Ewha Womans University Medical Center
Ewha Womans University Medical Center
Republic of Korea, Seoul
Paik Nam-sun
47 years of experience
accreditations :
Clinic is certified :
Gastric band surgery in the Republic of Korea costs between $7,200 and $11,500 on average. Final pricing depends on clinic specialization, the surgeon’s expertise, and the chosen medical facility tier. In the US, this procedure costs $17,000 on average. Patients can save approximately 45% by choosing South Korean medical centers. Packages often include preoperative tests, anesthesia, and several days of hospitalization.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Choosing a JCI-accredited facility like Gangnam Severance Hospital or Asan Medical Center ensures international safety standards. While these top-tier Seoul hospitals may cost more, they provide access to multidisciplinary teams and advanced technology. Patients often find the best value at centers like Seoul National University Hospital, which is fully digitalized. Major hubs for this procedure include Seoul, Daegu, and Daejeon.
| Republic of Korea | Turkey | The USA | |
| Gastric band | from $7,200 | from $4,275 | from $12,000 |
No hidden fees – just official clinic prices. Pay at the clinic for Gastric band upon arrival and use a flexible installment plan if needed.
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Please note that each case is individual and the timelines may vary based on personal health conditions and recovery rate.
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Dr. Paik Nam-sun is a world-renowned surgeon in the field of breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and surgical oncology. He is the first in South Korea to have successfully performed the breast conserving surgery and has authored a unique stomach cancer surgery that reduces the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease. He is an expert in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer and a member of the Korean Society of Cancer Prevention and the Korean Cancer Association.
Gastric banding is no longer a common procedure in South Korea, accounting for only 1.1% to 1.3% of bariatric surgeries. Since 2019, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has become the dominant method, representing over 75% of cases at major Seoul hospitals like Asan Medical Center.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from leading facilities like Severance Hospital and Asan Medical Center shows a massive move toward digitalization and robotic-assisted metabolic surgery. While gastric banding costs $7,200 to $11,500 in Korea, most top-tier surgeons now recommend revisional surgery to convert old bands into sleeves due to historical 50 percent failure rates.
Patient Consensus: Patients report that surgeons in major Korean hubs no longer recommend bands during consultations. Many who had the procedure before 2015 now seek help for complications like erosion or weight regain.
To qualify for gastric banding in South Korea, patients generally need a BMI of 35 or higher. Those with a BMI of 30 plus weight-related conditions like type 2 diabetes or hypertension also qualify. Some clinics may consider metabolic surgery for patients with a BMI of 27.5.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many Western countries require documented weight loss attempts before surgery, Korean clinics like Hanyang University Medical Center often skip this step. This streamlined process allows for faster approval. However, many top Seoul surgeons now favor sleeve gastrectomy over gastric banding due to lower long-term revision rates.
Patient Consensus: Many patients appreciate the lower BMI entry points in Korea compared to the US. They often note that pre-surgery testing is significantly faster and less invasive than in North American protocols.
Korean National Health Insurance (NHIS) has covered bariatric surgery since 2019, but eligibility for gastric banding is strictly regulated. Coverage typically requires a BMI over 35 kg/m² or a BMI over 30 kg/m² with life-threatening comorbidities like type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While technically covered, gastric banding is becoming rarer in Seoul clinics like Asan Medical Center or Severance Hospital. Most top-tier surgeons now favor sleeve gastrectomy because it has a lower revision rate. High-volume centers often suggest the sleeve to ensure smoother NHIS approval and better long-term health results.
Patient Consensus: Many patients find that 90% of insurance appeals for gastric bands fail, leading them to pay between $7,200 and $11,500. Most now choose sleeve gastrectomy to avoid the high 30–50% revision rates associated with bands.
Seoul features world-class medical centers for gastric band and revision surgeries, including JCI-accredited facilities like Severance Hospital and Asan Medical Center. These institutions specialize in complex laparoscopic revisions and multidisciplinary weight loss care, often serving as the primary choice for international patients seeking high-volume surgical expertise.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While private clinics like Seoul Slim are popular for initial placements, data shows a trend toward university hospitals for revisions. Centers like Asan and Severance handle the highest surgical volumes, which correlates with better outcomes for complex band-to-sleeve conversions. Choosing a multidisciplinary hospital ensures access to dedicated nutritionists and exercise therapists essential for long-term success.
Patient Consensus: Many patients find Korean surgical technology for band removals unmatched. They often recommend pre-arranging private translators at larger university hospitals to navigate the detailed bureaucracy and long pre-operative insurance checks.
Gastric band placement in the Republic of Korea typically requires a hospital stay of 1 day or less. Full physical recovery usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, though most patients resume desk work within 7 to 10 days following this minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While US protocols often transition to solids faster, top Seoul clinics like Severance Hospital or SNUH often maintain a stricter 6-week liquid-to-soft food progression. This conservative approach, combined with JCI-accredited safety standards, helps ensure the stomach heals perfectly around the band before the first adjustment.
Patient Consensus: Many patients report temporary shoulder or neck pain from laparoscopic gas during the first week. They emphasize that while physical healing is fast, the 2-month band adjustment phase requires frequent clinic visits.
Specialized bariatric centers in Korea frequently perform gastric band removal and conversion to sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass. Surgeons utilize minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques to address complications like slippage or weight regain, offering both single-stage and two-stage revisional procedures in Seoul-based JCI-accredited hospitals.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many seek out large institutions like Asan Medical Center for its massive patient volume, smaller specialized university centers in Seoul often provide more focused bariatric multidisciplinary teams. These teams excel at converting Swedish adjustable bands, which are common in Korea, into gastric sleeves with documented success in achieving 50–70 lbs of additional weight loss post-revision.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the importance of sharing recent imaging with Korean surgeons before arrival to confirm the band's condition. Many report smooth recoveries and appreciate the efficient, same-day surgical planning typically found in major Seoul facilities.