Faced with the excessive diversity of types of doctors ‘interested’ in aesthetics, Belgium is one of the few countries to have defined the competences of each (see Tilmans Law 2014).

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In summary: 

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Plastic surgeons can do everything.

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Dermatologists can do everything except a few plastic surgery procedures that are normally reserved for surgeons:

blepharoplasty,

major liposuction,

breast implant surgery, etc. 

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General practitioners can perform cosmetic procedures provided they have undergone special training and practise exclusively in the field of aesthetics (no longer practising general medicine). 

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Specialist doctors, other than dermatologists and plastic surgeons, can only perform cosmetic procedures on THEIR organ. Examples: a gynaecologist cannot inject botulinum toxin, an ENT specialist can perform nose jobs.

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All this seems perfectly logical! 

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However, the law is incomplete: it does not set any limits on beauticians and the many NON-medical ‘cosmetic centres’ (insist on seeing a doctor and ask for their INAMI number).

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They should not be allowed to use very powerful and potentially dangerous equipment such as :

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flash lamps 

radio frequencies 

cryolipolysis 

diode lasers 

peels other than ‘scrubs’ ​

 

It is in this sector of non-medical practitioners that the most abuse and accidents are observed. Patients are NOT WELL PROTECTED during these procedures and accidents are far from rare.