What is a real plastic surgeon in Belgium

You want to be treated by the best trained doctor with the right qualifications?

In many countries it is not always clear how you can find the right doctor.

This website helps you select REAL plastic surgeons.

Real plastic surgeons have studied Medicine to become a Medical Doctor (MD), after getting that title they need additional training to become a Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon, generally after an exam. After graduating they are registered as Plastic Surgeons at the Health Government.

 

Medicine

In Belgium the training to become a doctor consists of:

  • 3 years bachelor training
  • 3 years master training
  • Exam organized by the University where you study

If you pass the exam you can call yourself a doctor (MD), you will now be registered at the RIZIV/INAMI department of the Ministry of Health as a doctor and you get a Riziv number.

 

Specialist Training

But in order to become a plastic surgeon you need an additional specialist training.
This training consists of:

  • At least 2 years general surgery training
  • 4 years of plastic surgery training
  • Exam organized by the Concilium Chirurgicum Plasticum (CCP)

If you pass this exam you are a plastic surgeon and you will get a specialist Riziv number. The format is 1-12345-67-210

A Plastic Reconstrcutive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon can be recognized because the last 3 numbers are 210. Only REAL plastic surgeons in Belgium have this number.

 

Continued Education

When you are an official plastic surgeon your training does not stop, most plastic surgeons do additional Fellowships and courses to learn more about specific areas of our specialty, possible directions are:

  • Aesthetic Surgery
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Microsurgery
  • Burns
  • Hand surgery
  • Breast reconstruction and oncoplasticsurgery

Depending on the help you need you might want to verify whether your doctor has done additional training, besides fellowships this can be by attending Courses, symposia and congresses.

 

Membership

All European countries have National Societies who represent the Plastic Surgery community. Membership of such a Society is highly recommended for REAL plastic surgeons, you can verify this in the chart of the doctor on this website.

For Belgium the National Society is:

  • Royal Belgian Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (Koninklijke Vereniging voor Plastische, Reconstructieve en Esthetische Chirurgie /
    Societé Royale de Chirurgie Plastique, Reconstructrice et Esthétique)

 

Membership of relevant European and International Societies shows additional Commitment to the area the plastic surgeon is most interested in. Relevant individual member Societies include (non-exhaustive list):

  • European Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ESAPS)
  • Euraps
  • Rhinoplasty Society
  • European Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (ESPRAS)
  • International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)
  • Etc

 

REAL Plastic Surgeons summary

REAL plastic surgeons have had a thorough training, did an exam and are officially registered at the country’s Ministry of Health. They are member of a National Society and relevant (sub-)specialty societies and continue to learn their entire life.