Surgery day at Seomyeon L follows a consistent English-language protocol. You arrive fasted, take the hotel elevator to 14F, are assessed by Dr. Kim and the anaesthesiologist, change into a gown, receive anaesthesia, have your procedure, recover in the post-op suite, receive English discharge instructions from Dr. Kim personally, and return to your hotel room — typically within 3–5 hours total for most procedures. Nothing happens without verbal consent at each stage.
Hour by Hour
Day Before — Preparation
Stop solid food 8 hours before surgery. Clear liquids (water, Pocari Sweat) until 2 hours before. Stop alcohol 48 hours before. Remove jewellery, nail polish, contact lenses before leaving hotel room. If staying at Lotte Hotel: contact hotel concierge for 6AM room service if surgery is at 9–10AM. Charge phone fully — you will want it in recovery.
Arrive at 14F — Clinic Check-In
Enter Busan Lotte Hotel main lobby. Hotel elevator to floor 14. English-language check-in form at reception (5 minutes). Vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, SpO₂. Pre-op blood draw if not done previously. Photo ID retained during procedure, returned at discharge.
Pre-Op Consultation + Consent
Dr. Kim reviews your case and conducts the English-language consent process. Read the consent form — ask every question. The consent form is not a formality; it confirms your understanding of the procedure, intended outcome, alternatives, and the side effects specific to your procedure. No question is too basic. IV cannula inserted. Anaesthesiologist meets you and explains anaesthesia type.
Operating Room — Procedure
OR team: Dr. Kim, scrub nurse, anaesthesiologist. For Aquablation: ultrasound mapping (10 min), AI treatment planning (5–8 min), robotic waterjet ablation (4–8 min), haemostasis and cystoscopy (10–15 min). For other procedures: procedure-specific duration. You will not feel pain — if you feel anything other than pressure during local anaesthesia, say so and additional anaesthetic is administered immediately.
Recovery Suite (14F)
Recovery suite is on the same floor as the OR — no trolley transport to another building. Nursing staff present continuously. Vitals every 15 minutes for the first hour. For general/spinal anaesthesia: monitored 60–120 minutes. For local/sedation: 30–60 minutes. English-speaking nurse. You are offered water and Korean rice porridge (죽) when you can eat. Companion may join you in the recovery suite when you are stable.
Discharge Briefing — Dr. Kim, English
Dr. Kim conducts the English-language discharge briefing personally. Covered: what was done, immediate recovery instructions, medications and timing, wound care, activity restrictions, warning signs, and what to do if they occur. Written English discharge sheet + Korean summary for local pharmacies + 24/7 WhatsApp emergency card. For Lotte Hotel guests: Dr. Kim or nurse accompanies you to the hotel elevator and confirms concierge has your room key ready.
What to Bring on Surgery Day
- Passport or government-issued photo ID
- Relevant medical records and prior scan results
- Current medication list including supplements
- Loose elastic-waist trousers (scrotal procedures)
- Slip-on shoes — bending is uncomfortable post-op
- Phone fully charged + charger or power bank
- If staying at Lotte Hotel: hotel keycard in accessible pocket
The 14F Recovery Advantage
Standard Busan urology clinics are located in street-level or low-floor medical buildings. If you are staying in the adjacent hotel accommodation, going home means a taxi or 15-minute walk in the first hours post-procedure when you are still anaesthetic-affected and possibly catheterised.
At Seomyeon L: you go from recovery suite to hotel room via a 90-second elevator ride. The same elevator brings you back for wound checks. The hotel restaurant is 13 floors below. The hotel concierge can send soft food to your room.
Companion Policy
Local anaesthesia procedures (circumcision, LiSWT, STD testing): you may come alone and take a KakaoTaxi back to accommodation. Spinal or general anaesthesia procedures: Korean regulations require a responsible adult companion to accompany you from clinic to accommodation. Seomyeon L provides a paid escort service ($40 USD) for patients without a companion who need post-op transport to Lotte Hotel room.