Aesthetic medicine has become a passport stamp. As Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Eva Longoria and Rachel Brosnahan publicly chronicle trips built around facials, injectables and wellness retreats, beauty tourism — once a private indulgence — is reshaping how travelers plan vacations and where they spend money on their faces and bodies.
The stakes for readers are practical. The clinics celebrities choose are increasingly accessible to non-famous patients, and experts say the country matters less than the credentials of the doctor. That makes research — not geography — the deciding factor in whether a trip abroad is worth it.
Beauty tourism refers to traveling internationally for cosmetic or aesthetic procedures rather than receiving them locally. Treatments range from skincare and injectables to surgical enhancements like rhinoplasty and body contouring. South Korea and Turkey are among the most recognized hubs, but the United States also draws international patients seeking highly specialized care.
Dr. Benjamin Caughlin, a facial plastic surgeon at Impressions Face and Body in Chicago, told BeautyCon: “I have a significant population of patients from western Europe, including Spain, Ireland, Italy, and Greece. People are willing to travel for a super-specialist.”
Experts emphasize that safety depends on choosing the right doctor, understanding credentials and researching reviews before booking anything abroad.
Celebrities have helped make beauty tourism visible by openly sharing trips centered on aesthetic treatments and wellness retreats. Their posts function as both endorsements and itineraries, sending fans and beauty insiders chasing the same clinics, doctors and destinations.
Where Celebrities Go For Beauty Treatments Abroad and In the US
South Korea: Hoan Clinic in Seoul. Kim Kardashian visited Hoan Clinic in Seoul in August 2025 for advanced aesthetic treatments. Located in Hannam-dong, the clinic is known for combining functional medicine, regenerative stem cell treatments and lifting procedures with private, high-end dermatology care.
Kardashian documented the trip on Instagram after traveling with Khloé Kardashian, La La Anthony and friends, captioning the post: “#TheThingsWeDo 🇰🇷” Visible steps included topical anesthesia, blood extraction from her arm and a cooling, hydrating facial mask.
Italy: Palazzo Fiuggi and Dr. Barbara Sturm. Gwyneth Paltrow is closely associated with Palazzo Fiuggi, a luxury wellness retreat known for restorative treatments and longevity programs, which she has partnered with through Goop. Dr. Barbara Sturm, an aesthetic doctor recognized for pioneering the “vampire facial,” also works with the retreat. Her client list includes Kardashian, Paltrow, Hailey Bieber, Paris Hilton and Emma Roberts, per her website.
California: The Ranch. Rachel Brosnahan shared her experience at The Ranch, one of the best-known celebrity wellness retreats. She told Women’s Health in July 2025: “I had the opportunity to go to The Ranch in California, 7 days of hiking and vegan food and it was pretty magical.” The Ranch is known for immersive hiking, plant-based meals and structured reset experiences rather than cosmetic procedures alone.
Dubai: Lucia Clinic. Lucia Clinic is a celebrity-favorite for injectables, Botox, CoolSculpting and non-invasive anti-aging treatments. The clinic highlights testimonials from Lindsay Lohan, Naomi Campbell and Eva Longoria on its website.
Longoria has specifically praised founder Dr. Radmila Lukian. She said in a TikTok posted by Lukian in 2024: “I come to Dubai just to see Radmila and the amazing staff at Lucia Clinic.” She added: “I don’t mind aging, I just want to age well. And so if there’s a machine, a laser, a lotion, a potion, she has it and I’m gonna use it. I can’t even list all the things that I get done here because you’re like a magic genie.”
