※ The attached photos are actual before-and-after surgery photos and excerpts from the surgery log. Personal and identifiable information has been covered. I am sharing my real experience in the hope that it may be helpful to those considering surgery.
■ 2023.02.21 Thigh liposuction I underwent liposuction on the inner and outer thighs. After surgery, a dent developed on the outer thigh. Later, when I had fat grafting, I requested that the dented area on the outer thigh be filled as well. I told the doctor directly, and since it was not marked, I told the director again. At the time, I was told that it would be checked by the doctor before proceeding. However, after surgery, the outer thigh dent I had requested was not filled, and the dent remains to this day.
■ 2023.03.28 Abdominal liposuction and fat grafting to the upper buttocks After abdominal liposuction, fat grafting was performed to the upper buttocks.
■ 2023.05.22 Second pelvic fat grafting I underwent my second pelvic fat grafting surgery. Not long after surgery, blisters appeared in the right pelvic area, there was a feeling of heat, and it felt hard and lumpy. At first, I asked the clinic whether there might be a problem, and I repeatedly complained about the discomfort in that area. The clinic explained the possibility of an oil cyst and also said that it might improve with time, and I was also told that it seemed to be part of the fat engraftment process. But to me, it did not feel like it was improving; the pain and discomfort continued, and it seemed to get worse over time.
■ Ongoing pain and visits through 2023 to 2024 Even after that, pain, heat, lumps, and firmness continued, so I visited the clinic several times. The clinic prescribed antibiotics and repeatedly told me to observe the progress. The attached surgery log also records the lump, pain, ultrasound check, and consultation notes related to the oil cyst in that area. From the moment the symptoms first appeared, I kept raising the issue, but the condition did not improve and I felt it became even more uncomfortable.
■ Oil cyst removal surgery after about 2 years In the end, because the symptoms continued for about 2 years, I requested removal surgery. Even after the removal surgery, a lump remained and an additional oil cyst was found. The problem is that after the removal surgery, the dent became even worse than before. I felt that normal fat tissue had also been removed, and now the indentation is more severe than before surgery. I later asked how the dented area could be restored, and the clinic explained that even if the remaining oil cyst was not removed, fat grafting could be added on top to fill the dented area. After hearing this explanation, I felt anxious and confused about the treatment direction.
■ Hematoma after the second removal surgery I then underwent a second removal surgery. Before surgery, I was not told about the possibility of a hematoma. After surgery, the area gradually began to swell, and although I asked the clinic several times, I received replies to the effect that there was no problem. However, the wound did not heal normally, so I visited another hospital and was diagnosed with a hematoma. In the end, I underwent hematoma removal surgery on the same day as the diagnosis.
■ Current condition After the hematoma removal, a round, palpable hypertrophic scar developed inside. I am still receiving steroid injections and additional treatment continues. In addition, further treatment is also needed for the indentation that occurred after oil cyst removal.
■ Process of obtaining copies of medical records I requested copies of my medical records to check the treatment progress. However, at first I was only given partial records that did not include the parts where I had continuously complained of pain and lumps. I raised this issue, but the clinic said that the records initially provided were appropriate medical records and that there was nothing wrong with their content. After that, I filed a complaint through the national civil complaints system, and after an investigation by the public health center I was able to receive the full copy of my medical records.
■ About the surgery consent forms While checking the medical records, I found that some surgery consent forms had only my signature and no signature from the operating surgeon. I also filed a complaint about this through the national civil complaints system, and received a reply from the relevant institution indicating that the clinic had been warned.
■ Negotiation with the clinic and medical dispute mediation I repeatedly asked whether it would be possible to negotiate with the clinic about additional treatment and damages. Even recently, I checked one last time to see whether the clinic had any position or willingness to resolve the matter, but they responded with the same position as before and said they had no intention of reaching a separate settlement. I also applied for medical dispute mediation, but since the clinic did not participate in the mediation process, it did not proceed.
■ Current status I am still receiving additional treatment, and the mental and financial burden continues. The attached before-and-after photos and surgery log are all organized based on materials I actually received. This post was written to share my real experience, not to slander any specific medical staff or clinic. I hope it may be of some help to those considering surgery.