Fat Dissolving Injections in Korea: Side Effects the Reviews Understate
Dr. Hyunji Kim
8 min read
I'm Dr. Hyunji Kim and I run Delphic Clinic in Sinnonhyeon, Gangnam. Fat dissolving injections are among the most searched treatments by patients coming to Korea, and "what are the side effects really like?" is a question I answer several times a week.
People ask because the reviews are not helpful on this point. They are usually written after everything settled, so the first week — the part you actually have to live through — barely appears. Let me describe it properly, and separate what is ordinary from what should send you back to the clinic.
What the first two weeks actually look like
The rule I give patients is simple: ordinary recovery gets better each day. If day three is worse than day one, that is the signal to be seen rather than to wait it out.
Why results go wrong
- 1
Treating the wrong problem
If the complaint is skin laxity rather than fat, reducing fat can make it read looser. This has to be judged before the first injection.
- 2
Uniform dosing across an uneven area
Fat thickness varies along a jawline. Distributing the same amount everywhere is how you get an uneven outcome.
- 3
Too much in one session
Wanting it done in one visit is understandable, but swelling and discomfort scale with it, and you lose the ability to judge how much you actually needed.
- 4
Aftercare ignored
Heat, massage and saunas during the swelling phase complicate an otherwise ordinary recovery.
Three of those four are decisions rather than product. That is also true of energy-based treatments, where settings and judgement matter more than the machine's brand name.
What I check before agreeing to treat
- Is this fat, or is it laxity? The answer changes the treatment entirely.
- How is the fat distributed across the area — not just how much there is.
- Any previous injections here, what product and when.
- Medical history, medication, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Your schedule — because the first week is visible and I would rather you plan around it.
If the assessment says laxity rather than fat, I will say so even when you arrived wanting this specific treatment. Selling it anyway would produce exactly the review I am writing this article about.
| Face Fat-Dissolving Injection 3cc: DelQ (ACCU)/DelFit (Non-Steroid) | ₩30,000$20 |
| Nose Sculpting Injection 1 Session | ₩70,000$50 |
| Cheekbone Injection 1 Session | ₩70,000$50 |
| Double Chin Fat Destruction Injection (First-visit trial) | ₩200,000$140 |
Local and international patients pay the same price, so recommending a smaller dose or a different treatment costs us and not you. Interpreters in English and Chinese are on site — the aftercare here is short but it decides how the first week goes.
If you had this done elsewhere and something does not feel right, bring whatever you have — product, dose, injection sites. Data beats guesswork. Consultation is free, and we are a direct walk from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 3.
Get a free 1:1 consultation
Message our English-speaking team — same price as locals, no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
How long does swelling last after fat dissolving injections?
Swelling is usually most noticeable on days two to three and improves from there, with most people substantially better within one to two weeks. Tenderness when pressing the area can linger longer. Swelling that worsens after day three, or affects only one side progressively, is not the ordinary pattern.
Why do reviews not mention the swelling?
Many are written weeks later once it has resolved, or before the reviewer has been through a full course. The first week is the part people forget and the part you most need to plan around — do not book this immediately before an event.
Can it leave the area uneven?
It can, and it usually relates to how the dose was distributed rather than to the product. Fat is not evenly distributed across a jawline, so injecting the same amount uniformly is a common route to an uneven result.
Does it make sagging worse?
It can appear to. When fat reduces but skin elasticity does not keep up, the area can read as looser. This is why what you are treating — fat versus laxity — needs to be established before the first injection, not after.
Who should not have this?
Pregnancy or breastfeeding, infection or broken skin at the site, known allergy to the ingredients, and certain medical conditions require assessment first. If the real issue is laxity rather than fat, this is the wrong treatment entirely.
Written by
Dr. Hyunji Kim
Dr. Hyunji Kim is the director and lead physician at Delphic Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul. She trained at Korea University Medical Center and personally performs consultations and procedures for both local and international patients.
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