YouKnee helps Canadians access advanced cartilage repair technology in South Korea, with clear pricing from the start.
What it aims to repair
Cartilage is the smooth cushioning layer that helps the knee glide. When that surface is badly damaged, the joint can feel less protected and stop moving the way it should.
Published outcomes, accredited hospitals, and nurse-led support.
JCI Accredited
JCI accreditation is a leading benchmark for hospital quality and safety.
30,000+
Used in more than 30,000 cases since Korean approval in 2012.
97.7%
In Phase 3 data, 97.7% improved by at least one ICRS grade at 48 weeks.
15+ Years
Led by Yuni Hwang, RN, with planning, travel, and follow-up in English and Korean.
The Korean approach is designed to repair cartilage and preserve the joint, offering a different path from microfracture and replacement.
Common first-line cartilage repair with clear limitations.
Focused on hyaline-like cartilage repair and joint preservation.
The national median wait for knee surgery is 57.5 weeks, which is one reason many patients start looking beyond the public system.
Source: Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada (2024)
Typical YouKnee timeline: 3-4 weeks.
From inquiry to procedure planning in South Korea.
You send your imaging. We coordinate review, scheduling, travel, and recovery support step by step.
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 saw how rarely Canadians with serious cartilage damage were introduced to restorative options early enough to make informed decisions.
I founded YouKnee to help patients access cartilage repair in South Korea and navigate the clinical, travel, and recovery details in English or Korean.
A clear all-in estimate covering treatment, travel, and coordination.
CAD
$35,000 - $42,000
All-in estimate · treatment and travel included
Typical all-in cost comparison
Stories from Canadians who chose repair before replacement.
I thought replacement was where this was headed. Then I learned there was a cartilage repair option in Korea, and 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 might be told replacement was my only option. The Korean team reviewed my case within days and gave me a different path to consider.
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.
This approach is generally considered for people with ICRS Grade III-IV cartilage damage in the knee, between 18 and 70 years of age, with a BMI under 35, and no prior cartilage restoration procedures. During your consultation, Yuni reviews your imaging and medical history with the Korean surgical team to see whether this path makes sense for you.
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.
Tell us about your situation and we will review your history, answer your questions, and outline next steps within 24 hours.
