Truman Customer Story Column Surgery date: 2026-03-25
I Closed My Eyes, Opened Them,
and It Was Over
Surprisingly many people tell us they fear the anesthesia more than the surgery itself.
"I can handle the surgery somehow — it's falling asleep that scares me." That fear is even stronger for someone experiencing sleep anesthesia for the first time. One recent patient came to us carrying exactly that fear. Today, through his story, we'd like to speak to those of you who are hesitating because of anesthesia.
What worried him most was the sleep anesthesia
The first worry that came to this patient's mind wasn't the surgery — it was the sleep anesthesia.
Since this was his first surgery, it was also his first anesthesia, and he told us the very idea of being put to sleep frightened him. But once he actually experienced it, this is what he said.
"I closed my eyes, opened them, and the surgery
was already over — it was easy and comfortable."
In most cases, the vague fear of sleep anesthesia is far bigger than the actual experience. In a safely managed environment, with a clear understanding of what to expect, that fear passes far more calmly than you'd think.
"You treated me with such warmth and kindness"
When we asked what stayed with him from his first visit to the clinic, this was his answer.
"Thank you for treating me with such warmth and kindness."
For someone facing surgery for the first time, the atmosphere of that very first moment shapes everything. Easing the shoulders of someone who walks in tense — we believe that warmth is where a good experience begins.
Seeing with his own eyes what came out of his body
When we asked what he remembered most from the surgery, he pointed to the moment he saw the removed tissue and fat with his own eyes.
"I was amazed that so much had been inside my body."
The moment patients see for themselves what had been troubling them for so long, many finally feel a sense of relief. It's the point where a vague, formless worry is resolved into a concrete result.
"I see myself in a better light now"
When we asked what he most wanted to do after surgery, he said he wanted to start working out again. It was a healthy resolve — to finish his recovery well and return to everyday life.
When we asked what he'd like to say to others facing the same worry, this was his answer.
"After the surgery, I see myself in a better light.
I think it will help me keep moving forward."
However long you've hesitated, that's how much lighter you feel once the decision is made. Trueman Gangnam will walk that first step with you.
— Dr. Yoo Seok-seon, Trueman Gangnam —