A Man Who Had 80% of a Critical Area Removed After Receiving a Wrong Filler Injection

Pain Felt Two Days After Procedure, Inquiry Made
Hospital Said "Apply Ointment" and Neglected
Director Sentenced to 1 Year in Prison and Fined 1 Million Won in First Trial

A story has been shared about a man who, after receiving filler injections in a sensitive area, ended up having 80% of that area surgically removed due to side effects.
[Photo by JTBC, captured from 'Sageonbanjang']

A man who suffered side effects after receiving filler injections in a sensitive area ended up having 80% of that area amputated after the hospital failed to take proper action.

On the 20th, JTBC’s “Case Manager” introduced the story of a whistleblower, Mr. A, who experienced this incident at a urology clinic in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, around June 2020. After much deliberation, Mr. A visited the clinic and consulted with a doctor who introduced himself as the deputy director. The deputy director examined Mr. A’s sensitive area and recommended, “You need to have filler injections.” When Mr. A asked, “I have diabetes and a history of myocardial infarction. Is it safe to proceed with the procedure?” the deputy director replied, “This procedure has almost no side effects. Trust me and go ahead. I strongly recommend it even if you have underlying conditions.”

Three days after the consultation, Mr. A underwent the procedure, which lasted about 15 minutes. Mr. A said, “The person who consulted me was the deputy director, but the actual procedure was performed by a director I had never seen before. I was reassured by being told there would be no pain or side effects, but two days later, I started feeling unexplained pain at the injection site.” Concerned, Mr. A called the deputy director and said, “Two blisters about the size of a pinky finger joint appeared on the front part. They keep oozing blood.” The deputy director dismissed it, saying, “That’s normal. Don’t you get blisters on your heels in the military? It’s the same. Come to the hospital and I’ll pop them for you.”

However, the next day, the blisters on Mr. A’s sensitive area had grown larger, the amount of blood increased, and the pain persisted. Due to worsening pain, Mr. A returned to the clinic four days after the procedure. The deputy director again reassured him, saying, “If we just pop the blisters, there’s nothing wrong. It will get better in a day or two.” At the same time, the deputy director instructed a nursing assistant, “Pop the blisters with a needle and apply ointment to the wound.” When there was no improvement, Mr. A finally met the director who performed the procedure about two weeks later. The director explained, “The tissue has slightly necrotized due to poor blood circulation. New skin will grow over time, and you can apply regular ointment used at home.”

Unable to endure the situation any longer, Mr. A sought treatment at a higher-level hospital and received shocking news. Mr. A said, “Plastic surgeons and urologists examined the condition of the sensitive area and said they didn’t know how it would turn out, but if I didn’t get hospitalized and just left, they would have to amputate 100%. Hearing that, I was terrified and was admitted the next morning for immediate surgery. About 80% was amputated due to necrosis, including the urethra.” According to Mr. A, the cause was “excessive filler injection.” He was ultimately declared irrecoverable.

Mr. A demanded 24 million KRW in surgery costs from the urology clinic director. However, the director responded arrogantly, “You didn’t consult us and went to a higher-level hospital for surgery. You should have been treated at our clinic,” but later changed his stance, saying, “Let’s settle for 10 million KRW.” Mr. A rejected the offer and filed a lawsuit against him.

Prosecutors’ investigation revealed that the deputy director who recommended the surgery was actually a nursing assistant, not a doctor. When Mr. A protested this fact, the director retorted, “Why is it a problem that the deputy director is a nursing assistant?” It was also reported that during the investigation, the nursing assistant deputy director continued to wear a white coat and consult patients.

Subsequently, the first trial court sentenced the director to one year in prison and a fine of 1 million KRW, and the deputy director to probation and a fine of 500,000 KRW. Mr. A said, “I have to undergo several more surgeries,” and expressed anger, saying, “What’s most infuriating is that the current director and deputy director of that clinic moved the hospital location, changed the hospital name, and are still operating.”

Netizens reacted strongly to the story, commenting, “Only a 500,000 KRW fine?” “It’s chilling that they are still running the clinic,” “The law is too lenient,” “They should revoke their licenses before creating more victims,” “It’s like killing a person twice,” “Shouldn’t they reveal where this is for the public good?” “I wish there was a site to filter out quacks,” and “The law’s leniency causes a lack of awareness.”