What to bring for surgery in Korea: documents
Passport (and your visa approval, if you need a medical visa), insurance card and policy details, your medication list with doses, previous operative notes or imaging if relevant, and the written plan we sent you. Bring your insurer's claim form if they use a specific one.
Records that help the doctor
Bring the full reports as well as any summary. Useful records include operative notes from earlier surgery, pathology reports, ultrasound or MRI reports with the images on a disc or a link, recent Pap and HPV results and blood test results. Reports in English are easier to read. If yours are in another language, bring a translation.
Keep a digital copy on your phone as well as paper. Previous results from abroad are reviewed.
Medications
Bring enough of your regular medication for the trip plus a few days. Tell us about blood thinners, hormone therapy and supplements at pre-consultation; do not stop anything without your own doctor's agreement.
Carrying medicine into Korea
Carry medication in its original packaging, in your hand luggage, with a copy of the prescription. Rules on bringing medicine into Korea can be strict, especially for controlled substances and for large quantities. Check the current customs rules, and carry a letter from your doctor if you take any prescription medication.
Tell us about every medicine and supplement you plan to bring.
How long to stay in Korea for surgery
For incontinence or prolapse surgery, plan for 5 to 10 days in Seoul. The final check is 5 to 10 days after surgery, before you fly home.
For other procedures, such as labiaplasty, your written plan gives the number of days to allow. It covers the consultation and tests, the procedure itself, and a check-up before you fly. Each procedure page explains what those days involve.
On the day of surgery
Patients fast for at least 4 hours before surgery. A companion is welcome but not required. Written consent for the surgery and the anesthesia is taken. Leave valuables at your accommodation and bring only your phone, your documents and a change of loose clothes.
Clothing and comfort
Loose cotton underwear, soft trousers or skirts, slip-on shoes, a small cushion for sitting after labiaplasty, compression stockings for the flight home after pelvic floor surgery.
Plugs and phone
Korea uses 220 volt outlets with two round pins (types C and F). Most phone and laptop chargers accept 100 to 240 volts, so a plug adapter is usually all you need. Check the label on each charger.
Set up an eSIM or buy a local SIM so that maps, WhatsApp and email work from the moment you land. Download your documents and the clinic's address for offline use.
Money
Payment can be made by international credit card. Payment by international bank transfer is also accepted. Keep receipts for your insurer, and ask your insurer which insurance claim documents it requires. We prepare the documents international insurers typically require: an itemized English receipt, a medical certificate, procedure codes and a completed claim form.
If you stay overnight at the clinic
Patients usually go home the same day; an overnight stay in a private recovery suite can be chosen. Recovery rooms are private single-occupancy suites. Each suite has its own bathroom. If you choose to stay, pack a change of loose clothes and your toiletries.
Bringing a companion
A companion is welcome but not required. A companion can carry luggage, travel with you by taxi and help you remember instructions. They need their own passport and travel arrangements. Tell us beforehand if your companion will come to your appointments.
For the flight home
Keep your medication, your operative summary and your written plan in your carry-on bag, not in checked luggage. Wear loose clothing and slip-on shoes. Ask for an aisle seat, walk every hour and drink water. If you are unsure whether your airline wants a medical letter after surgery, check its rules before you fly.
Aftercare from abroad
You leave with discharge instructions and your operative summary in English, the 24-hour nurse line stays open to you, and a video follow-up is scheduled after you return home. If you need to be seen locally, give the summary to the doctor you choose.
Questions
Should I bring my medical records from home?
Yes. Bring the full reports as well as any summary, such as operative notes, pathology reports, imaging reports and recent Pap and HPV results. Previous results from abroad are reviewed. The CDC also advises asking for copies of your records from the clinic before you leave, so you have them for your doctor at home.
Do I need to bring cash?
Payment can be made by international credit card, and international bank transfer is also accepted. Cards are widely accepted in Korea, but a small amount of cash helps for small purchases. Tell your bank you are traveling so that your card is not blocked.
What if I forget a document?
Tell us as soon as you notice. Many records can be sent by email or as a clear phone photo. A missing record is easier to solve before the visit than during it.
How many days should I plan?
For incontinence or prolapse surgery, plan for 5 to 10 days in Seoul. For other procedures, your written plan gives the number of days to allow.
Can I bring my regular medication to Korea?
Yes, in most cases. Carry it in its original packaging in your hand luggage, with a copy of the prescription. Rules on bringing medicine into Korea can be strict, especially for controlled substances and large quantities, so check the current customs rules and carry a letter from your doctor.