Although many countries provide bariatric surgery, few have as much experience as Belgium, which is particularly renowned for its use of laparoscopy techniques. Whenever possible, gastric band and bypass procedures are done laparoscopically, allowing the patient to be discharged quickly.

Sint Jan Hospital is situated just outside of Bruges, in northern Belgium. It is a short train ride from Brussels, which is only two hours' journey by Eurostar from London Waterloo. Patients from the United Kingdom will be right at home: the nursing staff and other personnel speak fluent English, and all documents are in English. The hospital and local hotels provide cable television, including three British channels.

More importantly, Sint Jan has had many years' success with obesity surgery; its surgeons are members of the World Society for Bariatric Surgery known as IFSO.

The pre-operative programs of Dr. Dillemans are organized one day before surgery. This makes travel time to Bruges as short as possible. The surgery days are Wednesdays and Fridays, the pre-op programs taking place on Tuesdays and Thursdays.