Aesthetic medicine: why Belgium is attracting attention beyond its borders
Updated on September 27, 2026 by Pierre
Medical tourism is often associated with Turkey and its hair transplants, or with Poland for dental care. Belgium is less frequently mentioned. Yet, our country has just risen to 5th place in a global ranking of cosmetic medical tourism, compiled by the Compare the Market platform and covering 30 countries. [1]
A ranking that confirms an underlying trend
The study assessed each country on the quality of care, the number of procedures performed, the volume of foreign patients, and public interest in these procedures. On the quality of care criterion, which carries the most weight in the final score, Belgium achieved one of the highest scores in the ranking, with 75,6 out of 100. The number of procedures performed per 100,000 inhabitants is also very high there. [1]
This finding is not new. A report by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), which for the first time incorporated Belgian data, already ranked Belgium 3rd in the world for the number of procedures relative to its population, with 195,665 operations performed in a single year. One in eight patients operated on in the country even resided abroad. [2]
What people come to Belgium for
Contrary to popular belief, facelifts are not the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedure in the country; eyelid surgery is. [2] Globally, however, among women, who make up the vast majority of cosmetic patients, breast augmentation remains the most requested procedure, followed by liposuction and eyelid surgery. [2]
Facelifts are increasingly popular with patients seeking natural-looking results without undergoing major surgery. Clinics like that of Dr. Wim Danau, a plastic surgeon located on the outskirts of Brussels, are meeting this growing demand with techniques such as the mini-facelift, which is gentler and offers a faster recovery than a traditional facelift. Many patients first inquire about the cost of a facelift in Belgium , reassured by the transparency of Belgian clinics and the quality of aftercare they receive locally.
Breast augmentation is experiencing the same surge in popularity. The high standards of Belgian medical care, combined with a personalized approach, are leading many patients, both Belgian and foreign, to consider breast augmentation in Belgium rather than abroad, in order to benefit from continuous follow-up by the same surgeon.
Why Belgium rather than elsewhere?
The reasoning that leads many to stay in or come to Belgium for surgery can be summed up in a few words: strict medical supervision, geographical proximity for European patients, and post-operative follow-up provided by the same surgeon from the first appointment to the last check-up. Dr. Pascal Castus, of the Royal Belgian Society of Plastic Surgery, points out that the choice to have surgery abroad should primarily be justified by expertise unavailable in the country, not just by lower prices. [3]
For many patients in the Brussels region, the advantage also lies in proximity: several renowned clinics, such as Dr. Danau's in Dilbeek, are located on the outskirts of the capital, in Flemish Brabant, about twenty minutes from the city center. [4]
Important note: we have not personally tested the clinics mentioned; it is up to each individual to research and compare before making their choice 🙂
Sources
[1] Paris Match Belgium, "Medical tourism: Belgium ranked among the best countries in the world for cosmetic surgery", 14/08/2025
https://www.parismatch.be/actualites/sante/2025/08/14/tourisme-medical-la-belgique-classee-parmi-les-meilleurs-pays-du-monde-pour-la-chirurgie-esthetique-IQM6LQZVRJAFTMZ5S6ET5HSNWU/[2] La Libre, "Every day, 770 cosmetic procedures are performed in Belgium. And the top 5 are…", 13/07/2017 (ISAPS 2016 data)
https://www.lalibre.be/planete/sciences-espace/2017/07/13/chaque-jour-770-interventions-esthetiques-sont-realisees-en-belgique-et-le-top-5-est-TUYHFF4325DF7K3K6TGTI7DAJQ/[3] La Libre, “Cosmetic surgery abroad? There must always be a connection and a relationship of trust with the surgeon,” 30/12/2021
https://www.lalibre.be/planete/sante/2021/12/30/de-la-chirurgie-esthetique-a-letranger-il-doit-toujours-y-avoir-une-connexion-et-une-relation-de-confiance-avec-le-chirurgien-UCJ4E4SDUZC5DIQ3HA3XYGLH34/[4] Kliniek Dr. Wim Danau, Facelift page (location: Wolsemstraat 80, 1700 Dilbeek)
https://danau.be/gelaat/facelift
Barely a foot in the Belgian capital, Pierre launched “InsideBrussels.be” more than 10 years ago, the idea is simple: “What to do? Where to go to eat or have a drink? “. Entrepreneur at heart, this is not his first project! Far from there. EatLocal.io; KingCard.be, Bricabrac.be … Like wine, with time the project improves!
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