POSTED UNDER Liposuction Reviews
100% Recommended
UPDATED FROM NikyD
6 months post
Mixed experience after extensive liposuction in Korea – still evaluating the final result
WORTH IT
I underwent extensive liposuction in Korea in February 2026, including my abdomen, flanks, thighs and other areas. I am writing this review several months after surgery because I wanted to give my body enough time to heal before judging the outcome.
The surgery definitely changed my body contour. My waist is more defined and there are areas where I can see an improvement in shape. However, my main concern has been the quality and appearance of my skin after the procedure.
Around three months after surgery, I developed much more visible cellulite, waviness and irregularity over my thighs and buttocks than I had expected. My skin looked significantly less smooth, and at that stage I was genuinely worried that I looked worse than before surgery despite having less fat.
The good news is that between approximately three and six months, I have seen improvement. The skin has gradually become smoother and some of the postoperative irregularity has diminished. This makes me think that swelling, tissue remodeling and possibly fibrosis were contributing to the appearance and that the three-month result was definitely not the final result.
I still have visible cellulite and some skin irregularity, particularly on my thighs, and I am not yet completely satisfied with the result. My lower abdomen also does not look exactly as I had hoped from every angle, although my waist and overall abdominal contour are improved.
One thing I found interesting is the difference in postoperative care. In the United States, manual lymphatic drainage is very commonly recommended after extensive liposuction, whereas this was not emphasized during my treatment in Korea. In retrospect, I would have liked more guidance about postoperative swelling, lymphatic drainage, fibrosis, skin changes and what to realistically expect during the many months of recovery.
My biggest advice to anyone considering extensive liposuction is not to judge the result at two or three months. In my case, the appearance at three months was considerably more irregular than it was several months later. Healing after a large procedure appears to be a much longer process than I initially understood.
At this point, my opinion is mixed. I can see improvements in body contour, but I am still waiting to see how much the skin and cellulite improve before deciding whether I am ultimately happy with the surgery.
I plan to update this review as my recovery progresses, because I think showing the evolution at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months may be useful to other patients considering the same procedure.
The surgery definitely changed my body contour. My waist is more defined and there are areas where I can see an improvement in shape. However, my main concern has been the quality and appearance of my skin after the procedure.
Around three months after surgery, I developed much more visible cellulite, waviness and irregularity over my thighs and buttocks than I had expected. My skin looked significantly less smooth, and at that stage I was genuinely worried that I looked worse than before surgery despite having less fat.
The good news is that between approximately three and six months, I have seen improvement. The skin has gradually become smoother and some of the postoperative irregularity has diminished. This makes me think that swelling, tissue remodeling and possibly fibrosis were contributing to the appearance and that the three-month result was definitely not the final result.
I still have visible cellulite and some skin irregularity, particularly on my thighs, and I am not yet completely satisfied with the result. My lower abdomen also does not look exactly as I had hoped from every angle, although my waist and overall abdominal contour are improved.
One thing I found interesting is the difference in postoperative care. In the United States, manual lymphatic drainage is very commonly recommended after extensive liposuction, whereas this was not emphasized during my treatment in Korea. In retrospect, I would have liked more guidance about postoperative swelling, lymphatic drainage, fibrosis, skin changes and what to realistically expect during the many months of recovery.
My biggest advice to anyone considering extensive liposuction is not to judge the result at two or three months. In my case, the appearance at three months was considerably more irregular than it was several months later. Healing after a large procedure appears to be a much longer process than I initially understood.
At this point, my opinion is mixed. I can see improvements in body contour, but I am still waiting to see how much the skin and cellulite improve before deciding whether I am ultimately happy with the surgery.
I plan to update this review as my recovery progresses, because I think showing the evolution at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months may be useful to other patients considering the same procedure.
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ORIGINAL POST
100% Recommended
Despite maintaining an active lifestyle, I struggled to achieve the body contour I had when I was younger. My weight was relatively stable, but there were areas resistant to diet and exercise.
For me, this procedure was not about dramatic weight loss but about restoring proportion, improving contour, and feeling more aligned with how I used to look and feel. After careful consideration, I felt this was the right solution.I found Girin Plastic Surgery after extensive research comparing clinics in Korea, the United States, and Italy. I was specifically looking for a surgeon with strong expertise in body contouring and a refined, balanced approach rather than aggressive overcorrection.
What convinced me to choose Girin was the doctors’ specialization and experience, the detailed and transparent consultation process, and the natural-looking results shown in before-and-after photos. Communication with the team was always clear and professional. They were very responsive from the beginning, which made the entire process feel organized and trustworthy.
After the consultation with Dr. Park, I decided to proceed because of the very positive impression he gave me. He was extremely attentive, calm, and precise in his explanations. He listened carefully to my concerns and addressed them thoughtfully, which made me feel confident in the surgical plan.
I stayed one night at the clinic in my own private room, which was comfortable and well organized. Despite the language barrier, communication was never a real issue because the WhatsApp chat system works extremely well and responses are very fast.
I had several translators assisting me, and they were all helpful. I would especially like to mention El-roi. Even though she is still new at the clinic, she was incredibly compassionate, attentive to my needs, and very supportive throughout the entire process. I truly appreciated her care and professionalism — I give her 5 stars.
Day 1 felt like I had been beaten up — which I understand is normal after this type of surgery. I was sore, tight, and quite uncomfortable.
By the afternoon of Day 2, I started to feel slightly better. I really wanted to return to my hotel (about a 15-minute walk from the clinic), so I slowly walked back, which actually helped circulation.
The first few days, I made sure to drink a lot of fluids. I was waking up multiple times at night, likely due to stress and the body’s cortisol response after surgery. I would suggest bringing melatonin to help regulate sleep. I started using it after 4 days, and it made a big difference for me.
On Day 2, I mostly stayed calm at the hotel, getting up periodically to walk and drink water as recommended.
Going to the bathroom was one of the biggest challenges during the first few days. I experienced constipation (which is common after anesthesia and pain medication), and I needed to use a laxative. Bringing a stool softener from the beginning would have been helpful.
Going to urinate was also complicated because the compression garment is very tight, and removing and putting it back on can be painful in the early days.
At Day 7, my stitches were removed. By that point, I was already feeling significantly better. I was able to walk around Seoul, do some light shopping at markets and stores, and even have dinner out. I am still taking it easy, but walking is an important part of recovery, so I try to reach around 5,000 to 6,000 steps per day to support circulation and healing.
The nurses checked on me multiple times during my stay. The nurse who removed my stitches and monitored my progress was very professional. Although she does not speak English fluently, she gave me very good suggestions and took great care in explaining what I needed to do.
Swelling is still present, which is expected, but I already notice improvement in contour. Bruising is gradually decreasing. The compression garment continues to play an important role in supporting the healing tissues.
I did not experience major complications. The discomfort and temporary challenges described above were expected parts of the recovery process.
Whenever I had questions about swelling, garment use, or daily activities, the team responded quickly and clearly through WhatsApp. Their responsiveness has been reassuring during this early phase of recovery.
Thank you to Dr. Park and the entire Girin team.
For me, this procedure was not about dramatic weight loss but about restoring proportion, improving contour, and feeling more aligned with how I used to look and feel. After careful consideration, I felt this was the right solution.I found Girin Plastic Surgery after extensive research comparing clinics in Korea, the United States, and Italy. I was specifically looking for a surgeon with strong expertise in body contouring and a refined, balanced approach rather than aggressive overcorrection.
What convinced me to choose Girin was the doctors’ specialization and experience, the detailed and transparent consultation process, and the natural-looking results shown in before-and-after photos. Communication with the team was always clear and professional. They were very responsive from the beginning, which made the entire process feel organized and trustworthy.
After the consultation with Dr. Park, I decided to proceed because of the very positive impression he gave me. He was extremely attentive, calm, and precise in his explanations. He listened carefully to my concerns and addressed them thoughtfully, which made me feel confident in the surgical plan.
I stayed one night at the clinic in my own private room, which was comfortable and well organized. Despite the language barrier, communication was never a real issue because the WhatsApp chat system works extremely well and responses are very fast.
I had several translators assisting me, and they were all helpful. I would especially like to mention El-roi. Even though she is still new at the clinic, she was incredibly compassionate, attentive to my needs, and very supportive throughout the entire process. I truly appreciated her care and professionalism — I give her 5 stars.
Day 1 felt like I had been beaten up — which I understand is normal after this type of surgery. I was sore, tight, and quite uncomfortable.
By the afternoon of Day 2, I started to feel slightly better. I really wanted to return to my hotel (about a 15-minute walk from the clinic), so I slowly walked back, which actually helped circulation.
The first few days, I made sure to drink a lot of fluids. I was waking up multiple times at night, likely due to stress and the body’s cortisol response after surgery. I would suggest bringing melatonin to help regulate sleep. I started using it after 4 days, and it made a big difference for me.
On Day 2, I mostly stayed calm at the hotel, getting up periodically to walk and drink water as recommended.
Going to the bathroom was one of the biggest challenges during the first few days. I experienced constipation (which is common after anesthesia and pain medication), and I needed to use a laxative. Bringing a stool softener from the beginning would have been helpful.
Going to urinate was also complicated because the compression garment is very tight, and removing and putting it back on can be painful in the early days.
At Day 7, my stitches were removed. By that point, I was already feeling significantly better. I was able to walk around Seoul, do some light shopping at markets and stores, and even have dinner out. I am still taking it easy, but walking is an important part of recovery, so I try to reach around 5,000 to 6,000 steps per day to support circulation and healing.
The nurses checked on me multiple times during my stay. The nurse who removed my stitches and monitored my progress was very professional. Although she does not speak English fluently, she gave me very good suggestions and took great care in explaining what I needed to do.
Swelling is still present, which is expected, but I already notice improvement in contour. Bruising is gradually decreasing. The compression garment continues to play an important role in supporting the healing tissues.
I did not experience major complications. The discomfort and temporary challenges described above were expected parts of the recovery process.
Whenever I had questions about swelling, garment use, or daily activities, the team responded quickly and clearly through WhatsApp. Their responsiveness has been reassuring during this early phase of recovery.
Thank you to Dr. Park and the entire Girin team.
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