Arms with the underarm fat, the abdomen in a 180° or 360° pattern, and the thighs at 360° are the liposuction areas on the Pixelab Beauty Clinic price list. This liposuction in Korea is surgery under IV sedation, carried out by Dr. Jongkeun Song, a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon, and each area carries its own listed price before VAT.
Is it for you?
Who liposuction in Seoul suits, and who should hold off
Liposuction changes the outline of a chosen area by taking fat out from under the skin. It works on shape. The number on the scale may hardly change, so people hoping to lose a large amount of weight are steered toward a different plan first.
Skin quality matters as much as the fat itself. After the fat is removed, the skin has to shrink back over the new contour, and firm skin does that more evenly than skin that is already loose. A stable weight in the months before surgery also helps, because the fat cells left behind still respond to weight change.
Surgery under sedation puts load on the heart, lungs and blood clotting. That is the reason a full health history, including any medicine that thins the blood, is reviewed before a date is offered, and the reason long flights straight after surgery are discouraged.
Usually a good fit
- Stubborn fat on the upper arms, abdomen or thighs
- Weight that has been steady for some months
- Fat that diet and exercise have not shifted
- Fairly firm skin over the area
- Healthy enough for surgery under sedation
We may suggest waiting
- Main goal is overall weight loss
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy soon
- Bleeding disorder or blood-thinning medicine (tell the clinic)
- Uncontrolled heart, lung or diabetic conditions
- Mostly loose skin with little fat beneath it
- Unable to stay in Seoul for the early follow-up
Your doctor
Founder and medical director · Korean board-certified plastic surgeon
“From learning to teaching.”Trained at Seoul & Incheon St. Mary's Hospitals. Now leading hands-on sessions for visiting doctors.
- ResidentPlastic surgery, Catholic Univ. Seoul St. Mary's Hospital
- FellowClinical fellow, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital
- AlmaTitanium Global Trainer
- JeisysDENSITY ALPHA TIP Ambassador
- MemberKorean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
How it works
How liposuction is carried out, area by area
Liposuction is surgery that removes fat through a cannula, a thin hollow tube passed under the skin through small openings. Moving the cannula loosens fat in the layer between skin and muscle, and suction draws it out. Working in overlapping, fan-shaped passes keeps the remaining layer even, since uneven removal is what produces dents and ridges later. An evidence review of the operation sets out how assessment, technique and clot prevention each feed into outcomes (Chia, 2017).
The price list splits the body into three areas across four lines. Arm liposuction includes the fat near the underarm, where the back of the arm meets the chest wall. The abdomen comes in two patterns: 180° works on the front of the torso, while 360° continues around the flanks and lower back, changing how the waist looks from the side and from behind. Thigh liposuction is listed as 360°, treating the leg all the way round.
The operation is done under IV sedation, medicine given through a vein so that you sleep through the surgery. Dr. Jongkeun Song performs the surgery. A compression garment goes on at the end and stays on through the weeks when bruising and swelling settle.
The fat taken out does not return to the area, and the clinic describes the result as long-term. Weight still matters: the fat that remains can grow if weight rises, which can change the shape again.
Assessment and marking
At consultationFat, skin firmness and health history are reviewed, and the zones are marked while you stand.
IV sedation
Sedation is given through a vein so you are asleep for the operation.
Fat removal
Typically about 1–3 hoursA cannula removes fat zone by zone; more areas or larger volumes take longer.
Garment fitting
The garment is fitted before you leave to support the skin while it settles.
Post-operative reviews
Regular post-operative checks follow bruising, swelling and the contour as it forms.
Liposuction areas at Pixelab Beauty Clinic
| Criteria | Arms | Abdomen 180° | Abdomen 360° | Thighs 360° |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone treated | Upper arm with underarm fat | Front of the torso | Front, flanks and lower back | All the way round the thigh |
| Suits | Fullness at the back of the arm | A lower belly that sits forward | A waist that widens at the sides | Fullness on inner and outer thigh |
| Anesthesia | IV sedation | IV sedation | IV sedation | IV sedation |
| Listed price | ₩3,300,000 + VAT | ₩3,000,000 + VAT | ₩5,500,000 + VAT | ₩6,000,000 + VAT |
Columns follow the clinic's price list; which area or pattern fits your body is judged in person.
At a glance
Liposuction facts at a glance
| Procedure time | Typically about 1–3 hours, longer for more areas |
|---|---|
| Numbing | IV sedation |
| Recovery | Bruising, swelling and pain for weeks; compression garment |
| Follow-up visits | Regular check-ups after surgery |
| Return to exercise | Walking typically from day 1; strenuous exercise about 6 weeks |
| Earliest flight home | Typically 5–7 days at least; long-haul about 1–2 weeks |
Prices
Liposuction Cost in South Korea
Liposuction at Pixelab Beauty Clinic is priced by area, so a plan for arms and abdomen carries two area prices. Every price on this page is listed before VAT. The 10% VAT is added when you pay, and each card below also shows the VAT-inclusive amount, which is the figure to set against your travel budget.
IV sedation and local anesthesia appear on the clinic's price sheet as separate add-on lines. Your written quote shows whether either line is added to your surgery. While you have the quote in hand, ask whether the compression garment and the follow-up visits are part of the total, so that the number you compare is complete.
Arms
Including underarm fat₩3,300,000 + VAT₩3,630,000 with VATBook nowAbdomen 180°
Front of the torso₩3,000,000 + VAT₩3,300,000 with VATBook nowAbdomen 360°
Front, flanks and back₩5,500,000 + VAT₩6,050,000 with VATBook nowThighs 360°
Whole thigh₩6,000,000 + VAT₩6,600,000 with VATBook nowIV sedation
Add-on line₩150,000 + VAT₩165,000 with VATListed separately on the price sheetBook nowLocal anesthesia
Add-on line₩50,000 + VAT₩55,000 with VATListed separately on the price sheetBook nowRecovery
Liposuction recovery week by week
Garment on; short walks are typically encouraged once awake
Bruising, swelling and soreness build; keep the garment on
Typically the earliest point for a short flight
Long-haul flights are typically considered from here
Gentle exercise typically resumes; swelling keeps easing
Regular or strenuous exercise is typically allowed
Safety
What can go wrong after liposuction
Liposuction is surgery, and the risks below are recognized for the operation in general:
- Contour irregularity: dents, ripples or one side looking different from the other.
- Seroma, a pocket of fluid under the skin that may need draining.
- Hematoma, a collection of blood under the treated area.
- Darkening of the skin over the treated zone.
- Numbness or altered feeling in the skin, which can take months to settle.
- Infection at the openings or in the treated area.
- Loose skin where the skin does not shrink back evenly.
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs and, rarely, fat embolism; long flights soon after surgery add to clot risk.
- Reactions to sedation medicine.
A 2024 meta-analysis found contour irregularity to be the most frequent problem and reported pigmentation in 1.49%, seroma in 0.65% and hematoma in 0.27% of cases (Comerci, 2024). For large-volume liposuction, a separate review found no top-level evidence and called the available data limited (Kanapathy, 2020), so more areas in one sitting means more uncertainty.
Contact the clinic at once if pain keeps getting worse, you develop a fever, one calf swells or aches more than the other, or you feel short of breath.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Risks and Complications Rate in Liposuction: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2024 · Comerci A et al. · doi:10.1093/asj/sjae074
A meta-analysis finding liposuction has a low complication rate, with contour irregularity the most common problem and pigmentation, seroma and hematoma reported at low rates.
- Safety of Large-Volume Liposuction in Aesthetic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2020 · Kanapathy M et al. · doi:10.1093/asj/sjaa338
A meta-analysis of large-volume liposuction in 3,583 patients that found no level 1 evidence, so its complication data remain limited.
- Evidence-Based Medicine: LiposuctionPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery · 2017 · Chia C et al. · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000002859
An evidence-based review covering assessment, medicines, technique, outcomes, clot prevention and complications in liposuction.
- Safety of Liposuction Using Exclusively Tumescent Local Anesthesia in 3,240 Consecutive CasesDermatologic Surgery · 2009 · HABBEMA L · doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2009.01284.x
A series of 3,240 liposuction cases done under tumescent local anesthesia alone, reported as safe when established guidelines were followed; anesthesia differs from IV sedation.
FAQ
Liposuction questions from overseas visitors
How much does liposuction cost in Seoul?
Each area has a listed price before VAT: arms with underarm fat ₩3,300,000, abdomen 180° ₩3,000,000, abdomen 360° ₩5,500,000 and thighs 360° ₩6,000,000. The 10% VAT is added at payment. If you are thinking about more than one area, ask for a quote that itemizes each.
Is IV sedation included in the liposuction price?
The price sheet lists IV sedation as its own add-on at ₩150,000 + VAT, and local anesthesia at ₩50,000 + VAT. Liposuction at the clinic is done under IV sedation, so look at your written quote to see whether the sedation line has been added to the area price.
What is recovery like after liposuction?
Bruising, swelling and pain last for several weeks, and a compression garment is worn through that period. The number of areas and the volume removed shape how heavy those weeks feel. Walking is typically encouraged from the first day, because moving the legs helps blood flow while you heal.
How long should I stay in Korea after liposuction before flying home?
Published guidance typically suggests at least 5 to 7 days, and about 1 to 2 weeks before a long-haul flight; UK guidance advises 2 to 4 weeks after multi-area or large-volume liposuction. Your follow-up schedule is set at consultation. On board, an aisle seat, water, walking and compression stockings are typically recommended.
Who performs liposuction at Pixelab Beauty Clinic?
Dr. Jongkeun Song is a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon and the Medical Director of Pixelab Beauty Clinic, and performs the surgery. Body contouring belongs to plastic surgery training, which Dr. Song completed as a resident at The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.
Can I discuss liposuction in English before I book?
Yes. The clinic has an English interpreter on staff, and you can write to us on WhatsApp in English with the areas you are considering and your travel dates. We will get back to you as soon as possible with the next steps for a consultation.
Is there a deposit for liposuction, and what if I cancel?
Deposit and cancellation terms for surgery are not published here. Before you transfer any money, ask for those terms in writing together with the itemized quote, and check how a change to your flight dates would be handled.
What is the difference between 180° and 360° abdominal liposuction?
The 180° pattern treats the front of the abdomen. The 360° pattern carries on around the flanks and lower back, so the waist is worked on from every side. They are listed at ₩3,000,000 and ₩5,500,000 + VAT, and the choice depends on where your fat sits.
Will the fat come back after liposuction?
The fat that was removed does not grow back in the same spot, and the clinic describes the result as long-term. The fat cells still in the area can enlarge if your weight goes up, so later weight gain can alter the shape. A steady weight protects the outcome.
Is liposuction a way to lose weight?
No. Liposuction reshapes particular areas such as the arms, abdomen or thighs, and the scale may barely change. It suits people close to a steady weight who carry fat in one place that diet and exercise have not moved. Overall weight loss needs a separate plan.
Will my insurance pay for liposuction done in Korea?
We cannot say whether your insurer will cover cosmetic surgery done abroad, or care for a complication once you are home. Ask your provider before you travel, and keep the quote, receipts and any documents the clinic gives you after surgery.