Heo Yang-im seeks arm and back treatments after noticing body changes

Family medicine specialist Heo Yang-im revealed that she underwent procedures to improve skin elasticity in her arms and back after expressing concerns about her body shape. She shared her plan to combine medical treatments with strength training, noting that weight loss alone would be insufficient to achieve her desired results.

On the 8th, Heo shared photos of herself undergoing a procedure on her SNS, asking, “Did you see the news article about my arms?” She explained, “I started dieting after being shocked by my back profile, but I realized that for the arms and back, weight loss alone isn't enough and elasticity management must be done alongside it.”

The released photos show Heo wearing a hospital gown while waiting for the procedure or lying on a treatment bed. She later posted a photo with her sleeves rolled up to reveal her arms, asking for feedback: “There was little pain, and I even saw patients immediately after the treatment. I took this photo because it looks better—does it look effective?” She also expressed her intention to continue her regimen through exercise, stating, “I plan to combine this with strength training starting tomorrow.”

Heo's interest in her arms and back stemmed from changes she noticed while observing her own body. Through her personal channel, she had previously confessed, “I didn't think my weight had changed much, but when I wear sleeveless tops or when my arms touch my body, my waist and arm areas catch my eye. I was startled by my back profile.” This recent procedure appears to be a direct response to those concerns.

Rather than focusing solely on weight reduction, Heo chose to manage her overall body composition, including skin elasticity and muscle mass. As a physician, she approached this as a form of routine self-care, considering her own physical condition and lifestyle by combining exercise with medical procedures. While a specific procedure cannot be guaranteed to work for everyone, Heo shared her personal experience and the process of change.

Heo's recent activities are also drawing attention because she is known to the public as the ex-wife of Ko Ji-yong, a former member of the group Sechs Kies. Heo married Ko in 2013 and had a son, Seung-jae, the following year. The family became well-known to the public through their appearance on KBS 2TV's “The Return of Superman” in 2018.

However, Ko belatedly revealed through his SNS last July that he had divorced Heo about two years ago. Regarding the delay in disclosing the divorce, he explained that he wanted to wait so that their son, Seung-jae, could fully accept the situation and grow up stably. Heo is known to have custody of Seung-jae.

Since the divorce, Heo has steadily shared her daily life as a doctor and her life with her son through SNS. Recently, she shared a scene of Seung-jae studying with a laptop and workbooks in the lounge area of her clinic. Heo also shared moments of her reading books beside her son.

In her recent activities, her life as a professional and a mother has become more prominent than her former title as the ex-spouse of a celebrity. This focus on physical maintenance is seen as an extension of her daily life—a process of monitoring and managing her own health and appearance.

While Heo first connected with the public by sharing her family life on television, she is now documenting her life after the divorce, her self-care, and her ordinary life with her son on her own terms. This recent update highlights her transition from being known as “Ko Ji-yong's ex-wife” to establishing her own identity as Dr. Heo Yang-im.