New Jersey congressional candidate Adam Hamawy is facing a fresh wave of scrutiny after The Washington Free Beacon reported that his plastic surgery practice had accumulated harsh online patient reviews over several years, including complaints alleging scarring, disfigurement, poor treatment, and dissatisfaction with cosmetic procedures.
The report adds to growing controversy surrounding Hamawy, a Democrat running in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, who has already faced criticism over his past association with convicted terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman, commonly referred to as the “Blind Sheikh.”
Hamawy’s campaign biography portrays him as a surgeon, Army veteran, father, humanitarian, and small business owner seeking to represent working families in the district. His campaign website states that he has “dedicated” his life to serving others.
According to the Free Beacon, Hamawy’s Princeton-area plastic surgery practice has also been the subject of sharply negative online reviews stretching back nearly a decade. The outlet’s report highlighted complaints from former patients who described negative surgical outcomes and criticized their experiences with the practice.
What the Report Alleges
The conservative publication has more on the allegations and online complaints:
In a harrowing Yelp review from July 2019, a Princeton Junction woman named “Diva S.” said she was left permanently burned after seeing Hamawy for a routine laser hair removal treatment.
I left the practice in a significant amount of pain and drove home. Upon arriving home my parents saw my face and asked what happened. That’s when I noticed the second degree burns under my chin on my neck. I emailed Princeton Plastic Surgeons asking them what I should do. They got back to me the following morning telling me that “It will be fine. Put Neosporin on it”. I asked if they could prescribe me some mediation as the pain was unbearable. Adrienne confirmed that Dr Hamawy would prescribe me medication. However a full day went by and he did not prescribe any medication. I followed up with Adrienne several times and she was of no help. As a last resort my parents took me to the emergency room where I was treated for second degree burns. Three days later Dr Hamawy finally prescribed me medication. Apparently he was too busy up until then to follow up with his own patient. It has been six months since this unfortunate experience and I still have large scars. As an actress by profession these scars have made working very difficult. Dr Hamawy has still not called a single time to follow up.
Diva also included a photo with her review showing the burns with the caption “Second degree burn courtesy of Dr Hamawy.”
In another 2025 post, “Clair T” wrote that “this Doctor and his staff are horrible!” before recounting her own experience.
According to her review, “What was supposed to take 45 minutes he completed in 12 minutes, the outcome was filler improperly injected in the wrong areas,” she said.
When Clair later sought to address the problem, she said she was informed that Hamawy was unavailable because he had traveled to Gaza, where he had previously volunteered at a hospital reportedly located above a Hamas command center where leader Mohammed Sinwar was killed.
The claims should be understood as allegations from online complaints, not court findings or formal disciplinary conclusions based on the available reporting. Online medical reviews can reflect patient dissatisfaction, but they do not automatically establish malpractice or professional misconduct.
Hamawy’s own practice website, meanwhile, features positive testimonials from patients who praise the office, staff, and results. One page describes him as board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and trained at UT Southwestern and Weill Cornell.
Why the Story Is Politically Sensitive
Hamawy is not just any local physician. He is a Democratic candidate in a crowded race to succeed Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey’s 12th District where his campaign has shown early strength. The New Jersey Globe reported in April that Hamawy raised nearly $550,000 after launching his campaign, making him one of the best-funded Democrats in the race.
The Blind Sheikh Controversy
The patient-complaint story follows earlier scrutiny over Hamawy’s past connection to Omar Abdel-Rahman, the Egyptian-born cleric known as the Blind Sheikh. Fox News reported that Hamawy had been a defense witness in Abdel-Rahman’s federal trial and had known him years earlier.
Abdel-Rahman was convicted in connection with a seditious conspiracy case involving plots to attack New York-area landmarks. Fox News also reported that former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy said Hamawy’s testimony ultimately helped the government more than the defense.
Hamawy addressed the controversy in an Insider NJ interview, arguing that as a Muslim candidate, critics would “always” find something to attack.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Adam Hamawy now involves two separate lines of attack: his past association with the Blind Sheikh and newly resurfaced patient complaints about his plastic surgery practice. The verified facts show that Hamawy is a serious Democratic contender, a physician and veteran with notable endorsements and fundraising strength. The complaints, however, should be described carefully as allegations from online reviews unless supported by formal records or adjudicated findings.
For voters in New Jersey’s 12th District, the central question may be whether these controversies outweigh Hamawy’s campaign message of military service, medical experience and progressive politics.
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