Belgium

Why Belgium?

A member of the European Union, you are protected by the same legal and medical regulations as if you had the surgery in Britain.

Doctor Accreditation

It takes twelve years to become a surgeon in Belgium; seven years at medical school and five years in the elected specialist field, compared to the UK, where surgeons tend to go straight into their specialist field. After these seven years, students receive their doctor’s diploma.

After medical school the doctor enters into a residency which can last between two to six years. During this time the doctor is paid, and works in a hospital operating on patients under close supervision of the professor. Upon completion of the residency the surgeon is ready to either work as an official surgeon at the residency hospital or at another practice.

Consultants should be on the official register of Surgical Specialists, Medical Doctors or Dentists and have a valid diploma with official registration. To practice in Belgium a doctor needs accreditation granted by the Minister for Public Health and further training is needed to obtain this accreditation. Pharmacists and dentists follow a five-year university course and no accreditation is required as the diploma allows immediate practice.

The Order of Physicians is an organization influencing the Belgian medical profession and each doctor must be registered with this body in order to practice in Belgium. The Order investigates illegal and unethical practices under its strict Code of Ethics and has the right to impose penalties and strike doctors off the register if necessary.

You can check a surgeon’s accreditation at the Belgian Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery; all doctors listed on their web site are recognized by the Belgian Ministry of Health. Further information can be found at the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and the Belgian Association for Surgeons.

World Renowned Obesity Surgeon One of the worlds top obesity surgeons, he performs more than 1,500 bariatric procedures a year. For over twelve years he has specialised in laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric bands. Click here to view his CV.

Travel & Accomodation

Getting to Belgium is extremely easy. Eurostar, the high speed train service departs from London Waterloo via Ashford and Lille nine times a day, in just over two hours you can be in the centre of Brussels. A leisure return costs from as little as £59 bought 21 days in advance. Visit www.eurostar.com for bookings and information. From Brussels Gare du Midi you can connect with Belgian Railway for travel to other regions. If you’re planning on traveling to Belgium by car, contact Le Shuttle on 08705 353535. A short (2-5 days) return costs from £103. Visit Eurotunnel.com for times and costs.

There are several reasons that sail advise all of our clients to choose one of our two hotels recommended for their stay in Belgium. Both hotels are easily accessible by car the hospital arranges many transfers for clients to and from the hospital. The hospital and hotel staff have effective communication nurses are well known to the hotels and visit them frequently. The staff at both hotels are aware of needs following surgery and know who to contact if there are problems. The 4 star hotel is also excellent at recognising clients dietry needs following surgery. Due to such a long standing relationship between the hospital and hotel and us at sail it ensures that all clients booking to either hotel obtain a high standard of service therefore giving great value for money.

Costs

Procedure	Treatment costs in Belgium starting from:
Gastric Balloon	€2,295        (approx. £1,765*)
Laproscopic Gastric Band	€4,995        (approx. £3,840*)
Laproscopic Gastric Bypass   (McLean)	€6,995        (approx. £5,380*)
Laproscopic Gastric Bypass   (RNY)	€8,995        (approx. £6,919*)
Laproscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy	€6,995        (approx. £5,380*)
*depending on conversion rate of pound to euro

Please note :- We also provide after care for the Bariatric surgery in several locations in the United Kingdom.