LMU Klinikum is one of the leading university hospitals in Germany, and its Department of Hand Surgery, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery has grown into one of the country's most respected centres in its field. The department became an independent specialty about three decades ago and has since built a reputation for careful planning, technical excellence and a genuine interest in the long-term well-being of every patient. Its stated aim is to deliver the best possible care by linking daily clinical work with strong scientific activity, so that patients can benefit from modern methods as soon as they have been proven safe and effective. Whether someone arrives after an accident, with the consequences of illness, or with a personal wish to change how they look and feel, they meet a team that treats their concerns with seriousness, patience and respect.
Thirty Years as an Independent Specialty
The history of the department reflects the growth of plastic surgery itself. What began as a field within general surgery has become a specialty with its own training, its own research and its own standards. At LMU Klinikum, this development was shaped by surgeons who believed that the hand, the skin and the soft tissues of the body deserve a dedicated team with deep expertise. Over the years, the department has expanded across two hospital campuses and today offers the complete spectrum of plastic surgical care in one organisation.
Leadership of the department has been closely involved in national and European professional societies for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. This involvement keeps the team connected with international developments, guidelines and quality initiatives, and it reflects the respect the department enjoys among colleagues. For patients, it means treatment built on shared standards rather than isolated opinions.
The department's values have remained consistent throughout this growth. Surgeons are expected to be honest about what can be achieved, to protect function as carefully as appearance, and to place the patient's safety above every other consideration. These principles are passed on to each new generation of doctors who train here, creating a shared understanding of what good care looks like.
• An independent specialty department for around thirty years
• Two hospital campuses under one coordinated team
• Close involvement in national and European professional societies
• Care built on shared standards and recognised guidelines
Microscopic Precision and a Laboratory of Its Own
Much of modern plastic surgery depends on the ability to work on very small structures, such as fine blood vessels, lymphatic channels and nerves. The team at LMU Klinikum places particular emphasis on these microsurgical skills. Surgeons train intensively with magnification systems and delicate instruments, and the department even organises well-known practical courses where doctors from other hospitals come to learn these techniques.
Research is carried out in a dedicated laboratory belonging to the department, where questions about tissue healing, nerve regeneration and new materials are studied. Medical students, junior doctors and doctoral researchers take part in this work, which keeps curiosity and critical thinking alive in the team. This scientific culture helps ensure that new methods reach patients only after careful testing and evaluation.
Technology supports this precision at every stage. Detailed imaging helps surgeons understand anatomy before an operation, modern magnification systems allow accurate work during it, and laser-based devices extend the range of gentle options available to patients. Each tool is chosen for a clear reason: to make treatment safer, more precise or easier to recover from.
• Strong focus on microsurgical skills and fine-structure work
• Practical training courses that teach other surgeons these techniques
• A dedicated research laboratory for tissue and nerve science
• Students and doctoral researchers involved in ongoing projects
Round-the-Clock Readiness for Urgent Injuries
Accidents do not follow office hours, and the department reflects this reality. LMU Klinikum operates a hand trauma centre that is available around the clock and certified by the European federation of hand surgery societies. Patients with serious injuries to the hand and upper limb can be assessed and treated at any time by an on-call team of hand and plastic surgeons. This readiness is also a sign of the department's overall strength, because a team that can respond to emergencies at night is a team that is well organised during the day.
The same safety culture applies to planned surgery. Operations take place in modern theatres within a maximum-care university hospital, supported by specialist anaesthesia, intensive care, imaging and laboratory services. Should anything unexpected happen, experts from almost every field are close at hand. Nursing teams on the wards are experienced in caring for patients after delicate reconstructive work, including wound care, positioning, early mobilisation and pain control.
• Certified hand trauma centre with a twenty-four-hour on-call service
• Modern operating theatres in a maximum-care university hospital
• Specialist anaesthesia, intensive care and imaging always available
• Ward nursing teams experienced in recovery after reconstructive surgery
Consultations Shaped Around the Person, Not the Procedure
The department organises its outpatient work into specialised consultations, so that each patient is seen by surgeons who focus on their particular concern. There are separate clinics for aesthetic questions, reconstructive needs, body contouring, nerve and limb problems and hand and wrist conditions, as well as a dedicated clinic for dressings and wound follow-up. This structure allows the team to spend time on the details that matter and to build a clear picture before recommending anything.
Consultations are designed as honest conversations. Surgeons explain the possible options, the expected recovery time, the risks and the realistic outcome, and they are clear when an operation is not the right answer. Patients are encouraged to bring questions, to take time to think and to return for a second discussion if needed. Where it helps, the team involves colleagues from other departments, such as cancer specialists, obesity experts, dermatologists or physiotherapists, so that the plan fits the whole person.
The department also understands that surgery often touches on emotional as well as physical concerns. Many patients have lived with a problem for years before seeking help, and some arrive after a difficult illness or a life-changing accident. The team takes time to acknowledge these experiences, to listen without judgement and to support patients in making decisions that feel right for them, at a pace they are comfortable with.
• Specialised consultation clinics for different concerns
• Online appointment booking for convenient scheduling
• Clear explanations of options, recovery, risks and realistic results
• Close cooperation with other specialties when care needs it
A Welcoming Base for Patients From Across Germany and Abroad
Patients travel to LMU Klinikum from all over Germany and from other countries, attracted by the hospital's academic reputation and the department's specialised expertise. The hospital supports international patients with guidance on appointments, documentation and costs, and consultations can be held in English as well as German. Translation support can be arranged where needed. Both campuses are easy to reach by public transport, and practical information about the stay, from admission to discharge, is prepared so that patients and their companions know what to expect.
After treatment, follow-up care continues in a structured way. Patients receive clear instructions for recovery at home, planned check-up appointments and contact details in case questions arise. For those who live far away, the team can share reports with doctors in the home region so that care remains continuous. Throughout the journey, discretion and dignity are treated as essential, especially for patients whose concerns are sensitive or personal.
The environment itself is designed to feel calm and orderly. Clear signage, organised admission processes and staff who take a moment to explain each step help reduce the stress that often comes with a hospital visit. Companions are welcome to accompany patients to consultations, and the team is happy to answer their questions too.
• Support for international patients before and after their stay
• Consultations in German and English, with translation help available
• Good public transport connections to both campuses
• Structured follow-up and communication with home doctors
Choosing LMU Klinikum means choosing a team that combines the security of a major university hospital with the focus of a highly specialised department. Its surgeons bring together precise technique, scientific curiosity and a sincere respect for each patient's goals, and they remain committed long after the operation is over. For anyone seeking reconstructive or aesthetic care in Germany at the highest academic level, the department offers a trustworthy and caring place to begin. Every consultation starts with listening, and every plan is built around the person rather than the other way round, a principle that has guided the team for three decades and continues to shape its work today.
