Prof. Dr. Emel Akoğlu
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Kidney & Bladder
Satori chair therapy
What Satori chair therapy is, how an electromagnetic chair makes the pelvic floor muscles contract without surgery, what the evidence says for urinary leakage and erectile function, who is and is not suitable, how many sessions are usual, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, side effects and how to check a clinic.
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Prof. Dr. Zerrin Biçik Bahçebaşı
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Satori chair therapy in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Satori chair therapy is a non-surgical treatment in which you sit fully clothed on a special chair that sends a focused electromagnetic field to the pelvic floor. The field makes the deep pelvic muscles contract many thousands of times in one session, much faster and more strongly than you could manage by voluntary exercise. The treatment is used for weak pelvic floor muscles, which can contribute to urinary leakage in women and men and may play a part in some forms of erectile difficulty. There is no incision, no anaesthetic and no needles.
The name "Satori" is used by some clinics for a chair of this type; other devices based on the same magnetic-stimulation principle are sold under different names, and the exact settings differ between machines. This guide explains how the chair works, what the evidence says and does not say, who it suits, what it costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, how many sessions are usual and how to check a clinic. For the wider choice of urological care see our urology treatments in Turkey.
How does the electromagnetic chair make the pelvic floor work?
The seat contains a coil. When the device is switched on, the coil produces a rapidly changing magnetic field that passes through the body and stimulates the nerves supplying the pelvic floor muscles, which then contract on their own. A session of about 20 to 30 minutes delivers a long series of contractions followed by short rests, so the muscle is exercised intensively without effort from you. The intensity is raised step by step until you feel a strong tightening or lifting sensation in the pelvic area and it remains tolerable.
The aim is to rebuild strength and control in muscles that support the bladder, the urethra and the rectum, and that help the blood flow into the penis during an erection. Because you do not have to know how to squeeze these muscles correctly, the chair is often offered to people who struggle with ordinary pelvic floor exercises.
Does Satori chair therapy actually work? What the evidence says
The best-studied use is stress urinary incontinence in women, meaning leakage when coughing, laughing or exercising. Several small and medium trials of magnetic stimulation chairs report reduced leakage and better quality of life after about six sessions, and some report benefits lasting months. Many of these studies are short, some are funded by device makers, and the improvements vary from person to person; professional guidelines still place supervised pelvic floor muscle training first, with devices as an option for people who cannot use it.
For men, evidence is thinner. There are small studies on urine leakage after prostate surgery and on mild erectile difficulty linked to weak pelvic floor muscles, but they are limited, and the chair is not established as a treatment for erectile dysfunction in guidelines. A trustworthy clinic will say this plainly. It should not promise that leakage will stop, that erections will return, or that the benefit is permanent, and it should have you assessed first to confirm that the problem is muscular rather than something that needs a different treatment.
Who is Satori chair therapy suitable for, and who should not use it?
People who may benefit include women with mild to moderate stress or mixed leakage, women after childbirth with weak pelvic muscles, men with leakage after prostate surgery, and people who want to try a non-invasive option before considering surgery. It is not a treatment for severe incontinence caused by a damaged sphincter or for prolapse that needs repair.
The magnetic field means some people should not have it. Manufacturers generally list these as reasons to avoid or to ask a doctor first:
- a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator or another electronic implant;
- metal implants or devices in the pelvic area, such as some pins or intrauterine coils;
- pregnancy;
- a recent pelvic surgery or an active infection or tumour in the area;
- epilepsy, which some manufacturers list as a precaution.
The list depends on the model, so ask the clinic for the manufacturer's contraindications and tell the doctor about every implant you have.
Satori chair therapy cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for a typical course of about six sessions, not clinic quotes. Each clinic confirms its own price in a written quote.
| Country | Approximate cost for a course of sessions |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €250 – €900 |
| United Kingdom | €700 – €1,800 |
| United States | €1,000 – €3,000 |
| Germany | €600 – €1,600 |
What changes the price: how many sessions the plan includes, whether the price includes a medical consultation and a check of your urinary or sexual symptoms, the device used and whether maintenance sessions are offered. Chair sessions are a clinic service rather than a hospital stay, so accommodation and travel usually make up a large part of the total. Ask for the number of sessions, the length of each and what is included in writing.
What is a session like and how many do I need?
You arrive dressed, sit upright on the chair with your back and pelvic area over the coil, and the operator sets the intensity. You feel rhythmic contractions and a pulling sensation; many people compare it to a very strong pelvic floor squeeze. A session lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, you can go back to normal activity right away, and no recovery period is needed.
Most published protocols use about six sessions over two to three weeks, usually twice a week, with a review afterwards. Some clinics shorten the gap to fit a trip, but the studies were done with spaced sessions, so ask the clinic what its plan is based on. Maintenance sessions after a few months are sometimes suggested; there is no standard rule, and extra sessions mean extra cost.
Chair therapy, pelvic floor exercises, shockwave or surgery: how do they compare?
The right treatment depends on the cause of the problem. The table compares the main options.
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Satori chair (magnetic stimulation) | Mild to moderate leakage; weak pelvic floor; people who cannot do exercises correctly | Evidence is modest; not for implants in the pelvis; benefit may fade |
| Supervised pelvic floor exercises | First-line care for most leakage | Needs daily effort and correct technique |
| Medicines or surgery | Urge leakage, or severe stress leakage; see medication therapy for urinary incontinence and sling surgery | Side effects or surgical risks |
| Shockwave therapy | Mild vascular erectile dysfunction; see shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction | Different mechanism, limited long-term data |
Severe leakage after prostate surgery may need an implant such as an artificial urinary sphincter. A doctor should examine you and explain why a chair is or is not the right first step.
Satori chair therapy results: what to expect
Improvement is usually gradual. Some people notice fewer leaks or a stronger pelvic feeling after two or three sessions; others need the full course, and some notice little change. Results are measured by symptoms such as the number of leaks a day or pad use, not by photographs, so ask the clinic how it will assess you before and after, for example with a bladder diary or a questionnaire. Good results usually need the muscles to keep working, so doing pelvic floor exercises after the course, controlling weight and cutting down on constipation and heavy lifting help to hold the gain. A chair cannot replace the repair of a prolapse or treatment of an infection or a blockage.
Trip to Turkey and recovery
Because the treatment needs no recovery, the trip length is set by the session schedule rather than by healing. A course of about six sessions usually means a stay of one to two weeks if sessions are spaced, or a shorter stay if the clinic uses more frequent sessions. Some clinics combine it with a urology check, a bladder scan or a urine test at the start, and a review at the end. You can walk, work and travel the same day. Keep a record of the schedule and settings so a doctor at home can follow up.
Side effects and risks of Satori chair therapy
Magnetic stimulation is generally well tolerated, and serious side effects are rare in published studies. The most common effects are muscle soreness in the pelvic floor, thighs or lower back after a session, a feeling of warmth, and occasionally mild discomfort during the strongest contractions, which can be reduced by lowering the intensity. The main safety issue is the magnetic field: it can interfere with pacemakers and heat or move metal implants, which is why a medical check matters. The bigger risk is delay, if leakage or erectile difficulty has a cause that needs a different treatment and the chair postpones the diagnosis. See an NHS or other doctor promptly if you notice blood in the urine, pain, fever or sudden change in symptoms.
How to choose a clinic and what to ask
Check that a licensed doctor examines you before treatment, that the clinic names the device and the manufacturer, and that you receive the number of sessions, the price and the aftercare in writing before you pay a deposit. Be cautious about promises of a cure, claims that the chair replaces surgery for every case, prices that cover unlimited sessions and no screening for implants. Read how our process works and use our free quote page to receive a written plan.
Questions worth asking:
- What is the cause of my symptoms, and is the chair a reasonable first step?
- Which device is used, and what are its contraindications?
- How many sessions, how far apart, and how will progress be measured?
- What does the price include, and what do maintenance sessions cost?
- What happens if it does not help?
Hospitals with Urology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is a non-surgical treatment in which you sit clothed on a chair that sends a focused magnetic field to the pelvic floor. The field makes the muscles contract repeatedly, strengthening the support of the bladder and urethra without incisions or anaesthesia.
Studies of magnetic stimulation chairs report less leakage in many women with stress incontinence after around six sessions, but trials are short and results vary. Supervised pelvic floor training is still the first-line treatment in guidelines.
Evidence for erectile difficulty is limited to small studies, mainly in men with weak pelvic floor muscles. The chair is not an established treatment for erectile dysfunction, so a doctor should first find the cause.
Approximate ranges for a course of about six sessions are €250 to €900 in Turkey, against roughly €700 to €1,800 in the UK. The clinic confirms the number of sessions and the price in a written quote.
Most protocols use about six sessions of 20 to 30 minutes over two to three weeks. Some people need maintenance sessions later, but there is no fixed rule and extra sessions add to the cost.
It is not usually painful. You feel strong rhythmic contractions and a pulling sensation in the pelvic area, which the operator can lower if it is uncomfortable. Some muscle soreness afterwards is common.
No. You are dressed during the session and can walk, work and travel straight afterwards. Mild muscle soreness in the pelvic area or lower back can occur for a day or so.
People with pacemakers or other electronic implants, metal implants in the pelvic area, pregnancy, or certain other conditions should avoid it or ask a doctor first. The exact list depends on the device.
Studies report benefits lasting several months in some people, but results are not permanent. Continuing pelvic floor exercises and maintaining a healthy weight help to keep the improvement.
A course of about six sessions usually means one to two weeks if sessions are spaced over two to three weeks, or a shorter stay if the clinic uses more frequent sessions. The clinic should explain the plan in writing.
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