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[Kim Ha-young's SNS]
[Kim Ha-young's SNS]

Actor Kim Ha-young has shown off noticeably slimmer arms after undergoing liposuction on her upper arms. Two months after the procedure, she said her arms feel lighter and that she has gained confidence when getting dressed.

Kim recently shared before-and-after photos on SNS. "It's already been two months," she wrote, adding, "Living with new arms for two months now — they feel so light, I'm full of confidence, and I love it."

She said 1,700cc of fat was removed from her arms and was candid about the discomfort that followed. "It would be a lie to say it didn't hurt, but it was more of a dull ache," she said. She added that a light diet after the procedure drew compliments from those around her, with people saying her torso looked slimmer and smaller. "My arms are straight now," she said.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that can reshape specific areas of the body — such as the arms, abdomen and thighs — in a relatively short time. It should not be thought of simply as a fat-removal treatment, however: it involves anesthesia, incisions and a recovery period, meaning potential complications and post-operative care must be considered alongside the results.

1,700cc removed — but that's not the same as losing 1.7 kg

Liposuction works by inserting a thin suction tube called a cannula beneath the skin to remove subcutaneous fat. It is typically performed on areas like the upper arms where fat tends to linger even after overall weight loss, or where the volume of one area stands out disproportionately relative to the rest of the body.

When fat on the outer or back of the arm is reduced, the protrusion visible from the side diminishes and the arm can appear straighter — exactly the effect Kim described.

Liposuction serves a different purpose from weight-loss surgery for obesity, however. The focus is not on significantly reducing overall body weight but on trimming the fat layer in a specific area to alter body shape and proportion.

The 1,700cc Kim mentioned cannot be directly equated to a 1.7 kg reduction in body weight. The fluid suctioned during the procedure contains not only fat tissue but also the solution injected during surgery, along with blood and other bodily fluids. Even when the same volume is removed, the actual amount of pure fat eliminated can vary from person to person.

Removing a larger volume in a single session does not necessarily produce better results, either. The amount that can be safely removed depends on the area being treated, the patient's weight, overall health and the type of anesthesia used, and must be assessed on an individual basis.

'It would be a lie to say it didn't hurt' — bruising, swelling and soreness are part of recovery

As Kim's description of a dull ache suggests, pain, bruising, swelling and a pulling sensation are common after liposuction. Some patients also experience temporary numbness or, conversely, heightened sensitivity in the skin.

Swelling is particularly pronounced immediately after surgery, making it difficult to judge the final result from what one sees in the mirror. Over the first few days to several weeks, bruising and swelling gradually subside, and the contour becomes more natural as the skin and underlying tissue settle.

Most patients find that everyday discomfort decreases significantly after a few weeks, but it can take several months for the final body shape to fully emerge. When the treated area is large or an individual's recovery is slower, swelling and changes in sensation may persist for longer.

During recovery, doctors may recommend wearing a compression garment depending on the surgical method and area treated. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting are typically restricted for a set period, and the timing for resuming physical activity should be determined after assessing the scope of the surgery and the patient's recovery progress.

What if you gain weight after liposuction? Remaining fat cells can still expand

Removing some fat cells through liposuction does not mean the treated area will never accumulate fat again.

Fat cells that remain in the treated area can enlarge if body weight increases. A significant weight gain can cause fat to build up not only in the arms but also in untreated areas such as the abdomen, back and thighs, altering the overall body shape.

Conversely, keeping weight relatively stable after surgery helps preserve the contour achieved through liposuction over the long term.

Kim herself said she went on a light diet after the procedure. Once recovery is sufficiently advanced, managing weight and muscle mass through regular aerobic exercise, appropriate strength training and a balanced diet is advisable.

That said, aggressively cutting food intake or ramping up exercise intensity immediately after surgery in pursuit of rapid weight loss should be avoided. Wound healing requires adequate nutrition, including protein, vitamins and minerals.

Cosmetic surgery is still surgery — seek care immediately if pain worsens or breathing becomes difficult

While bruising and swelling are a normal part of recovery, medical attention is needed if pain worsens over time or the surgical site becomes severely red and hot.

High fever, discharge or pus, or pronounced swelling in only one arm may indicate complications such as infection, hematoma or seroma. Uneven skin texture or asymmetry in the contours of the two arms can also occur.

In particular, if systemic symptoms appear — such as sudden difficulty breathing, chest pain or severe dizziness — seek medical care immediately, as rare but serious emergencies such as blood clots or pulmonary embolism must be ruled out.

Liposuction offers the advantage of reshaping a targeted area relatively quickly, but it is not a substitute for weight loss. Maintaining the desired contour over time requires managing not only the safety of the procedure itself and the recovery process, but also body weight in the months and years that follow.


rainbow@heraldcorp.com