julia-a Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Hi girl, i am so happy for you! Are you going alone or do you have someone to take care of you? A good support is very very important especially for the first few days. i will recommend you to bring dry shampoo for the trip. I remembered that i couldn't shower properly the first fews days post op as i didnt want to mess up the bandages. But October in Seoul should be pretty cold already, so you might not have to shower as frequently. Try to bring pants/ skirts/ dress etc.. that are easy to wear, because your bandaged, swollen and bruised calves sometimes make it a little difficult to reach down and take off your clothes. I will also recommend bringing a thick and cushiony indoor slipper to walk around at home. Your feet will become VERY swollen and thick ( can't stress this enough ), and walking barefooted feels quite weird and not as comfortable. Most importantly make sure you have someone you can talk to/text/ call when you are sad, afraid or in pain. This is very important, especially when you are having a tougher day during the recovery stage. When i was feeling sick in Korea, i sometimes called my boyfriend and asked him to sing me to sleep. This really helped distract the pain and i felt better. when you reach seoul, buy a steady big umbrella and use it as a cane. There are many steep slopes in seoul (there is one just right outside of the clinic) and it was really impossible for me to climb any of those without the umbrella's help. The umbrella was my good friend for 3 weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Thank for the tips Julia! No one knows for the surgery except the girls on this forum..... I have been looking for a solution for years here in Canada and USA and all the doctors I consulted thought I was crazy for wanting this surgery (samething for my family) and that if I have bad consequences, I will be responsible for it.... So I am going alone and I will have to hide it from everybody... I will try to stay strong in the post-op! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julia-a Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Alright, but make sure at least someone close knows that you are coming for the trip. If you feel lonely, scared or in pain, just read through this forum or update us, we will be happy to chat with you. On the bright side, you can binge watch netflix drama and youtube, and be a couch potato without feeling guilty Korean convenient stores has many ready to eat meals like rice and soup( pumpkin soup is good for post op recovery but they dont taste good) etc, but you will need to have a microwave to heat them in your room. I remember that there is a traditional market near the train station where the clinic is, maybe you can explore the food options available there and stock up before the surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amici1992 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Hi all. I will be 6 months post op in 2 days. Very sorry for being MIA. But I'll be replying to comments this weekend! And of course giving an overall update. Best of luck to @Girl. on her upcoming surgery tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Day -1: Arrival at the clinic, meeting with Dr.Pak, blood tests. Day 0: Surgery I arrive at 10h, the prepared me, they inserted the IV and the anesthesiologist came to do the spinal, it was ok, not that painful, but I stared crying, more because I was afraid of the surgery,asking myself « what are you doing to your body, » ! I woke up during the surgery... so scaredn, I didn’t know where I was... After the surgery, I was in so much pain, that they gave me 3 IV shots of painkillers before I was able to walk to the toilet. Dr.park took off 400g, maybe I is why it is sooo painful?! Going back tomorrow for post opappointemnt..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobn Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Oh my goodness, I'm so glad to hear you're ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 (N.b. English isn’t my first langage, so my English writing is sometimes difficult)Day 1: sugery Day 2: I didn’t slept at all this night, I was so in pain.... 10/10. I took the pills that Dr.Park gave me plus one extra pain killer. My bandages were really tight, there was no blood circution in my feets and pain was worse while elevating. But I wanted to avoid swelling so I keept the elevated an I was in pure pain, having bigs regrets of deciding to move on with the surgery. I had really underestimated the pain that I was going to experience... I went to the post-op appointment, dr.Park changed my bandages, and teached me how to stretch with the lower belly against the wall. I was literally crying... I think the recovery really depends on the amount of muscle that is removed. There was an other girl that met the day of the surgery, she was walking well, doesn’t seem to have as pain as me, I told Dr.Park that I wished I would be like her. He said that he removed 100g of each of her calf, compare to 200g for me, that was one factor why our recovery was different. One of my stitches has opened, I think it is because I really tried to keep my legs straights, to stretch the muscle. I guess I am more afraid of long termes consequences than scars. The other leg look ok. One big mistake I made was to rent an AirBnb that is about 1.5 km of the clinic, I can’t not walk that far, especially that it is in a slope, there is no Uber and taxi won’t take me cause it is too close. So Dr.Park has to take me to the appointment. I can’t not even go outside cause it is a steep slope.. I went to the grocery store before the surgery but I have not enough food for the 11 days. I will ordered delivery. So rent the hotel that is suggested by Dr.Park, they will provide transport and you will be close to cafes and restaurants. In the Foreheal hotel, the rooms are equipped to cook (something I didn’t tough so when I rent my Airbnb)Umbrella to use as can is a must (thanks Julia)Day 3: I slept better, i woke up time to time but pain is manageable. Getting out of bed is always the most challenging and painful moment of the day. Dr.Park said I could take off the bandages and shower. When I took them off, it was so painful, I don’t know why but if I had known I would have wash myself with a towel. I had difficulty to stand up in the shower. I decide to stretch every 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes, I am really afraid of not waking normal again or being restrained in sports, even if I read this entire blog an everyone seemed to be ok. I do not have swelling in my feet or ankles....? Maybe because I can’t go outside to walk, I stretch 5 minutes, walk around bed, lie down and elevate my feet. And I do that again 10 minutes later. Really boring, but it seemed to be efficient. I walk very slowly, like an 80 years old person, maybe 10cm each step. I bought snickers, one size bigger, that are very comfortable. I also try to walk normally, meaning that I try not to drag my feets but have a normal pace. It hurts but it stretch at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 I have a boyfriend since a couple of months, I had no intention to tell him about the surgery. He is out of town right now. I am going to see him on day 16. What were your excuses for brushing, and bandages for 6 months to a year?!? He is really not I the medical field, so I thought I could say that I had trouble with the saphenous vein and that doctors had to remove it remove it by surgery. The have to cut behind the knee and patients have to wear compression stockings. Does it sounds good....? Anyone has a better story to tell......? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassandra-007 Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Hey guys! So I've seen on here that Dr. Park is popular choice, but the procedure seems to be pretty expensive. I work in the humanitarian field, and I can't imagine anytime within the next couple years at least that illIbe able to save enough to justify spending around $10,000 on the procedure :/ Does anyone else have any recommendations? I saw Dr. Jong's name, from Taiwan I think, but I haven't seen where his prices are yet. This has been such a huge area of insecurity for me that I'm so tired of living always hiding my legs, and it's frustrating to only be held back by the money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Hi Cassandra, this is a very MAJOR SURGERY. If you can’t not afford Dr.Park, please wait until you get the money. You DO NOT want ended up having trouble walking for the rest of your life. Dr.Park has done over 900 calf reduction, he is a specialist. This is a risky surgery that is safe IF done by an EXPERT only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Day 4: I had an appointment with Dr.Park. I had stretch often but not enough far from the wall and my feets were too far one from each other. Dr.Park is very kind bud doesn’t talk much, so this time I asked what specific distance I should reached, I measured it with my arm and I will pratice it until day 8. Pain is now ok, 5/10. I walk slow, but I am less dragging my feet's. Dr.Park said I should walk more so I manage to take a walk around the block this afternoon, I had difficulty to come back and walk the hill, but it was good to be outside. I said earlier that my stitche had open, but no, it was just blood and bruising. In fact, he stitches the skin by the inside, so I think the scar will be very small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ongrace Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Hi, I have decided to go Seoul for my thigh, calf and calf muscle reduction in Dec. Only be there for a week so need to get blood test in singapore. Anyone can recommend where for blood test and GP for stitches removal. Hopefully not too expensive. Tks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Day 5, Day 6: Mornings are still painfull, I do not sleep well, I have a knee pain, but in the front side. I asked Dr.Park and he said it is not related since it is not behind the knee. Maybe it is because I stretched too much...? I was doing it every 15 minutes, I will switch to 30 minutes. I go out about 4 times a day for a walk of 30 minutes, I am afraid of walking too much, I want to avoid swelling.Day 7: Aspiration day! Dr.Park forgot to pick me up for my appointment. I had to walk and I do not live close by but I managed to do it! My ankles were very swollen when I arrived to the clinic. I really thought aspiration would be more painful, I asked Dr.Park to apply an ice pack before doing it and I almost felt nothing, I only took 1 or 2 minutes. He removed around 10ml. I am confident I can do that alone at home without problem. I am walking better, slower than normal, but it is better each day. While I was around, I went to the Starbucks across the street, someone here on the forum said that there was a good ambiance, it’s true. I sat at the second floor, in a sofa near the window, with my coffee, looking people walking in the street, I felt like living a normal life again. Next appointment on day 10, leaving for home on day 11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Day 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girl Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 I had private questions but I will answer here for the benefit of every other girl who is looking into this procedure. -spinal anesthesia The risk of complications of spinal anesthesia is lower than general anesthesia, it is why it is preferred. It is a well known procedure (I work in the medical field). The anesthesiologist was a men, good English speaking, professional. He told me to lie down on the table, on my left side, on fœtal position. He lift up my hospital gown to have acces to my back (be aware that the medical personal will see your underwear). He disinfected my back with alcohol, it was very cold. Than he inserted the needle. Yes it was painful, but nothing compare to the pain in the post-op days...Then my lower body started to feel numb, very strange sensation. Than he touched my shoulder with something cold, and than my leg, to test if I was feeling it. He did it a couple of time, to be sure everything was ok. After a couple of minutes, I started feeling asleep. I woke up 2 times in the surgery, not cool, I was scared, freezing, hearing them work on my body...Pain: Yes it is very painful, a lot more than what I expected. I wasn’t prepared for that... I had in mind that pain is temporary, it will go away, so I had more focused my research on safety, long term consequences, best surgeon, recovery exercice... But I am now at day 8 and everything is ok, its now more an incomfort than pain, nothing to compare with the first days. After I stretched, I walk almost normally, but slower, but nothing for people to stare at me. I think I could have gone home today, but you never know how your recovery will go, so it is better to plan more days in Korea. I am leaving day 11.Hotel: The Hotel that is now recommended is the Foreheal Hôtel (and not the Young dong). It is close to the clinic, seems new, rooms have réfrigérateur, microwave, boiler, there a coffee shop and a restaurant downstairs, a terrasse on top I think. When I booked my Airbnb, i didn’t knew that the special tarif for Dr.Park at the Foreheal was 66,000 KRW per night single room, 88,000KRW per night for a double room.Price: I paid 8,000,000 KRW, you can have a 10% discount if you pay cash but I didn’t wanted to bring this amount of money with me... I paid by VISA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
)
Recommended Posts