Cosmetic Surgery | Specialists and Information

• Covering minor defects using local flap procedures,
• Coverage of larger defects using free, microsurgical flaps
• Correction of scar tissue,
• hand surgery,
• Treatment of wound healing defects,
• Reconstruction of facial structures and soft tissue defects following accidents, burns, or cancer,
• Reconstruction of the female breast following mastectomy (removal of breast tissue),
• Surgery for gynecomastia (breast enlargement in men)

• Breast augmentation/breast reduction/breast lift,
• Body contouring, e.g., tummy tuck, upper arm lift, or buttock lift
• Genital surgery,
• Facial Aesthetic Surgery (Face-Neck Lift with SMAS, Forehead Lift, Upper and Lower Eyelid Corrections, Lip Augmentation, Rhinoplasty, etc.)
• Wrinkle treatment with Botox, hyaluronic acid, laser, or autologous fat injections,
• Autologous hair transplants

In Germany, approximately 16,000 to 20,000 women undergo breast augmentation each year @ Roman / AdobeStock

Treatments aimed at restoring function or aesthetics following an accident or a serious illness are generally covered by health insurance as “procedures with a medical indication.” The same applies to congenital defects that can severely impair a person’s appearance, such as cleft lip and palate or paralysis of individual facial muscles.

However, the situation is different when it comes to patients’ purely “aesthetic enhancement requests.” These costs are not covered by health insurance companies. This applies in particular to treatments for the “aging” face, wrinkle treatments as part of anti-aging procedures, breast augmentations, liposuction for aesthetic body contouring, penile lengthening, and rhinoplasty.

According to statistics, approximately 306,300 Botox treatments were performed in Germany in 2021 @ Roman /AdobeStock

The German Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery identifies the following three points as essential prerequisites for specialists in aesthetic surgery to ensure high-quality patient care:

• Specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery hold the title of board-certified specialist in plastic, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgery. This requires six years of specialized training.
• Specialists must have been practicing independently in the field of aesthetic surgery for at least two years in their own practice or clinic.
• Every specialist in aesthetic surgery regularly participates in professional continuing education, attends relevant conferences and workshops, and keeps their knowledge up to date.

As a patient, it is best to research the clinic and the medical staff in the field of aesthetic surgery in advance to ensure they meet the criteria listed above.

In addition to their continuing education in the specialty, specialists in aesthetic surgery should also have sufficient practical experience in the field. Therefore, be sure to ask specifically about the volume of procedures they perform each year. A specialized clinic for plastic and aesthetic surgery should be able to devote the majority of its time to procedures within its specialty and maintain high success rates. It’s best to have this demonstrated through treatment results or, ideally, through direct conversation with patients who have already undergone treatment there.