Gave birth 26 years ago, no matter how skinny or how much I exercised, the excess skin and flabby tummy is forever and real.
I am born 1980, easier for u to calculate age regardless when you reading this. I been contemplating this surgery for as long as I know it existed but let's be honest about the pricing, it's not cheap.
I have known Doctor Kim since 2017 when he did my lower eye blepharoplasty, he has main fingers and I been going back to Regen hospital since, having routine PRP, and 2 fat graft done in his hospital but by another medical director (See previous review if you need details).
Regen Medical has ceased operations and Dr Kim started his own establishment "Wooa" in Apujeong, just 5 mins walk away from Apujeong station Exit 4.
Updated on 10 Jan 2024:
- lack of waist line curve
- bulging tummy, belly fats
- diastasis recti
I need to emphasise that I am an active person, working out more than 3 times a week, clocking in 5-8 hours weekly which includes strength training in gym, cardio in spin classes and dancing, I also train my flexibility taking contortion classes but despite so, my tummy issues never go away, even during my peak form, it shows as unflattering excess skin which bothers me.
Especially after 40 when my physical form changes as I put on weight even though my diet remains the same.
At 43 I decided to rid it once and for all - yolo, I always wished for a better physique and I also want to talk about my suffering for diastasis recti since after giving birth 26 years ago, weak non existent core muscle, weak pelvic muscle which leads to urinary incontinence when I cough and I hates it. Again I want to emphasise that I do train and stretch on a frequent basis but it does nothing much.
Updated on 12 Jan 2024:
0900hrs - I had my appointment for consultation, blood test and surgery on Dec 23, 2023 in Wooa, Seoul, South Korea.
I was assigned a non English speaking coordinator even though I have requested for one, the English speaking coordinator was not around, there was no replacement and they assigned a mandarin speaking because I’m Chinese. I can speak mandarin but discussing about the options, surgery, downtime and aftercare - I preferred it to be English, for this I’m rather disappointed. Talking about aftercare, I was given no information after my aftercare because there was no English or Mandarin speaking staff when I woke up from my surgery, there was a very kind and helpful caregiver at the medical institution though. 1 yes only 1, mayb because it is Dec 24, Christmas Eve.
I vaguely remembered in pain and cold when I was awaken to be shifted to the resting room from operating theater, shivering and crying.
Was then put on painkiller drip and in warm clothes thereafter, they also gave me extra blanket and I’m sleeping in heated bedding. I slept through out until 9pm ish and I asked for water. I also remembered drinking 3 bottles of water at 1 go and then regretted ????. Just to explain, I been fasting since I arrive at Wooa at 9am, no water and food until I woke up. The 3 bottles of water tasted like magic but then after a tummy tuck, unsure if I can walk or sit up, I panicked after drinking, worrying about using toilet if needed.
It was uncalled for. I can sit up with some help holding the rail of the bed, slight discomfort along the lower abdominal area, it was numb, can’t feel a thing, instead I just felt that skin was pulled tight and I have to be careful. No issues going to the loo, or dressing myself.
I strongly recommend that you rest for the night in the hospital where u have tummy tuck, for this I’m grateful to Wooa who recommended this. There was no extra charge to it. The remote controlled adjustable reclining bed is a god sent after the surgery. Aftercare for surgery is important. The caregiver was getting me water and food (Congee), switching on and off the lights, adjusting my painkiller drip, room temperature and covering me with ample blanket for warmth.
Day 2 after surgery was manageable, movement slow but I can walk, bend slightly, wear my own clothes and use the toilet without help.
For this again, I would like to express my disappointment that Wooa didn’t arrange my transport back to where I’m staying even though I have requested for it, and the caregiver didn’t know how to do it either. As mentioned above, there was no one else, I tried to contact the English speaking coordinator via WhatsApp but was told to hail a taxi off the street myself. At that moment, I’m just utterly disappointed because I just had a major surgery (tummy tuck), with a post surgery drain on me, alone, I do not speak Korean and taxi drivers in Korea do not speak English at all. It was also snowing, temperature -5 to -10 and I was sent out to the street to hail a taxi myself on Christmas Eve. Yes, even after I have put in the request for them to arrange a taxi in advance, of which I will pay the ride myself but it was overlooked. I’m indeed a survivor.
I have mixed feelings about Wooa, my surgery was done perfectly by Dr Park Young Ran, I can see the nice waistline and flat tummy immediately after the surgery but the aftercare is almost non existent. I been with Regen since 2017, their service is so good and I’m been so well taken care of - it doesn’t matter that I always go Seoul alone for my procedures but for this trip, I am disappointed, not with the surgery or doctor but with the hired staff.
There was also no aftercare information at all, I have a bag of medicine that I do not know if I have to eat before or after meals, I do not if there is anything that I should not or should be doing after surgery, I don’t know if I can shower, I know nothing, I remembered being told that I should pour away the fluid in the drain from the wound if it is more than 2/3 but do not know how. I was told by caregiver to measure how much fluid was poured away if I did pour away. I only know that I should come back on Tuesday, Dec 26 to see the doctors and remove the stitches but I do not know what time too.
I was given zero information.
I’m blessed though, post surgery next day, I actually hailed a taxi off the street on Christmas Eve and managed to alight somewhere near where I’m staying and walked back in snow. Yes I can walk and I got back safely.
I rested for abit then I went out to get food. Walking is slower than usual but manageable, nothing to abstain from, I had seafood ramen and sashimi thereafter. I even went Seoul tower the next day on Christmas.
I did contact the English speaking coordinator via whatsapp to get the green lights for walking and all the lacking information, I felt bad to be disturbing him during Christmas but I also feel sorry for myself that the aftercare is so lousy.
I believe the cold makes everything more manageable because wearing the waist band feels more like protecting me from the cold, I can wear a coat to cover up the drain and I will not be sweating in winter.
Updated on 14 Jan 2024:
The stitches stretches across my pelvic bone. How many stitches unknown. It was bandaged and no shower until 3 days after stitches and drained removed which is approx 17 days after surgery. I use waterproof bandage and ur wet cloth to wipe clean myself. For hair, I bend forward and self wash - I didn’t want to go hair salon because I have concerns about the reclining salon seat for hair wash.
Stitches removed 1 week after surgery.
Drain is removed 2 weeks after surgery.
No further information given, have to ask.
Medicine is prescribed for 1 week, 3 times a day. Manageable pain persist after prescribed medication ends, I eat my own ibuprofen for pain management. I also had pumpkin juice and some recovery ampoule everyday, 2 times a day.
Compression suit can be ordered from Hospital thru third party vendor, wear it 2 weeks after surgery and to continue wearing for 12 weeks. I ordered 2 suits so I can rotate wearing them. It cost me approx USD 400 for 2 compression suit, material is breathable and comfortable even when I’m wearing it back in Singapore’s tropical weather. There are 2 materials for choice, the thicker material is cheaper but I’m not sure how much it is. Initial wear for the compression suit takes some patience and effort but it will get easier thereafter, perhaps after the first stretch. I hand wash it, drying is fast. I rotate between the compression suit every 3-5 days.
Walking and light exercise allowed, no intense and vigorous exercise but I am clueless on the classification of light to vigourous.
Updated on 24 Jan 2024:
Tummy and wound no longer that itchy
My reconstructed belly button got inflamed, I saw a GP in Singapore and started on antibiotics and anti inflammatory cream.
Flatter tummy and defined waistline. The new shape makes me look slimmer and fit better into my clothes even though I didnt lose a stone on weighing scale
I’m still wearing compression suit day in night out and applying the gel for scar.
Can feel wound area and waistline area still swollen and numb, but definitely more defined, considering getting liposuction for back area to create a better shape. Discussing with Wooa
Updated on 10 Feb 2024:
No more tummy, but still numb and tight.
I do not wear the compression suit if I’m exercising or have dinner but otherwise I wear it 24/7
Updated on 23 Feb 2024:
Updated on 14 Mar 2024:
Doctor is all good, but without good customer service, what can doctors do?
I flew all the way from Singapore here, took leave, made appointment for follow up and second fat graft surgery but was told no appointment made and my surgeon is on leave for this week. I wish I can tell you that this is a joke but it is not.
I fasted the whole day, not eaten bcoz surgery was supposed to be 3pm. I fasted for fun?
Their explanation was sorry, well sorry but not sorry I guess? They told me they will do their best this time and improve their customer service and this is what they did for me?
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