Faster Access for Canadians
YouKnee helps Canadians access knee cartilage treatment in South Korea with clear pricing, bilingual coordination, and guided recovery support.
The national median wait for knee surgery is 57.5 weeks. For many patients, that means more pain and less mobility.
Source: Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada (2024)
YouKnee patients are typically treated within 3-4 weeks.
From inquiry to procedure in South Korea, not months or years.
Microfracture remains common in Canada's public system. Here is how it differs from the cartilage regeneration approach available in South Korea.
Commonly offered, but limited in scope.
Designed to restore tissue more like the native knee.
This comparison is for educational purposes only. Treatment decisions should be made with your physician based on your imaging, symptoms, and overall health.
Step 01
Share your imaging and medical history with our team. We review your case at no cost and no obligation.
Step 02
Our medical coordinators work with Korean specialists to build a personalized treatment plan tailored to your condition.
Step 03
We arrange flights, accommodation, hospital transfers, and certified translation services. You focus entirely on healing.
Step 04
Return home with a full recovery protocol. We coordinate directly with your Canadian physician to ensure continuity of care.
Hello, I am Yuni Hwang. With over 15 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in the Canadian healthcare system, I understand the frustration of long wait times and limited treatment options for joint pain.
I founded YouKnee to bridge the gap between Canadian patients and South Korea's advanced medical innovations. I am fluent in both English and Korean, ensuring that your journey - from consultation to recovery - is seamless, safe, and comfortable.
Vetted hospitals, transparent facilitation, and coordinated support patients can verify before they travel.
JCI Accredited
Our partner hospitals hold Joint Commission International accreditation, a leading benchmark for hospital quality and safety.
30,000+
More than 30,000 patients have received this procedure globally since Korean approval in 2012, with tracked long-term outcomes.
97.7%
In a Phase 3 trial, 97.7% of patients improved by at least one ICRS cartilage grade at 48 weeks, versus 71.7% for microfracture.
Canadian Team
Our Canada-based team supports pre-treatment planning, travel logistics, and post-operative follow-up with your physician.
Real patients. Real outcomes. Canadians who chose not to wait.
I was told I had 18 months before I would need a replacement. That was before Korea. I was skiing again by spring.
Yuni handled every detail - flights, hotel, hospital appointments, translation. I just had to focus on healing.
At my age I thought I was too old to be a candidate. The Korean team assessed me within days and said I qualified.
* Individual outcomes vary. These stories represent patients' personal experiences and are not a guarantee of results.
One quote in CAD, with the major treatment and travel costs covered upfront.
CAD
$35,000 - $42,000
All-in estimate · treatment and travel included
Typical all-in comparison
Clear answers before you decide.
Our partner hospitals in South Korea are JCI-accredited - a leading global standard for hospital quality and patient safety. This procedure has been performed at these facilities since 2012, with over 30,000 procedures completed globally. Yuni will walk you through the data before you commit to anything.
The treatment is fully approved and commercially available in South Korea. Health Canada has not yet completed its regulatory review for the Canadian market - a process expected to take 2-4 more years. In the meantime, Canadians legally travel abroad to access approved treatments.
The price covers hospital and surgical fees, pre-operative imaging, the treatment itself, 14 nights of hotel accommodation, round-trip flights from major Canadian airports, airport and hospital transfers, Korean-English interpretation, and a structured recovery plan. There are no hidden fees.
Ideal candidates have ICRS Grade III-IV cartilage damage in the knee, are between 18 and 70 years of age, have a BMI under 35, and have not had prior cartilage restoration procedures. During your consultation, Yuni will review your imaging and medical history with the Korean surgical team to confirm candidacy.
Most patients plan for 3-4 weeks in total. The procedure itself is minimally invasive and typically takes 1-2 hours. The first two weeks focus on supervised recovery and physiotherapy. By week three, most patients are mobile enough to travel home comfortably.
Not at all. Yuni is fluent in both English and Korean, and our team provides translation throughout - from surgeon consultations to in-hospital communication and discharge instructions.
Before you leave Korea, you will receive a full discharge package translated into English for your Canadian GP or physiotherapist. Yuni coordinates a recovery protocol and can connect you with Canadian physiotherapy resources. We remain your point of contact for any follow-up questions during recovery.
No. Provincial health plans do not cover procedures performed outside Canada, and OHIP specifically eliminated out-of-country emergency coverage in 2020. The full cost of the procedure, any complications, and post-operative care in South Korea is your responsibility. We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel health insurance before departure. We include this disclosure in our patient agreement and are happy to help you understand your coverage options.
Book a free 30-minute video consultation with Yuni. She will review your situation, answer your questions honestly, and explain the next steps with no pressure.
Still have questions?
Ask Yuni directly →Tell us about your situation and we will review your history, answer candidacy questions, and outline next steps within 24 hours.
