This community helped me a lot when I was researching, so I wanted to share information too. I thought sharing information after actually undergoing surgery would help people considering surgery much more than reviewing clinics where I only had brief consultations. I tried to write as much detail as possible, so ask me if you want to know anything about the clinic or surgery!
Consultation On the day I first consulted, I thought I could only go that day, so after contacting the clinic I suddenly changed the date and went for the last appointment. Because it was a same-day booking and date change, they said only a coordinator consultation was possible, not the director. But this was one of the three clinics I especially wanted to consult even if I could not see the director, so I still wanted the coordinator consultation.
I know meeting the surgeon is important, but I accepted that and went ahead. 1. I consulted with the general manager, who had worked in an operating room. The general manager’s child also had surgery here and got an amazing hot-girl figure, so my trust increased. 2. They had many before-and-after photos of people with similar or more severe body types, and many surgical cases. 3. There was no pressure to write a review. It was a partial-model event, but there was absolutely no pressure. I found that surprising. Since I was satisfied with the result, I ended up writing one anyway lol. 4. It did not feel like people were being drawn in through advertising everywhere. It felt like people who knew the clinic came through word of mouth. On the day I went, a mother and daughter were talking with the general manager at the desk; it seemed both had surgery there—the daughter first, then her mother. 5. The aftercare was genuinely useful and excellent. Four radiofrequency treatments and six scar-laser treatments after six months were included as standard, plus many other services. When I had breast fat grafting at another clinic, I honestly thought hyperbaric oxygen had little effect. From the perspective of someone who works at a clinic, I also thought swelling lasers and similar light treatments were just placebo, so I avoided clinics that promoted oxygen care and regenerative lasers as aftercare. 6. Consultation based on facts. This depends on the person, but I loved the direct advice. It was so refreshing. They did not simply criticize other clinics. 7. ★★An anesthesiologist is on site★★ This is truly important. Arm liposuction is not a simple procedure; it is surgery. Some clinics do not have an anesthesiologist, so research carefully before choosing.
In the end, I consulted for over an hour and a half and paid the reservation deposit that same day. I decided to reshape my upper body, including my arms, and paid for the custom compression garment on the spot. Compression garments really differ by clinic. Many clinics say they are unnecessary if enough fat is removed. But I believe that once fat is removed, the area should be held firmly in place with a compression garment, so I had no particular resistance to it being required.
The incision sites were the front and back of the armpit area and the elbow area. There were three scars per arm, six in total for both arms. Stitches were removed on days 10–14. I considered this part of personal care, so it did not bother me. Every surgery has both advantages and disadvantages. If you cut the skin and move a cannula back and forth, expecting skin to be 100% perfectly clean like before surgery is contradictory. Scar-laser care after six months was included as standard too!
Surgery I was extremely nervous on the day. I have a strong fear of injections, and whenever I receive sedation I cry because I vaguely think, “What if I never wake up?” I went to the clinic very tense, but the staff and general manager were extremely kind. Since I had not met the surgeon at consultation, I met the director for the first time on surgery day. The director looked much more pleasant in person than in the medical-staff photo. I had worried because some reviews said the director was too blunt, but they simply gave me a brutally honest assessment of my body, and I actually liked it. I thought, “They understand my body condition as soon as they see it,” lol. They checked my overall body balance and explained exactly where and how much they would treat. They said my forearms were pretty and the surgery should turn out well, then designed everything carefully. From then on, I felt very excited.
I was trembling on the way into the operating room, and my heart began pounding. I complained that I was scared while entering with the general manager, but they held my hand while marking the IV line on my foot, while the surgeon prepared, and even as the sedation medication went in, helping me relax. I was deeply moved and grateful.
When I opened my eyes after surgery, I was in the recovery room. I was already wearing the compression garment. I was freezing and shaking when waking from sedation, but the recovery-room nurse, who looked like Pyo Ye-jin, took excellent care of me. She warmed porridge and checked on me frequently.
Day 1: Immediately after surgery, I could raise my arms without difficulty. There was no bruising or swelling yet, though I did not expect that to last because swelling usually develops later. Even so, I loved my arms.
Day 2: I visited the clinic for dressing. The nurse who looked like Pyo Ye-jin explained in detail how to do self-dressing and put on the compression garment.
Day 3: Taking off the garment, dressing myself, and putting it back on alone was quite difficult. My lower arms became very tight and extremely swollen as the main swelling began, but I could still raise my arms (huh).
Day 7: At my second dressing visit, they checked whether the skin was healing well. Because I seemed to have a tape allergy and had kept the tape on for too long, the skin behind my armpit had become irritated and developed a wound, so they applied DuoDERM. I could not see that area well because it was behind me, so I appreciated how carefully they checked it.
Day 10: At the suture-removal visit, the nurse removed the stitches. I was very scared, but it ended without much sensation.
Day 21: I began radiofrequency care. I know firmness after liposuction cannot be avoided, but the radiofrequency treatment really hurt!! They told me to start stretching and massage more often, so I worked hard at it.
And now! The bruising lasted about one and a half to two weeks. The firmness has eased a lot, and although it has only been one month, I am very satisfied!!! I still have swelling, and they say it will gradually decrease until three months, but I am already very happy lol. My ideal was not extremely bony or unnaturally thin arms; excessive removal increases the chance of complications. I wanted balanced arms that harmonize with my lower arms and fall straight down in one clean line, and I think they turned out exactly that way. I am so excited for next summer!!! I will walk around confidently wearing only a camisole, without putting a cardigan over it!!!