Cystocele repair in Korea
A cystocele, also called anterior vaginal wall prolapse or bladder prolapse, is when the bladder drops from its usual position and bulges into the front wall of the vagina. It usually follows childbirth, menopause, chronic straining or heavy lifting, and it often appears together with stress urinary incontinence. At Gangnam Podo Woman Clinic, cystocele repair uses pelvic ligament suspension, a technique developed by our medical director to restore the support the bladder has lost.
Consultations in English · Private single-occupancy recovery suites · Insurance claim documents prepared
Is this for you?
- A feeling of pressure or a bulge in the vagina that is worse by evening
- Difficulty emptying the bladder fully, or a weak, stop-start stream
- Repeated urinary tract infections
- Leaking urine when you cough, laugh or exercise
- Discomfort during intercourse
- A previous anterior repair that has recurred
This page is general information and is not a diagnosis; a consultation is needed to decide whether a procedure suits you.
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 related surgical methods are registered trademarks: MLR, WLR, SVR and LSL. 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
-
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. -
02
Pre-operative check-up
Blood tests, urine culture to rule out infection before surgery, and a review of medications and previous pelvic surgery. -
03
Anesthesia
Planned for the procedure and for you under the clinic's four-step protocol. -
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. -
05
Recovery suite
Rest in a private single-occupancy recovery suite, with an overnight stay where your plan includes one. -
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
No overnight stay is usually needed.
Most patients are cleared to fly after None days.
- 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 2–6No heavy lifting, intercourse or 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. Published price ranges will appear here once confirmed.
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. Your written plan gives the number of days to allow in Seoul. If you also leak urine, tell us in your first message so both problems are assessed together.

Who performs it
Dr. Mo Hyung-jin, Medical Director
- Board-certified OB-GYN specialist
- Fellow, International Continence Society (ICS), 2016
- Author of 8 books on women's health and female aesthetic surgery
Questions
Can cystocele and stress incontinence be treated in one operation?
Often both are assessed together. Whether they are treated in the same operation is decided at consultation.
How long before I can fly home?
After a check-up, when we confirm healing. Individual recovery varies.
Can a cystocele come back after repair?
Recurrence is possible after any prolapse repair and depends on tissue quality, activity and other factors. We explain your individual risk at consultation and provide follow-up care under the clinic's aftercare policy.
Do I need to bring my medical records?
Yes. Bring any operative notes from previous pelvic surgery, current medications and recent imaging if you have it. English or Korean is fine; other languages we can have translated.
Ask us in English
Tell us what you are considering and when you could travel.
Gangnam Podo Woman Clinic
2F, 428 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00 · Sat 10:00–17:00
Sundays and public holidays