Non-Surgical Body Contouring in Korea: Injections Plus Devices

I'm Dr. Jong Seon Kim, a director at Gangnam HERA in Seoul. I'm a board member of the Korean Society of Aesthetic Surgery and a full member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Many people come to us after dieting and exercising and still have one area that will not change. In this video I explain how we approach body contouring without surgery at HERA — and who it really suits.

My short answer: non-surgical body contouring works best for the last stubborn spot once you are close to your goal. We combine the Sok-Sok fat-dissolving injection to reduce fat with a tightening device for firmness, and most people are back to normal life the next day.

Why doesn't diet and exercise fix everything?

Because part of your shape is the one you were born with, and diet and exercise can only change so much of it. Many patients have done everything right — eating less, training hard — and there is still that one spot on the arm, belly or thigh that will not move. That last spot is where medical treatment can help.

But the body is not only fat. There is muscle, and there is skin, and with age the skin loses firmness and sags. Reducing fat alone does not give firmness. That is why at HERA we combine two things: the Sok-Sok injection to reduce fat volume, and a tightening device to give the skin back some firmness. Together they address the parts that were hard to fix naturally.

We call it "S Sok-Sok" for a reason. On the face, the injection is about the "V" of a V-line. On the body, it is about the "S" — the curve of your figure.

How does the Sok-Sok injection work?

It uses a hypotonic solution that flows into fat cells until they swell and burst, plus a minimal amount of ingredients that help fat cells break down. Every clinic has its own formula. Ours is built like this:

• A hypotonic base. Your body's normal fluid is about 0.9% salt. Our base solution is about half that. When it enters a fat cell, water flows in, the cell swells and eventually bursts.
• A small amount of fat-dissolving ingredients. These help exhaust fat cells so they die off.
• The smallest effective volume. Too much fluid is uncomfortable and makes the area sore, so we keep the hypotonic solution as the base and add only as much of the other ingredients as needed to get the most effect from the least amount.

The body then clears the broken-down fat gradually over the following weeks. If you want a more general overview of how this kind of injection works, fat-dissolving injections in Korea covers the basics.

Which devices are combined with it?

At HERA we use two body devices, Ulfit and Sizer, chosen by area.

• Ulfit — think of it as a body version of the well-known Ultherapy. It targets deeper layers to break down fat and give firmness at the same time.
• Sizer — a device dedicated to the abdomen. It reaches deeper still, which makes it effective for thicker fat such as belly fat.

You can read how Ulfit and Sok-Sok were combined for stubborn arm fat in this real patient review.

What is recovery like?

Short. The area looks puffy for a few hours, and most people are back to normal life the next day. Because a solution is injected, the treated area is swollen straight afterwards. That does not last long — usually within two to three hours most of the swelling has gone. By the next day there is no real problem with daily life. The same is true of the devices: by the next day most people are fine.

This is deliberate. We only combine treatments that avoid the long downtime of liposuction surgery — the kind where a day or two later the swelling has gone down and you can go about your life. So even if you have something important the next day, it is generally not a problem. Mild tenderness or a small bruise can still appear for a few days; what is normal after a fat-dissolving injection lists what to expect.

Which areas are treated most?

The arms, the belly and the thighs. These three are by far the most common. Typically we combine the Sok-Sok injection with Ulfit or Sizer, and we find the right dose for each person as we go. Because the plan really depends on your body, an in-person consultation is the best way to decide.

Who is it for, and how many sessions?

It suits people who have already lost some weight and just want to tidy up one last area. You know the one — you exercise, you skip meals, and that last bit still will not go. For those patients, even one session can give a good effect. For the fullest result, I recommend about three sessions, two to three weeks apart.

It is not a substitute for losing weight across the whole body, and it is not designed for large volumes of fat. If you are wondering how far non-surgical methods can go compared with surgery, will Korean non-surgical lipo work? discusses the limits honestly.

What is your part in the result?

Your own effort makes a big difference. Body contouring treatments work much better when they are combined with sensible eating and the right exercise. That is why I always guide patients to keep both going alongside treatment. Treatment reduces fat and helps firmness; diet and exercise shape the line that is left.

What does it look like at HERA?

1. Consultation. We look at the area, how much is fat and how much is loose skin, and your goal.
2. Plan the combination. Sok-Sok alone, or with Ulfit or Sizer, and the number of sessions.
3. Treatment. The injection itself is quick — about 10–15 minutes per visit with numbing cream.
4. Follow-up sessions two to three weeks apart, with diet and exercise in between.

You receive an itemized written estimate before treatment, and an English interpreter is with you throughout.

The honest limits

This is contouring, not weight loss. The injection reduces fat in the treated area, but it does not tighten loose skin on its own, and results build gradually over several weeks rather than appearing overnight. How much changes depends on the area, the amount of fat and how well you keep up diet and exercise. Results vary from person to person.

For the right person — close to their goal, with one stubborn area — it is one of the simplest ways to change a shape without surgery or a long recovery. If you have any questions about Sok-Sok or our devices, send me a message.