Bariatric Surgery Treatment Cost in South Korea

The success rate of the Weight Loss Surgery in the country of South Korea is very high. These rates are comparable to the other developed countries in the field of medical science as well. One of the reasons for this is that South Korean hospitals provide very good care for the patients.

The government of South Korea is heavily investing in the hospitals of the country so as to promote the essential element of medical tourism which will, in turn, increase the GDP of the country and hence it will be beneficial to the government as well. South Korean hospitals are dependent on the international tourists that come to the country of South Korea for having various medical treatments like the weight loss surgery done at lesser rates and hence they maintain their facilities very nicely and maintain high rates of success.

To promote medical travel, the Korea International Medical Association was established. Patients can save around 30 and 85 percent on treatments in South Korea as compared to procedures in the United States.

A Sleeve Gastrectomy costs US$ 6000 in Seoul, South Korea, whereas it costs US$ 11,000 to US$ 14,000 in the United Kingdom. The cost of the Gastric Bypass procedure begins at US$ 16300. This is much more reasonable than the surgery's cost in the United Kingdom, which was US$ 20500. The cost of lap gastric banding in South Korea is US$ 14,000, while it is US$ 21,700 in Thailand. However, coupled with other benefits of South Korean healthcare, like technological supremacy, well-functioning healthcare, and transportation infrastructures, makes it is a desirable location for medical treatment.

The overall cost is determined by the type of procedure, the surgeon's costs, the facility you choose, the anesthesiologist and surgical assistant fees, and the equipment used. Following the initial consultation, the surgeon will be able to determine what type of Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Bypass, or Gastric Banding you require, as well as the materials that will be used, the treatment duration, and so on.

• Severance hospital – This is one of the best hospitals in the city of Seoul in South Korea for having professional weight loss surgery performed. They have a separate department for the weight loss surgeries in the Severance hospital. It is located at the Yonsei University and hence is up to date on all of the latest technology in the field of the weight loss science.

• Kangbuk Samsung Hospital – This is another hospital in the city of Seoul in South Korea. It is considered as the largest medical institution in the whole of South Korea. The standards that are maintained here are very high because they often cater to international patients that travel to South Korea to have different types of weight loss surgeries.

South Korea is one of the most renowned medical travel destinations. Because of its advanced medical technology and services, Korea has attracted a rising number of international patients over the last decade. South Korea is one of 46 global destinations included in the Medical Tourism Index for 2020-2021.

South Korean medical facilities are usually of excellent quality. The majority of South Korean medical professionals, especially doctors & dentists, have received the highest training locally or internationally. One may notice that hospital practices in South Korea differ from those in their own country; for example, in many South Korean hospitals, the patient's non-medical requirements are expected to be met by family members or close friends. One can locate clinics and hospitals that cater exclusively to English-speaking and international patients. However, you are not required to seek treatment at these facilities because English-speaking medical personnel may be found in practically every hospital and clinic in South Korea. Although most doctors in South Korea know English, their support or technical staff still might not (changing trend).

A bariatrician, or weight loss specialist, is a physician who specializes in the weight management as well as treatment of individuals who are struggling to keep a healthy weight. Bariatric surgeons have specialized training in how to treat overweight or obese patients and how to help them improve their health by making healthy lifestyle adjustments. Bariatric surgeons are bariatric specialists who specialize in surgery. It's crucial to remember that seeing a bariatrician doesn't mean you'll have to have surgery.

Weight loss techniques such as lap gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass have gained popularity among patients in South Korea. The weight loss specialists who treat patients are professionally competent, and skilled in the application of their domain expertise. Let us have a look at the top weight loss surgeons in South Korea.

1. Dr. Min Seon Kim, Weight Loss Specialist - Bariatric Surgeon, Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, South Korea

Experience: 25 Years

Qualifications:

• Doctor of Medicine: Seoul National University

• Master of Medicine: Seoul National University

• Bachelor of Medicine: Seoul National University

• Fellowship in Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seoul National University Hospital

2. Dr. Joong Yeol Park, Weight Loss Specialist - Bariatric Surgeon, Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, South Korea

Experience: 35 Years

Qualifications:

• Doctor of Medicine: Seoul National University

• Master of Medicine: Seoul National University

• Bachelor of Medicine: Seoul National University

• Fellowship in Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, UUCM AMC

• Fellowship in Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seoul National University Hospital

South Korea is a leading medical tourism destination in the world which has been attracting foreign patients with advanced medical technologies during the past decade. South Korea has received worldwide recognition for its excellent hospitals and highly competent doctors who have experience of vast working in different parts of the world and are capable of handling even the most complicated cases with ease. South Korea offers affordable quality treatment and has reached great height in the healthcare sector due to its innovative approach, helping the country to offer a wide range of procedures with excellent results. South Korea is one of the most preferred medical tourism destinations in the world due to many other reasons, such as a wide range of food options, scenic value, affordable accommodation, visa availability, transportation facilities, and language assistance.

You should check with the concerned authority for any extra documents required because every country has its own documentation policies. Missing any of the mentioned documents might make your travel difficult, so always make a list of all the documents you might need in South Korea. Some other things documents you may need are currency/forex card, travel insurance paper, international SIM card. Make sure that you carry all the essential documents when traveling to South Korea, such as passport copies, test reports, residence/ driver’s license, bank statement, doctor referral notes, medical history, details of health insurance, visa, credit/debit cards.

The cities that attract a large number of medical tourists in South Korea are Incheon, Daegu, Seoul, Busan, Cheonan, and Cheonan. The reasons why these cities are more preferred by medical tourists are state-of-art infrastructure, large number of hospitals, and highly qualified doctors, all contributing to world-class treatment. Some other factors that make these cities popular among medical tourists are transportation facilities, a wide range of food options, cheap accommodation, language assistance. Seoul has the world’s highest per-capita rate of plastic surgeries and Gangnam district boasts some 500 cosmetic and aesthetic centers.

South Korea is known to have world-class multispecialty hospitals, such as:

1. Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul;
2. Asan Medical Centre, Seoul;
3. ID Hospital, Seoul;
4. International St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul and,
5. Wooridul Hospital Seoul, Seoul.

Backed by state-of-art infrastructure and advanced medical technology, the world-class multispecialty hospitals in South Korea are able to provide unmatched treatment of international standards. The patient-centric hospitals strictly follow the healthcare standards and protocols set by certifying bodies to ensure quality medical care without compromising patient safety. The hospitals are backed by highly skilled and trained doctors who are efficient in performing even the most complex surgeries with great accuracy and precision.