Incontinence surgery cost in Korea
Gangnam Podo Women's Clinic lists pelvic ligament suspension at USD 2,900 and the mid-urethral mesh sling at USD 3,500 on its 2026 international patient fee schedule. The clinic performs both operations for stress urinary incontinence: pelvic ligament suspension, which uses the patient's own ligaments without synthetic mesh, and the mid-urethral synthetic mesh sling. Which one suits you is decided after examination and measurement. What you pay for stress incontinence surgery depends on which operation is chosen, whether prolapse is repaired in the same operation and the anesthesia plan. This page shows the listed prices, how an incontinence surgery cost quote is built, what it includes, how to pay from abroad and how to compare it with a US estimate.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mo Hyung-jin, MD, PhD, board-certified OB-GYN specialist · Last reviewed
Consultations in English · Private single-occupancy recovery suites · Insurance claim documents prepared
What the 2026 fee schedule lists
Prices are from the clinic's 2026 international patient fee schedule and are listed in US dollars; the schedule uses a reference rate of 1,450 Korean won per dollar. A written estimate confirms the items that apply to your case.
Pelvic ligament suspension, without synthetic mesh (listed as "Vaginoplasty — Ligament Fixation"), is USD 2,900; the mid-urethral mesh sling (listed as "Incontinence Sling Surgery") is USD 3,500, including urodynamic ultrasound.
Where the schedule uses a different name from the plain description, the first column gives the schedule's name in parentheses.
| Item (name on the schedule, where different) | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pelvic ligament suspension, no synthetic mesh (listed as Vaginoplasty — Ligament Fixation) | USD 2,900 | Uses the patient's own ligaments and sutures |
| Mid-urethral mesh sling (listed as Incontinence Sling Surgery) | USD 3,500 | Includes urodynamic ultrasound |
| Sedation anesthesia | USD 180 | Listed separately from the operations |
| Premium recovery room | USD 140 per night | Optional overnight stay |
| English medical certificate | First copy included | Additional copies USD 30 |
Prolapse repairs (cystocele, rectocele, uterine prolapse and vault prolapse) are not on the published schedule. They are quoted after examination, and the figures above are not a quote for a prolapse repair.
Stress incontinence surgery cost in Korea: the honest answer
The listed prices are in the table above, but the figure for your case cannot be confirmed before an examination, because incontinence surgery cost depends on four things: which operation suits your type of leakage, whether a prolapse repair is added in the same session, the anesthesia plan, and how many nights you stay. At Podo the figure is written for you after a consultation.
For US context, Medicare's Procedure Price Lookup shows the average amount a patient pays for a sling operation for stress incontinence (CPT code 57288): USD 726 at an ambulatory surgical center and USD 1,154 at a hospital outpatient department, based on Medicare's 2026 payments and copayments. That is the patient's average share of a Medicare-covered operation, not the full amount billed, and Medicare notes that you may need more than one doctor and that additional costs may apply. Privately insured and self-pay patients are billed on different price lists, so ask for a written estimate.
How we quote
You receive a written estimate in English after consultation, or after a video pre-consultation if you want a figure before booking flights. It itemizes the procedure, anesthesia, the follow-up check and the insurance documents, plus an overnight stay in a recovery suite if one is included. Pelvic ligament suspension for incontinence alone is performed with same-day discharge; an overnight stay is available if you prefer one. The prices on this page come from the clinic's 2026 international patient fee schedule.
Because incontinence and prolapse surgery are functional rather than cosmetic, many international insurers reimburse them, often with pre-authorization.
What an incontinence surgery quote should cover
A usable quote names every line so that it can be compared with another one. Look for the surgeon's work, the operating room, anesthesia, any overnight stay, the follow-up check before you fly home and the paperwork for your insurer. Ask what happens to the price if the examination changes the plan, and whether tests and medicines are listed.
Overnight stays are available in the clinic's recovery suites. A video follow-up is scheduled after you return home. Plan the trip as well as the operation. Plan for 5 to 10 days in Seoul after incontinence or prolapse surgery. A final check is done 5 to 10 days after surgery, before you fly home. Add flights and lodging for those days to any comparison.
What changes the price of incontinence surgery
The operation matters first, because a quote for bladder surgery without mesh and a quote for a mesh sling do not contain the same lines. Pelvic ligament suspension uses the patient's own ligaments and sutures, without synthetic mesh. 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. Urethral bulking injections are offered at the clinic; Burch colposuspension is not performed. Pelvic ligament suspension for incontinence alone is performed under IV sedation, with same-day discharge.
Combined repairs come next. Repairing a bladder, rectum or uterus that has dropped in the same session adds operating time and changes the estimate.
Anesthesia and the length of stay are the last two levers. A longer operation, a different anesthesia plan or an overnight stay changes the estimate.
How to compare incontinence surgery cost with a US estimate
A US operation usually produces several bills: the hospital or surgery center, the surgeon and the anesthesia group, plus any imaging or pathology. Each has a list price and often a lower negotiated or self-pay rate, so ask for the figure that applies to you. US hospitals must post their prices online, both as a machine-readable file and as a display of shoppable services in a consumer-friendly format. If you are uninsured or choose not to use insurance, providers must generally give you a good faith estimate when you schedule care at least three business days ahead or when you ask for one.
Then build the same table for Korea: the written estimate, round-trip airfare, lodging for the whole stay, meals and local transport, trip insurance and time off work. Compare the same operation, the same anesthesia plan and the same follow-up on both sides. A lower figure that leaves out follow-up is not a lower cost.
Paying for incontinence surgery from abroad
Payment can be made by international credit card. Payment by international bank transfer is also accepted. Tell your card issuer that you will be paying a medical provider in Korea, and ask about foreign-transaction fees and daily limits before you travel.
Medical records and receipts are issued in English on request. Keep every receipt.
Documents your insurer will ask for
Insurers decide on the paperwork, so the documents matter as much as the operation. The ones we prepare are listed under Cost further down this page. Call your insurer before you book and ask three questions: is planned surgery outside your home country covered, is pre-authorization required, and which documents must accompany the claim. Write down the date and the name of the person you spoke to.
Keep the insurance claim documents together with your boarding passes and a copy of your passport, because some insurers ask for proof of travel dates. Results and recovery vary from person to person. This page is general information and is not a diagnosis; a consultation is needed to decide whether a procedure suits you.
Cost
USD 2,900 for pelvic ligament suspension or USD 3,500 for the mid-urethral mesh sling, about KRW 4,205,000 or KRW 5,075,000 at the reference rate of 1,450 won per dollar
Sedation anesthesia (USD 180) and a premium recovery room (USD 140 per night) are separate items on the schedule. Prolapse repairs are not on the published schedule and are quoted after examination.
What the written estimate covers
- Surgery and operating room
- Anesthesia
- An overnight stay in a recovery suite, if chosen
- Follow-up check-up before departure
- Discharge instructions in English
- Insurance claim documents
- Urodynamic ultrasound, included in the listed mid-urethral mesh sling price
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. Ask your insurer whether stress incontinence surgery is covered under your policy and whether they need pre-authorization. We provide the letter and, after surgery, the itemized receipt, medical certificate, procedure codes and completed claim form.
Who performs it
Dr. Mo Hyung-jin, Medical Director
- Board-certified OB-GYN specialist
- MD, Yonsei University College of Medicine; OB-GYN residency, Severance Hospital, Seoul
- Fellow, International College of Surgeons (Korea Section), 2016
Questions
How much does incontinence surgery cost?
Pelvic ligament suspension, without synthetic mesh (listed as "Vaginoplasty — Ligament Fixation"), is USD 2,900; the mid-urethral mesh sling (listed as "Incontinence Sling Surgery") is USD 3,500, including urodynamic ultrasound. Prices are from the clinic's 2026 international patient fee schedule and are listed in US dollars; the schedule uses a reference rate of 1,450 Korean won per dollar. A written estimate confirms the items that apply to your case. Which operation is planned for you, whether a prolapse repair is added, the anesthesia plan and the length of stay decide the figure for your case, and prolapse repairs are not on the published schedule. You receive a written estimate in English after consultation, or after a video pre-consultation if you want a figure before booking flights. For US context, Medicare lists an average patient payment of USD 726 at an ambulatory surgical center and USD 1,154 at a hospital outpatient department for a sling operation.
How does this compare with prices at home?
We publish our own fee list and explain what is included; we do not quote other clinics' prices. To compare, ask each provider at home for a written good faith estimate and the self-pay rate, then set the Korea estimate, airfare and lodging beside them.
Will the price change after I arrive?
Only if the examination shows something that changes the plan, and we discuss it before anything is scheduled.
Can I pay by credit card or bank transfer?
Payment can be made by international credit card. Payment by international bank transfer is also accepted.
Does insurance cover incontinence surgery abroad?
Whether a procedure is reimbursed depends on your policy; we provide documentation, not coverage decisions. Ask your insurer before you book whether planned surgery abroad is covered and whether pre-authorization is needed.
How many days do I need to stay in Seoul?
Plan for 5 to 10 days in Seoul after incontinence or prolapse surgery. A final check is done 5 to 10 days after surgery, before you fly home.
Sources
- ACOG patient FAQ: Surgery for Stress Urinary Incontinence
- NICE NG123: Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women: management
- NHS: surgery and procedures for urinary incontinence
- Medicare.gov Procedure Price Lookup: Sling operation for stress incontinence (CPT 57288)
- CMS: Hospital Price Transparency
- CMS: Medical bill rights (good faith estimate when not using insurance)
About the reviewer
Dr. Mo Hyung-jin, MD, PhD, board-certified OB-GYN specialist, is the medical director of Podo Women's Clinic. He developed the pelvic ligament suspension technique used at the clinic for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Profile
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Gangnam Podo Women's Clinic
2F, 428 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00 · Sat 10:00–17:00
Closed Sundays and public holidays