a bleed behind the eye that threatens sight.
• Which warning signs need urgent attention once I am home, and whom do I call? In general, severe pain or any loss of sight after lid surgery calls for immediate medical help.

Practical points

• Which of his sessions fits my problem, and does it accept patients from abroad?
• Once I have been examined, will the hospital give me a written cost estimate?
• What should my own doctor receive from the hospital for follow-up after I return home?

Write the questions down beforehand and, if possible, bring someone to note the answers while you are being examined.

Dr. Suppapong's documented clinics are at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (โรงพยาบาลจุฬาลงกรณ์ สภากาชาดไทย), a Thai Red Cross hospital where Chulalongkorn's medical students are trained. Its history page gives the opening date as 30 May 1914. The medical faculty cites a capacity of more than 1,500 beds on a facts page that also carries figures dated 2018, so read that number as approximate. Postal address for the hospital: 1873 Rama 4 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330. Our King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital page covers its departments and other surgeons.

Before you travel, weigh the following:

• Accreditation. In HA Thailand's accreditation search the hospital holds Advanced Hospital Accreditation (re-accreditation), dated 23 May 2025 and running to 22 May 2029. JCI, the US-based international accreditor, had no listing for it in searches we ran on 26 September 2026 and repeated a day later.
• Language support. No official page we found describes an international patient desk, interpreter service, airport pick-up or list of languages, although the hospital's website can be read in English. Let our patient team know your language at the outset so it travels with your request.
• Finding the eye clinics. The oculoplastic unit sees patients on level 8 of the สธ. building. The ophthalmology department's own page says it has eight operating theatres, a figure for the department rather than for the whole hospital.
• Confirm sessions before booking travel. His session times come from an archived profile, the department's website was down with an error on 27 September 2026, and the latest staff directory lists him as a special lecturer. Wait for our team to confirm a session before buying flights.
• Length of stay. As general guidance, if a consultation leads to eyelid surgery, our blepharoplasty guide suggests planning about 5–7 days in Thailand, until stitches are out and healing has been checked. Other procedures need different amounts of time, and the operating surgeon, not the itinerary, decides when flying is safe.
• Other teams at the hospital. The hospital's ENT (otolaryngology) department says its facial plastic and reconstructive division does cosmetic work jointly with dermatologists, plastic surgeons and oculoplastic surgeons. That describes cooperation between departments; it is not a service documented for Dr. Suppapong.

Our Bangkok guide has general information for visitors to the city.

The clearer your request, the easier it is for the hospital to place you in the right clinic. Gather the items below. Send medical details and photos to us by the site's booking form or its WhatsApp contact, and by no other route.

The problem

• Which side, what troubles you, and when it started.
• Whether drooping or heavy lids narrow your view, say while you read or drive.
• What you hope for: a functional fix, a change in appearance, or a second opinion after earlier surgery.

Your eyes

• Glasses or contact lenses, dry or gritty eyes, glaucoma, and any drops you use.
• Operation notes or letters from previous eye, lid or tear-duct surgery.
• For an artificial eye: roughly when it was made, and any reports from surgery on the socket.

Thyroid and general health

• Any thyroid diagnosis, how it is treated, and recent blood tests if you have them.
• Other medical conditions, every medicine including blood thinners and supplements, and allergies.

Earlier cosmetic treatment

• Fillers, injections, thread lifts or implants anywhere in the face, especially near the eyes and forehead, with dates and product names where known.

Photos, only when the team requests them

• Face-on photos in soft daylight without glasses or make-up: eyes open and looking straight ahead, then eyes lightly closed.
• An older photo from before the change started, which can show how the lids have altered over time.

Travel and timing

• Dates that work for you, a choice between a video call and a face-to-face visit, and your preferred consultation language.