Turkey has long been associated with medical tourism. For decades, Britons have visited this vast and vibrant country for procedures ranging from dental work and hair transplants to plastic surgery. 

The country has become renowned for its affordable cosmetic surgery, with some areas, including Antalya and Istanbul, even offering 'medical tourism packages' comprising airport transfers, hotel stays and transportation to appointments.

But another destination has crept onto the map for Brits in search of bargain healthcare and a sprinkle of sightseeing on the side: Lithuania. 

Nordclinic, a surgical centre in the medical hub city of Kaunas, has seen the number of Britons booking its procedure package more than double since the pandemic, The Telegraph reports. Figures for this year alone reached over 3,500.

Social media is bursting with videos of people sharing their experiences of getting surgery in the eastern European spot.

Indeed, one traveller named Corey Payne opened up about having 'a variety of treatments in this country, private ones, whether that be X-rays when I've needed them urgently, blood tests and mainly dental work'.

In a TikTok video, @coreyfxl explained that he had previously travelled to Dubai for dental treatments and had paid 'almost double' compared to in Lithuania. 

According to Mr Payne, the quality of care was another factor drawing people to the country. He is due to have a set of veneers fitted at a Lithuanian clinic.

His doctors gave him good preparatory information 'at no extra cost' – instead of jumping straight into the procedure. By way of contrast, in both Dubai and Turkey, Corey found clinics wanted to start treatment immediately, and 'get the cash in the bank'.

There are plenty of benefits to choosing Lithuania for medical treatment.

For one thing, prices are considerably cheaper than here in the UK – particularly when compared with private treatment; cosmetic and orthopaedic surgery can be between 40 and 70 per cent cheaper than in Britain. 

Tom Craig, 57, flew over with his wife for a hip replacement after being quoted a whopping £14,500 to have the work done privately in Northern Ireland.

The Brit paid Nordorthopaedics, a subsidiary brand of Nordclinic, just €9,170 (around £7,865) for a package that included two nights in a hotel and six days of physiotherapy.

Alongside his treatment, he and his partner explored Lithuania's sights and history, enjoyed meals out – and still managed to save more than £5,300.

The country's high doctor-to-patient ratio is another factor attracting patients.

Giedriu Stankevičius, a plastic surgeon at Gijos Clinics, revealed to Wellness Travels that the most commonly performed facial procedure in Lithuania is upper eyelid surgery. 

He put it down to: 'Drooping upper eyelid skin is a natural, age-related change that affects both women and men, which is why the demand for this procedure remains consistently high.' 

Irish content creator Aisling Unfiltered, @aislingunfiltered, shared her experience of getting breast surgery in Lithuania and admitted in a TikTok video: 'From start to finish I was so scared.'

'Would I recommend anybody go to Turkey from now on in to have any surgery done to the body? My answer would be absolutely no,' she admitted.

Aisling had breast implants in Turkey seven years ago with a highly recommended surgeon, but had a difficult recovery and struggled with pain for some time. 

'When I think back of my experience seven years ago to now, I was such a foolish, stupid young girl because I risked my life,' she reflected.

Comparing her experience in Turkey versus Lithuania, Aisling revealed how in the latter she received great care, found people were readily 'on call' to help her and described her incisions as 'perfection'.

'Did I pay a bit extra here in Lithuania? Absolutely. Would I have got it cheaper in Turkey? Absolutely. What is the difference in my mind? They care,' she added. 

Corey noted: 'Cost is a huge factor, but I don't think it's the only factor that brings people here. Obviously there are places in the world that are much cheaper than Lithuania such as Turkey.'

He explained how Lithuania follows 'European standards' with its training and treatment.  

By contrast, in Turkey: 'There's a new clinic opening every single day promising you great results.' 

Simon Hood, travel expert and executive director of John Mason International, which offers international removal services, previously warned: 'In Turkey, regulations vary slightly from the UK, but any practice or clinic can be recognised by international organisations such as the Joint Commission International, or JCI. 

'Having this recognition can help assure you that your deal is both safe and indeed a bargain.'

Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office offers dedicated advice to those seeking out medical tourism within its travel advice for Turkey.

'The standard of medical facilities and available treatments can vary widely globally and also within countries,' it reads.

'We are aware of seven British nationals having died in Turkey in 2025 following medical procedures. Some British nationals have also experienced complications and needed further treatment or surgery following their procedure.' 

Medical procedures abroad certainly don't always go right, and an audit published in the BMJ Open found 655 patients were treated by the NHS between 2011 and 2024 after undergoing bariatric, cosmetic or eye surgery overseas, most commonly in Turkey.