Dr. Rytis Rimdeika, President
Lithuanian Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Society
July 15 is World Plastic Surgery Day, a great opportunity to celebrate the ISAPS international community, which now includes 101 Global Alliance Partners, 158 National Secretary representatives, and 6,300 members representing 117 countries.
This month, we are pleased to introduce Dr. Rytis Rimdeika, President of the Lithuanian Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Society, who recently joined the ISAPS Global Alliance Partnership. As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering unity within our specialty, we pursue a shared vision of safe aesthetic surgery and enhanced patient quality of life through collaboration and cooperation in Aesthetic Education Worldwide®.
ISAPS: Thank you for joining the ISAPS Global Alliance Partnership! Why are these partnerships significant for the advancement of aesthetic plastic surgery?
RIMDEIKA: Modern aesthetic plastic surgery crosses borders: patients travel, surgeons train internationally, and complications do not respect geography. International partnerships raise global standards, disseminate knowledge, accelerate progress, and protect patients. By working together, societies can speak the same scientific and ethical language, reducing variation in training requirements, terminology, classification systems, and safety protocols. This creates a more predictable and safer global environment for both patients and surgeons.
No single society can achieve this alone—collective intelligence is far more powerful than isolated national efforts.
Lithuania is a small European country, and joining the ISAPS Global Alliance Partnership provides access to global leaders and mentorship, expands opportunities for collaborative research, and strengthens cooperation in joint initiatives, multicenter studies, and shared databases, thereby generating stronger scientific evidence for clinical practice.
This particular partnership is an essential step in ensuring that the specialty within Lithuania remains well‑structured, balanced, and professionally robust—competitive, ethical, and contributing to the development of the country’s economy.
ISAPS: Can you describe how the field of aesthetic plastic surgery in Lithuania has changed since you began your practice?
RIMDEIKA: I graduated from university in 1990—at the very moment Lithuania regained its independence from the Soviet Union. As the Head of the Department at the University and University Hospital, I had the privilege of contributing to the development of our specialty from its earliest steps – building educational programs for students and residency programs for postgraduates at the University, developing the specialty curriculum, and mentoring PhD studies and scientific projects.
Lithuania’s plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery field has undergone a profound transformation since 1990, evolving from a small, reconstruction‑focused discipline into a modern, broad‑based, and internationally connected specialty with strong educational structures, ethical standards, and growing global visibility.
The first milestones were the creation of modern academic departments, the establishment of residency programs, and the alignment of medical education with EU (UEMS) standards. This academic foundation marked the beginning of structured development, strengthening training, research, and cross‑border collaboration. It professionalized the field and ensured a stable pipeline of well‑trained specialists. Lithuanian plastic surgeons became active participants in international professional organizations, with the national society representing the country globally and promoting high standards, ethical practice, and evidence‑based care. Since 2006, a five‑year residency program has trained new surgeons to EU standards, and our training programs have been accredited by European institutions and professional societies.
As the private healthcare sector expanded, aesthetic surgery grew rapidly, especially after Lithuania joined the EU in 2004. Clinics adopted modern technologies, and patient demand increased for procedures such as breast surgery, body contouring, and facial aesthetics.
As Lithuanian surgeons gained international recognition, the country experienced a steady rise in foreign patients and a rapid expansion of medical tourism beginning in the 2010s. This growth encouraged clinics to adopt higher safety standards, multilingual communication, and internationally recognized quality systems.
ISAPS: What do you think makes our specialty meaningful?
RIMDEIKA: Plastic surgery is meaningful because it sits at the intersection of science, artistry, and human dignity—there are only a few medical specialties that can claim the same intensity.
Plastic surgery changes how people live, not just how they look. Whether addressing the effects of aging, correcting congenital differences, reconstructing post‑pregnancy deformities, or repairing post‑traumatic defects, plastic surgeons help patients reclaim essential aspects of their appearance, self‑image, and confidence. This is profoundly human work. You are not simply reshaping tissue — you are giving someone back a part of themselves: their confidence, their sense of normalcy, their ability to meet the world without fear or shame.
It is also one of the rare specialties where novelty, technical excellence, and artistic sensibility are equally essential. Innovation is part of its DNA. From microsurgery to regenerative medicine, from fat grafting to robotics, plastic surgery is often the first to adopt and refine new technologies. The specialty continues to lead advancements in imaging, minimally invasive techniques, and regenerative approaches, shaping the future of surgical care.
Equally important is the surgeon’s commitment to ethical professionalism. Plastic surgeons work closely with patients to understand motivations, guide expectations, and ensure safe, responsible decision‑making. This ethical foundation is essential in a field that is highly visible, rapidly evolving, and deeply connected to personal identity.
ISAPS: What is the most requested surgery in Lithuania?
RIMDEIKA: The most requested aesthetic surgery in Lithuania is body contouring, including mommy makeovers, tummy tucks, and liposuction. While body contouring is the clear leader, Lithuania also shows strong demand for facial aesthetic procedures, breast reduction, and breast augmentation.
Several factors contribute to the popularity of these procedures: strong local expertise and modern surgical facilities, competitive pricing compared with Western Europe, short waiting times, high satisfaction rates, predictable outcomes, and consistently high demand from both local patients and international medical tourists.
ISAPS: How do you see Lithuania approaching patient safety, and what changes have you noticed in the growth of medical tourism there?
RIMDEIKA: Patient safety in Lithuania is strictly regulated by state institutions, including the National Public Health Center under the Ministry of Health, the State Accreditation Center for Healthcare Activities, and other oversight bodies. Lithuania’s approach to patient safety has become increasingly structured, data‑driven, and aligned with European Union expectations—a shift closely linked to the rapid growth of medical tourism.
Both private and public healthcare sectors operate under EU regulatory frameworks, which set rigorous requirements for quality, safety, and clinical governance. Modern facilities are equipped with cutting‑edge technology and staffed by clinicians who frequently train in other EU countries or the United States. Clinics increasingly emphasize clear, transparent treatment pathways, from pre‑operative assessment to rehabilitation. This transparency is a key safety factor for international patients who require predictable, well‑coordinated care. Many clinics report refining the entire patient journey to ensure safety, clarity, and continuity at every step.
A significant advantage in Lithuania is the presence of multilingual, internationally trained surgeons and medical staff, which reduces communication errors—one of the major contributors to patient‑safety incidents in cross‑border care.
As a result of these strengths, Lithuania has seen a substantial rise in medical tourists. The number of foreign patients has more than doubled over the past five years, reaching approximately 25,000 international patients annually. The city of Kaunas alone recorded a 25% increase in international patients in 2025 compared with 2024, and a 40% increase compared with 2023.
In recent years, there has been a clear shift from Lithuania being perceived as a “low‑cost destination” to an “expertise destination.”
Convenient flight connections, widespread English proficiency, and streamlined clinic processes further enhance Lithuania’s attractiveness for cross‑border care. Patients value the ability to plan their entire treatment journey in advance—a factor that significantly improves both safety and satisfaction.
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