Samsung Medical Center
Plastic surgery for cardiac valve in the Republic of Korea typically costs from AUD $39,900 to AUD $39,900. Pricing depends on the surgical technique, hospital tier, and patient health. In Australia, this procedure averages AUD $65,500, meaning patients save approximately 28%. Standard inclusions usually cover preoperative diagnostics, surgeon fees, anaesthetic, and a 5 to 10-day hospital stay.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Choosing a leading Seoul institution offers access to massive surgical volumes. Asan Medical Center, for example, performs 45% of South Korea's heart transplants. High-tier clinics like Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) are fully digitalised for better safety. For those seeking specialised expertise, Dr Oh Dong Joo has published over 380 medical works. These major medical hubs provide presidential-standard care that justifies the slightly higher Seoul pricing.
| Republic of Korea | Thailand | Turkey | |
| Plastic surgery for cardiac valve | ≈ AUD $39,900 | ≈ AUD $19,200 | from AUD $15,700 |
Professor Kim Ki-bong specializes in CABG, valve surgery, atrial fibrillation, and heart transplantation. He is Director of the Cardiac Surgery and Cardiovascular Centers at Myongji Hospital. He pioneered advanced coronary bypass in Korea. He has extensive OPCAB experience and works on the TECAB team using the da Vinci Xi.
In 2025, his team performed Korea’s first totally endoscopic CABG without cardiopulmonary bypass. In August 2026, they achieved the nation’s first multivessel TECAB.
He is former Chair of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Seoul National University College of Medicine. He is also former Chief of the same department at Seoul National University Hospital. He serves on the Editorial Board of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. He is a member of AATS, STS, and EACTS. He is a past President of the Korean Societies of Coronary Artery Surgery, Surgical Treatment of Arrhythmias, and Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. His research includes 130+ international and 140+ Korean papers. He has given 80+ international and 80+ Korean lectures. He earned his MD, Master’s, and PhD at Seoul National University.
South Korean hospitals provide comprehensive services for foreign patients. These include 24/7 dedicated interpreter teams, international coordinators, and airport transfers. Major Seoul centres treat over 30,000 international visitors annually. These include Seoul National University Hospital and Asan Medical Center. Patients come from 80 countries for specialised cardiovascular and surgical care.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many centres offer multidisciplinary care. However, choosing one with a dedicated Cardiovascular Center is vital for valve surgery. Seoul National University Bundang Hospital performs over 2,400 open-heart surgeries annually. This high volume often results in better survival rates than US averages. This is especially true for specific complex procedures.
Patient Consensus: Visitors in South Korea often find that mid-to-large clinics offer excellent English support. Their coordination is also excellent. To succeed, patients should budget for a foreigner premium. They should allow 10–14 days for recovery before flying home.
Cardiac valve repair in South Korea reconstructs the native valve to restore function. Replacement involves substituting the diseased valve with a biological or mechanical prosthetic. Repair is the gold standard for mitral diseases. It offers lower mortality risks and better long-term heart function without lifelong blood thinners.
Bookimed Expert Insight: South Korea's high-volume centres perform over 2,400 open-heart surgeries yearly. Seoul National University Bundang Hospital is a leading example. This massive volume allows surgeons to maintain mortality rates between 0.8% and 2.1%. Patients often find better value here, saving roughly 28% compared to the $46,000 Australian average.
Patient Consensus: Patients recommend meeting surgeons face-to-face in Seoul. This helps verify if their specific defect allows for valve preservation. They noted that major hospitals handle English well. Professional translators were rarely needed during their stay.
Recovery after heart valve surgery in South Korea takes 4 to 8 weeks for minimally invasive procedures. For open-heart surgery, it takes 8 to 12 weeks. Hospital stays range from 2 days for TAVR to 12 days for traditional sternotomy.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Major centres like Seoul National University Bundang Hospital perform 2,400+ surgeries annually. However, recovery speed often depends on technology. High-volume clinics often prioritise robotic systems or laparoscopic techniques. These clinics typically discharge patients 48 hours faster than those using traditional methods.
Patient Consensus: Minimal surgery patients often feel better within 9 days, though full strength takes months. Open-heart recovery requires patience during a bedridden first month. This is followed by intensive every-other-day rehabilitation in Korea.
Cardiac valve repair in South Korea uses minimally invasive techniques, robotic-assisted surgery, and transcatheter approaches. Leading centres like Samsung Medical Centre and Asan Medical Centre specialise in these methods. They focus on reducing surgical trauma while maintaining high precision for complex valve reconstructions.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many countries focus only on repair, South Korean cardiovascular centres handle immense volumes. One such centre is Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. That centre alone treats 103,000 cardiovascular patients yearly. This high volume allows surgeons to master specific heart valve plastic techniques. These techniques preserve the natural valve tissue.
Patient Consensus: Patients value the multidisciplinary valve teams. They also value the focus on aesthetic recovery through small incisions. 24/7 interpreters are available in major Seoul hospitals. They make navigating complex cardiac discussions much easier.
South Korea is home to leading cardiac centres like Asan Medical Centre and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, known for high success rates in valve repairs and heart transplants. These JCI-accredited facilities use robotic systems and perform over 2,400 open-heart surgeries a year with digital safety protocols.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many global patients visit Korea for cosmetic work. Even so, the real strength lies in high-volume digital hospitals like SNUBH. They were the first to go fully digital, using the BESTcare system to cut medical errors during complex valve replacements. This tech-first approach keeps their surgical volumes consistently above 2,000 cases a year.
Patient Consensus: Patients in South Korea appreciate the 24/7 interpreter services and personal coordinators available at major Seoul hospitals. Many find that dedicated cardiovascular centres offer highly efficient support from initial diagnosis through to post-surgical care.
Plastic surgery for a cardiac valve in South Korea is a reconstructive procedure that repairs damaged heart valves without using artificial replacements. Performed at Seoul institutions like Asan Medical Center, this surgery preserves the native heart tissue and improves blood flow. It also reduces reliance on long-term blood-thinning medicine.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Costs for valve reconstruction in Seoul range from $28,000 to $38,000. However, the real value lies in the recovery protocols. Major centres like Asan Medical Center have 2,700+ beds and dedicated international coordinators. These coordinators help bridge the gap between intensive care and flying home.
Patient Consensus: Patients find the reconstruction terminology confusing but appreciate that South Korea offers high-standard centres. They recommend verifying that a cardiothoracic specialist is performing the surgery rather than a cosmetic clinic.