ENBreast surgery in Munich appeals to women who have long been considering an operation and are now choosing where to have it: the city has both small specialist plastic surgery clinics and departments in larger hospitals. Typical reasons are breasts that changed after pregnancy and breastfeeding, an asymmetry, or a very large bust that pulls on the shoulders and back.
Mammoplasty is the umbrella term for operations that change the shape and size of the breast. Below: the operations it includes, the consultation, Munich clinics and surgeons, recovery and organising the trip. The overview of plastic surgery in Germany is on the section page.
Which operations mammoplasty includes
Mammoplasty covers breast enlargement, reduction and lift, correction of asymmetry and reconstruction after removal of the breast. Enlargement uses implants — their shape, volume and position are chosen at the consultation — or the patient’s own fat. In fat transfer, or lipofilling, fat is taken by liposuction elsewhere, such as from the abdomen or thighs, and injected into the breast. Each method has its limits: an implant must suit the tissues, so a very large volume is often ruled out, and one fat-transfer session adds only moderate volume.
Breast reduction is most often done for medical reasons: a heavy bust causes back and neck pain, the skin under the breasts chafes and bra straps cut into the shoulders. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is for breasts that have dropped: the surgeon removes excess skin, raises the breast and reshapes it. Asymmetry can also be corrected when the breasts differ noticeably in size or shape.
Reconstruction after removal of the breast for cancer is planned together with oncologists and is a separate topic, covered on the page on breast cancer treatment.
Consultation with a plastic surgeon
At the consultation the surgeon examines the breasts, takes measurements, assesses the skin and tissue and discusses the patient’s expectations. The surgeon may ask for a recent ultrasound or mammogram before surgery; that is the surgeon’s call. Risks discussed include haematoma (a collection of blood in the tissue), changes in nipple sensation and scars, and with implants also capsular contracture, in which a firm capsule of scar tissue forms around the implant and changes the breast’s shape, and the possibility that implants will need replacing over time.
Before the operation the surgeon explains the procedure and possible complications in detail, and the patient signs a written consent. After an implant operation she receives an implant card with the device data and date of surgery, worth keeping for future check-ups and operations. A conscientious surgeon promises no «perfect» bust and explains what is realistic.
Where breast surgery is done in Munich
Munich offers both small plastic surgery clinics and departments in multidisciplinary hospitals. Villa Bella is a small plastic surgery clinic in central Munich at Brienner Straße 14, near Odeonsplatz, where only plastic surgeons operate. It is led by Dr. Ludger Meyer-Dobbelstein, a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery and a member of the German plastic surgery society DGPRÄC; aesthetic breast surgery is one of his main fields. More about its doctors is on the Villa Bella clinic page.
At the same clinic, breast operations are among the main fields of Dr. Nadja Zimmer (enlargement, reduction and lift) and Dr. Sebastian Pretzsch (enlargement with implants or own fat, reduction, lift). Dr. Maximilian Chlosta also performs aesthetic breast surgery.
ISAR Klinikum, a multidisciplinary hospital on Sonnenstraße, has departments of aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. The surgeon is chosen for the specific operation: enlargement, reduction and reconstruction call for different experience.
Recovery and your stay in Munich
The first days after surgery are spent in Munich under the surgeon’s supervision: pain is managed with medication, a special support bra is worn, strain and heavy lifting are limited and the wounds are checked. Swelling goes down gradually and the breast does not take its final shape straight away. The surgeon decides how long to wear the bra and when to return to sport and work.
The stay is planned with time for a follow-up visit, and the surgeon decides when it is safe to fly home. The cost depends on the type of operation, the implants and the anaesthesia; guide figures are on the pages on the cost of a breast lift and the cost of breast reduction.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a surgeon for breast surgery in Munich?
Choose by qualification and by experience with exactly the operation you need. The surgeon should be a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery. At the in-person consultation, ask how often the doctor performs this operation, which risks apply in your case and how follow-up care is arranged. A promise of a «perfect» result is a reason for caution.
Which tests are needed before breast surgery?
The surgeon decides after examining you. At the consultation the breasts, skin and tissue are assessed and measured, and the surgeon may ask for a recent ultrasound or mammogram. Prepare medical reports and details of earlier breast operations and current medication in advance: AlenMed passes them to the surgeon with your photos, so a preliminary assessment is possible before the trip.
How long does recovery after breast surgery take?
The surgeon sets the timeline: it depends on the operation and on how healing goes. In the first days, pain medication, a support bra and a gentle routine without heavy lifting help. Swelling goes down gradually and the final shape takes time to settle; at follow-up visits the surgeon decides when you can return to work and sport.
When can I fly home after breast surgery?
The surgeon decides after a follow-up visit, once the wounds are healing well and there are no complications. That is why the trip is planned with time to spare. AlenMed arranges accommodation near the clinic and agrees the flight date with the surgeon; if healing takes longer, the flight is moved, and the coordinator stays in touch throughout recovery.
How AlenMed arranges breast surgery in Munich
AlenMed’s office is in Munich: we pass your wishes, photos and medical information to the surgeon, obtain a preliminary assessment and estimate, and book the in-person consultation.
We help with the visa invitation, provide an interpreter at the consultation and at discharge, and find accommodation near the clinic; during recovery a coordinator is available to you.
This material is for information only and is not an offer. Whether an operation is possible, its scope and its result are determined by the doctor at an in-person consultation.