Neil Solomons was a consultant ENT, facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Penang, Malaysia. He was born and brought up in South Africa. He came from a medical family; his father, Arthur Solomons, and an uncle were general practitioners. Another uncle was a plastic surgeon in Port Elizabeth, and two of his cousins became doctors; Kevin, a psychiatrist in Vancouver, and Michael Solomons, a specialist hand surgeon in Cape Town. Neil’s mother was Jewel Solomons née Geffen. He qualified at Cape Town University Medical School and showed an early interest in ENT surgery, having worked as an anatomy lecturer and as an ENT registrar at Groote Schuur Hospital. In the UK he continued his training initially at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital then as a registrar to James Robinson at the Gloucester Royal Hospital. He was appointed as a senior registrar to the Royal Free Hospital and the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford rotation. In 1992 he was appointed as a consultant ENT surgeon to St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, which at the time had recently combined its ENT department with the Royal Surrey County Hospital. He was a quick and accurate surgeon and an excellent teacher. He soon developed a special interest in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and built up a significant practice. He contributed the ENT chapter to the third edition of *Clinical examination* edited by Owen Epstein et al (Mosby, 2003). In 2010 he decided on new pastures and moved with his wife Jennifer (née Dickin) to Penang, Malaysia, where he was able to continue his chosen field at the Lam Wah Ee Hospital. He kept close professional ties with his membership of the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, the Pan Asian Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (of which he was a director) and the ASEAN Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (where he served as vice president). Neil and Jennifer had over ten happy years enjoying the life and beaches of Penang with their beloved dogs. He bore his terminal illness of pancreatic cancer with great steadfastness and died on 21 August 2021 aged 66. He leaves behind Jennifer and his first wife, Caroline (née Stewart), their two adored daughters Lucy and Kate and three grandchildren, Clan, Addison and Blake. He is also mourned by his extended family who mainly live in South Africa.