Cystocele repair in Korea

How cystocele repair works at Podo

Pelvic ligament suspension surgery was developed by Dr. Mo Hyung-jin, the clinic's medical director. A patent application for the technique has been filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The technique restores pelvic support by re-anchoring the patient's own lax pelvic ligaments. It is used for stress urinary incontinence, cystocele, rectocele and uterine prolapse.

A conventional anterior repair folds and tightens the stretched tissue of the vaginal wall. Pelvic ligament suspension addresses the lax ligaments that allowed the bladder to drop in the first place: they are re-anchored so that the bladder neck and the front wall of the vagina are supported from above, not only tightened from below. When stress incontinence is present, it is assessed at the same time.

The six steps

1. 01 Consultation and bladder assessment
   Pelvic examination with a cough test, a check of how much urine remains after voiding, and vaginal endoscopy imaging of the front wall. Ultrasound shows how far the bladder has dropped and whether the uterus is involved.
2. 02 Pre-operative check-up
   Blood tests, urine culture to rule out infection before surgery, and a review of medications and previous pelvic surgery.
3. 03 Anesthesia
   Planned for the procedure and for you under the clinic's four-step protocol.
4. 04 Anterior repair with ligament suspension
   Performed in the clinic's operating room. The lax supports under the bladder are re-anchored and the front wall is repaired.
5. 05 Recovery suite
   Rest in a private single-occupancy recovery suite, with an overnight stay where your plan includes one.
6. 06 Voiding check, documents, follow-up
   We confirm you can empty your bladder before you leave. Discharge instructions in English, insurance documents, and the 24-hour nurse line.

Anesthesia follows a four-step protocol tailored to the procedure and the patient. Tell us about previous anesthesia experiences and current medications during pre-consultation.

Recovery and flying home

Most patients are cleared to fly 5–10 days after surgery.

• Day 0Surgery, then rest in your recovery suite with nurse checks.
• Day 1You go home once you can pass urine comfortably. Walking is encouraged; no lifting.
• Days 2–7Rest at your accommodation with short walks. Drink normally; avoid straining, lifting and constipation, which put pressure on the repair.
• Check-upFollow-up check-up including how well the bladder empties, then travel home when we confirm healing.
• Weeks 2–8No lifting over 10 kg (about 22 pounds) for 8 weeks. Intercourse can usually resume about 8 weeks after surgery, once a check confirms healing. No high-impact exercise until cleared. Some patients notice a stronger urine stream as swelling settles.

Recovery rooms are private single-occupancy suites. Patients have a 24-hour nurse contact line after surgery. Results and recovery vary from person to person.

Cost

We provide a written estimate after consultation. Prolapse repair is not on the published 2026 schedule and is quoted after examination; the incontinence surgery cost page shows how the clinic's estimates are structured.

What is included

• Surgery and operating room
• Anesthesia
• One night in a recovery suite
• Follow-up check-up before departure
• Insurance claim documents

We prepare the documents international insurers typically require: an itemized English receipt, a medical certificate, procedure codes and a completed claim form. Whether a procedure is reimbursed depends on your policy; we provide documentation, not coverage decisions.

For international patients

Consultations are available in English. We prepare the documents international insurers typically require: an itemized English receipt, a medical certificate, procedure codes and a completed claim form. Payment can be made by international credit card. Plan for 5 to 10 days in Seoul. If you also leak urine, tell us in your first message so both problems are assessed together.

Sources

1. ACOG FAQ: Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
2. NHS: Pelvic organ prolapse
3. IUGA Your Pelvic Floor: Pelvic organ prolapse
4. Cochrane Review 2016 (Maher et al.): Surgery for women with anterior compartment prolapse, PMC6464975