A Coles delivery driver from the Gold Coast has found himself at the centre of a global internet storm after a budget cosmetic surgery procedure in Vietnam led to a remarkable transformation and a flurry of wild conspiracy theories.
From Gold Coast to Global Viral Sensation
Jason Harrigan, 57, travelled to Vietnam in August for a full facelift after years of feeling deeply unhappy with his appearance. The catalyst for his decision was discovering a surgeon on TikTok whose dramatic before-and-after videos initially made Mr Harrigan suspect he was viewing artificial intelligence, not real results.
He was quoted a staggering $37,000 for the same procedure in Australia, compared to a total of around $4,000 in Vietnam. This price included $1,500 for the facelift itself, another $1,500 for a forehead lift, and $1,000 for work on his upper and lower eyelids.
The Unexpected Fame and Online Chaos
Less than a day after his seven-hour operation, doctors began filming his swollen and bruised results, posting the videos online. These clips, featuring Mr Harrigan introducing himself as 'Jason from Australia' and calling the surgery 'painless', quickly racked up tens of millions of views.
The situation escalated when multiple Vietnamese surgeons, including some Mr Harrigan had never met, began uploading videos of his results, each claiming credit for the work. This sparked intense speculation and concern among viewers online.
'Is he being held hostage?' one fan joked in the comments. 'Seriously Jason, blink if you need help,' added another, while others questioned the authenticity of the situation, writing, 'Something does not add up. I hope this man is okay.'
The Simple Truth Behind the Viral Storm
Mr Harrigan has since clarified the confusion, explaining that while four different specialists worked on different areas of his face, other doctors he didn't know also began using his image to promote their services.
The videos have now amassed an incredible 79 million views, propelling the formerly shy driver into unexpected fame. He has been recognised in Bunnings and has seen parodies of himself created online.
Despite the online chaos, Mr Harrigan is thrilled with the outcome. 'They really changed my life,' he stated. 'I am a very shy person, but now I am ready to take photos with my family again.' His transformation was so complete that even his phone's Face ID technology failed to recognise him.
