Dr Syed Abdullah Al-Haddad · MB Bch, BaO, LRCSI, LRCPI, MRCS, MSc (Trauma), FRCS (Surgical Neurology), CCT (Neurosurgery, UK)
Consultant Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon
“Treat the patient, not the scan.”
Internationally trained Consultant Neurosurgeon with over twenty-eight years of experience across Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. Based at Sunway Medical Centre in Malaysia, I provide comprehensive care for brain tumours, skull base disorders, pituitary disease, spinal conditions, and functional neurosurgery.
Every patient deserves to understand their diagnosis before making any treatment decision. My role is to explain your condition clearly, discuss every appropriate option, and help you make an informed choice with confidence.
Clinic+603-7491 9191·WhatsApp+6011-1116 1030
What I Treat
Each area links to a full page explaining the condition in plain language.
Brain Tumours
Growths in the brain
Pituitary Surgery
Surgery for the master gland
Skull Base Surgery
Surgery at the base of the skull
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Electric-shock facial pain
Lessons & Reflections
Stories from the clinic, the ICU, and a life in neurosurgery.
26 July 2026
The Beauty Within
As neurosurgeons, we are given a rare privilege. When we operate on the brain, we are allowed to witness a beauty that very few people will ever see—the extraordinary beauty of the human body from within. The brain is not merely an organ. It is a living network of delicate structures, intricate pathways and countless connections, each arranged with astonishing precision. Nerves, blood vessels and brain tissue lie closely intertwined, every structure occupying its place and serving its purpose. No two operations are ever exactly the same, yet the fundamental design remains remarkably consistent from one person to another. Standing at the operating table, looking at the brain directly, one cannot help but feel humbled. A structure only a few millimetres wide may control movement, speech, vision, memory or personality. The smallest disturbance in the wrong place can change the course of a person's life. A patient may lose the ability to move an arm. Another may struggle to speak. Some may recover remarkably well, while others may live with lasting neurological damage. That is the paradox of neurosurgery. We work within something breathtakingly beautiful, yet unforgivingly delicate. Every movement must be deliberate. Every decision carries weight. Beneath our instruments lies not simply tissue, but a person's memories, emotions, relationships, ambitions and identity. This is why neurosurgery is more than a profession. It is a responsibility. It is also a privilege. At times, I find myself wondering whether neurosurgeons should be paid for the work we do—or whether we should instead be paying our patients for allowing us to witness such extraordinary beauty from within. Of course, surgery is demanding. It requires years of training, long hours, technical precision and immense concentration. But beyond all that, there remains a sense of wonder that never entirely disappears. The human brain continues to remind us how much we know—and how much we still do not understand. The more we see, the more humbled we become. And perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons of neurosurgery: to approach every patient not only with knowledge and skill, but also with reverence. Because inside every human being lies a masterpiece that only a fortunate few are ever allowed to see.
25 July 2026
Where Human Certainty Ends
There are certain patients a neurosurgeon never forgets—not only because of the complexity of their illness, but because their recovery challenges everything we think we understand about medicine, prognosis and hope. A few years ago, in the early hours of the morning, I was called by a paediatrician to review an eight-year-old boy in the general intensive care unit. He had presented with a severe and unremitting headache, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Shortly before I was called, he developed a seizure and was transferred to the ICU. By the time I arrived, he had already lost consciousness. His CT scan revealed a devastating picture. He had extensive cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, with severe brain swelling and dangerously raised intracranial pressure. Both of his pupils were fixed and dilated—an ominous sign that the pressure within his skull was already critically affecting his brain. I examined him, looked again at the scan, and then caught the paediatrician's attention. I simply shook my head. No words were necessary. My expression conveyed what I feared most: I did not think the child would survive. It was not an admission of defeat. It was an honest recognition of the severity of his condition. Every clinical sign suggested that we might already be too late. But while there was still something that could be done, surrender was not an option. After speaking with his parents and explaining the gravity of the situation, I took him urgently to the operating theatre for a decompressive craniectomy. A large section of skull was removed to give the swollen brain room to expand and to relieve the immense pressure within his head. During the operation, I inserted an intracranial pressure monitor. The reading climbed to approximately 80 mmHg. It was a terrifying number—far beyond the normal range and, physiologically, almost incompatible with life. Despite every measure available to us, we could only reduce the pressure to around 60 mmHg, which remained critically high. His pupils stayed dilated. His brain continued to swell. We used sedation, medication and every available treatment to rest the brain and control the pressure. The intensive care team worked relentlessly, fighting for every small improvement. The days passed. Then the days became weeks. I must admit that there were moments when I began to lose hope. I wondered whether he would survive and, even if he did, whether meaningful neurological recovery would still be possible. Then, slowly and almost imperceptibly, something began to change. The intracranial pressure started to fall. His pupils gradually became smaller and began to react. Then, one day, he opened his eyes. It was only the beginning. Initially, he had significant neurological deficits, just as we had feared. His recovery was slow and demanding. But children possess an extraordinary capacity for healing, and month after month, he continued to improve. He began to move. He began to speak. He began to smile. Eventually, he returned to school. Today, he has recovered remarkably well and is able to participate in normal daily life. Considering how close he had come to death, his recovery was nothing short of extraordinary. What makes this story even more meaningful is what happened afterwards. Over the years, I came to know him and his family well. What began as a doctor-patient relationship gradually developed into a genuine friendship. Whenever I see him now—older, stronger, smiling and living his life—I am taken back to that night in the ICU. I remember the scan. I remember his fixed pupils. I remember silently shaking my head at the paediatrician. And I have never been happier to have been wrong. That child taught me one of the most important lessons of my career. As doctors, we must be honest. We must not offer false hope. But neither should we confuse probability with certainty. We study. We plan. We operate. We use every ounce of knowledge, skill and perseverance we possess. Yet the final outcome is not always ours to determine. There are moments in medicine when science reaches its limits and humility must take over. We treat, but Allah heals. And sometimes, the most extraordinary recoveries begin precisely where human certainty ends.
Patient Guides
Clear, straightforward articles covering the questions patients ask most often.
What happens during brain surgery?
5 min read
Understanding your MRI report
6 min read
Questions to ask your neurosurgeon
4 min read
Recovery after brain surgery
7 min read
From the Journey
2014
Return to Malaysia: Sunway Medical Centre
After nearly two decades in the United Kingdom and Ireland, training, researching, operating, and teaching, I returned to Malaysia. I joined Sunway Medical Centre as a Consultant Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon, bringing with me the techniques and multidisciplinary approach I had developed through the UK system. The move was a homecoming and a new beginning.
Read the full journey →Credentials
For referring doctors and patients who want the facts at a glance.
RCSI
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin
FRCS
Fellowship, Surgical Neurology
28+
Years in Practice
Sunway
Consultant Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon
Featured Video
What are the latest surgical procedures available to remove a brain tumour?
Dr Syed Abdullah Al-Haddad discusses the most current surgical approaches for brain tumour removal, including awake craniotomy and intraoperative mapping.
Brain Tumour Surgery
Common questions
What patients most often ask before getting in touch.
Where does Dr Syed Abdullah Al-Haddad practise in Malaysia?
At Sunway Medical Centre, Tower D-6-11, 6th Floor, 5 Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor — about 25 minutes from central Kuala Lumpur. Patients travel from across the Klang Valley and from elsewhere in Malaysia and the region.
What conditions does he treat?
Brain tumours, pituitary tumours, skull base conditions, neuro-oncology, spinal degenerative and tumour-related disease, and trigeminal neuralgia. He also performs awake craniotomy, where the patient is awake during part of the operation so that speech and movement can be mapped and protected.
What should I bring to a first appointment?
Your identity card or passport, any previous scan films or reports (MRI or CT), a list of your current medications, your insurance or guarantee letter if applicable, and, if possible, a family member or friend.
Do I need a referral to see a neurosurgeon?
No. A referral letter from your GP or another specialist is helpful because it carries your history, but it is not required. Appointments are arranged through Sunway Medical Centre — you can submit an enquiry on their website, call +603-7491 9191, or WhatsApp +6011-1116 1030.
What are his qualifications?
He holds the degrees MB Bch, BaO, LRCSI, LRCPI from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in Dublin (1996), MRCS, an MSc in Trauma Surgery from the University of Birmingham, and FRCS (Surgical Neurology) from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He completed his CCT in Neurosurgery in the United Kingdom in 2010 and was Consultant Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead in Neuro-Oncology at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Scotland, before returning to Malaysia in 2014.
Does he see second-opinion patients?
Yes. Many patients come after a diagnosis elsewhere, wanting the scan explained again and the options set out clearly before deciding. Bring your imaging and any reports you already have.
Where I practise
Clinic
Tower D-6-11, 6th Floor
5, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway
47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Malaysia
Clinic hours
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday and public holidays: closed
Appointments
Get in touch
Appointments are arranged through Sunway Medical Centre. My team will help you with scheduling, insurance, and any questions before your visit.
Prefer to speak to someone? Call +603-7491 9191 or WhatsApp +6011-1116 1030.