The program includes:
- Initial presentation in the clinic
- clinical history taking
- physical examination
- review of medical records
- laboratory tests:
- complete blood count
- biochemical analysis of blood
- TSH-basal, fT3, fT4
- indicators of inflammation (CRP, ESR)
- indicators blood coagulation
- ultrasound/ CT/ MRI
- preparation according to preoperative standard
- plastic reconstruction of soft or hard facial tissue
- symptomatic treatment
- control examinations
- the cost of essential medicines and materials
- nursing services
- full hospital accommodation
- explanation of future recommendations
- written statement
Required documents
- Medical records
- Photo of the target body region
- X-ray examination of the facial skeleton (if available)
- Maxillofacial CT scan (if available)
Service
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About the department
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hand Surgery, Reconstructive Burn Surgery at the Hospital Cologne-Merheim ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in plastic reconstructive interventions!
The department offers the full range of modern surgical services in the areas of its specialization. The department performs aesthetic plastic surgery aimed at improving a patient's appearance based on their preferences, as well as reconstructive procedures for congenital and acquired defects. The medical facility also provides both conservative and surgical treatment for hand diseases and injuries and offers medical care to patients with burns of varying severity. The department has been engaged in clinical activities since 1970 and is one of the first highly specialized German medical facilities in the field of plastic surgery. State-of-the-art and proven surgical techniques are used in the department's clinical practice, allowing the specialists to achieve optimal results, including aesthetic aspects. The department's surgeons give preference to low-traumatic interventions, after which patients do not require a long recovery. Prior to surgery, patients receive the necessary information about surgical techniques and the expected outcomes, including computer-generated images of their future appearance. This approach allows the specialists to take into account the slightest nuances and satisfy the patient's wishes as much as possible. The Head Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Paul Christian Fuchs.
The department's team of surgeons has gained an excellent reputation in the field of reconstructive plastic surgery. These surgical interventions are indicated for patients with congenital malformations, burns, the consequences of severe injuries, and people who have undergone extensive tumor resections. To restore the aesthetics of the face and body, reconstructive plastic surgeons use various modern techniques, including microsurgical autologous tissue transfer (skin flaps, muscles, and adipose tissue) and implants made of modern biocompatible materials. The department's specialists also have vast experience in finger and upper limb replantation.
A particular focus of the department's surgeons is reconstructive breast surgery in women after mastectomy (breast removal surgery). The specialists at the medical center restore breast volume using autologous adipose tissues from the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks, with adipose tissue from the lower abdomen (DIEP flap) being the most frequently used. DIEP flap plastic surgery allows for a simultaneous tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). Other advantages of this technique include a natural breast shape and a lack of implant rejection risk. Microsurgical autologous breast flap plastic surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The duration of the intervention is 4-6 hours. A hospital stay after surgery is about 10 days, followed by strict adherence to the plastic surgeon's recommendations for 12 weeks. The department also successfully performs breast reconstruction with silicone implants. The duration of such operations is only 1-1.5 hours, but there is a risk of implant rejection, and the breast shape may not always look natural.
The team of aesthetic plastic surgeons is responsible for performing surgical interventions to improve the patient's appearance based on their own considerations, without any medical indications. It is important for the department's specialists to satisfy the patient's wishes while ensuring the highest safety of the surgical manipulations performed. Individual consultations are held here for patients wishing to undergo aesthetic plastic surgery, during which the surgeon discusses in detail with the patient all the aspects of the upcoming operation. Whenever required, computer programs may be used to generate images of the patient with a new appearance. The department offers the whole range of modern aesthetic plastic surgery, including face lift, blepharoplasty, breast augmentation, reduction and lift, body lifting, tummy tuck, and liposuction. The department also offers aesthetic procedures for wrinkle treatment with injections of botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid, and autologous tissues, laser procedures for scar revision, etc.
An important focus in the department's clinical practice is the conservative and surgical treatment of hand diseases and injuries. The department offers the services of 6 highly specialized surgeons, whose professionalism is confirmed by certificates from the German Society for Hand Surgery (DGH). Surgical procedures on the hand are among the most complex in the field of surgery. The department's specialists have long experience in this field and work with state-of-the-art technical equipment, thanks to which they successfully handle particularly complex clinical cases. Microsurgical and endoscopic interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist arthritis, Dupuytren's contracture, trigger fingers, ganglions, and congenital hand malformations are performed here. A team of physicians specializing in finger and upper limb replantation is also available in the department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For patients with burn injuries, the department has a specialized Intensive Care Unit with an integrated operating room. The specialists in reconstructive burn surgery take on even those cases that many doctors consider hopeless, namely burns affecting up to 80% of the body surface area.
The department's range of medical services includes:
- Plastic aesthetic surgery
- Facial plastic surgery
- Face and neck lift
- Blepharoplasty (eyelid plastic surgery)
- Correction of wrinkles with botulinum toxin A injections
- Correction of wrinkles with hyaluronic acid injections
- Rejuvenation and scar revision using autologous adipose tissues
- Laser treatment and needling procedure for the treatment of scars and pigmentation, as well as for skin rejuvenation
- Breast plastic surgery
- Breast augmentation
- Breast reduction
- Breast lift
- Treatment of gynecomastia in men
- Breast asymmetry correction
- Body plastic surgery
- Liposuction, including for lipedema treatment
- Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
- Body lift (buttocks, thighs, and abdomen)
- Brachioplasty (shoulder lift)
- Thigh lift
- Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) treatment
- Intimate plastic surgery
- Labiaplasty
- Facial plastic surgery
- Reconstructive plastic surgery
- Repair of congenital defects
- Repair of the consequences of accidents
- Repair of defects after tumor removal surgery
- Replantation surgery
- Hand surgery
- Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
- Treatment of wrist arthritis
- Treatment of Dupuytren's contracture
- Treatment of trigger fingers
- Treatment of ganglions
- Repair of hand deformities and congenital hand malformations
- Treatment of hand injuries
- Reconstructive burn surgery
- Treatment of burns of varying severity (up to 80% of body surface area)
- Other medical services
Curriculum vitae
Since November 2012, Prof. Dr. med. Paul Christian Fuchs has been the Head of the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hand Surgery, Reconstructive Burn Surgery at the Hospital Cologne-Merheim. He is also the Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Witten/Herdecke University. The doctor studied medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the RWTH Aachen University, followed by clinical training at the University Hospital RWTH Aachen with a special focus on reconstructive microsurgery, including hand surgery and treatment of burns.
Qualifications
- Board certification in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.
- Additional qualification in hand surgery.
Memberships in Professional Societies
- German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (DGPRÄC).
Photo of the doctor: (c) Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH
About hospital
According to the reputable Focus magazine, the Hospital Cologne-Merheim ranks among the top German medical centers!
The health facility is an academic hospital of Witten/Herdecke University, which gives patients access to the very latest developments in European medicine. The Hospital Cologne-Merheim positions itself as a maximum care medical center, which is why it offers a wide range of high-quality medical services. The hospital has 752 beds in 13 specialized departments. More than 28,000 inpatients are treated here every year. Outpatient care is also provided for many medical specialties. The hospital also collaborates closely with the University Hospital Cologne, carrying out fruitful work at the Transplant Center.
The most successful areas of clinical practice in the medical center are neurosurgery, pulmonology, transplantology, surgery (in particular, minimally invasive), cardiology, traumatology, joint replacement surgery, and plastic surgery. The Departments of Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology, Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Palliative Care are also distinguished by top-class medical service. In addition, the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery provide effective early rehabilitation programs for patients with stroke, traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors, and other neurological diseases. Comprehensive treatment of such a level is available only at highly specialized and best medical facilities in Germany.
The hospital has several ultramodern intensive care units, where patients in critical condition are treated.
It is worth noting that the hospital was the first in the region to be certified in accordance with KTQ® (Cooperation for Transparency and Quality in Health Care). The certification process is repeated every three years, and each time the hospital passes it with excellent results.
The basis for high-quality medical services lies in state-of-the-art equipment, the application of effective and reliable therapeutic methods, and the vast clinical experience and professionalism of doctors and nursing staff. The main value for each employee at the hospital is the patient's health. Doctors devote enough time to personal communication with patients in order to establish a trusting relationship and explain the details of upcoming treatment.
Photo: (с) depositphotos
Accommodation in hospital
Patients rooms
The patients of the Hospital Cologne-Merheim live in single and double rooms. All patient rooms are cozy and designed in light colors. Each patient room has an ensuite bathroom with a shower and a toilet. The furnishings of a standard patient room include an automatically adjustable bed, a bedside table with a pull-out tray, a wardrobe for personal belongings, a table and chairs for receiving visitors, a TV, and a telephone. Wi-Fi is also available in the patient rooms.
If desired, patients may stay in an enhanced-comfort room, which additionally provides a safe, a mini-fridge, and upholstered furniture.
Meals and Menus
The patients are offered three tasty and healthy meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast and dinner are served as buffets, and for lunch, there is a set of three menus to choose from.
If, for some reason, you do not eat all the foods, you will be offered an individual menu. Please inform the medical staff about your dietary preferences prior to treatment.
Further details
Standard rooms include:
Religion
There is a chapel on the territory of the hospital, where Catholic and Evangelical worship is regularly held on Sundays and religious holidays. The chapel is also open daily for visits and solitude for prayers.
The services of representatives of other religions are available upon request.
Accompanying person
Your accompanying person may stay with you in your patient room or at the hotel of your choice during the inpatient program.
Hotel
You may stay at the hotel of your choice during the outpatient program. Our managers will support you for selecting the best option.