Facts and short portrait

Founded

20 September 1995 in Leipzig

Purpose of foundation

Working and interest group for plastic surgeons with a primary focus on aesthetic surgery

Headquarters

Joachimsthaler Strasse 31-32
10719 Berlin

Management Board

President

Dr. med. Alexander Schönborn

Vice president

Dr. med. Katrin Müller

Secretary

PD Dr. med. Stéphan Stahl

Treasurer

Dr. med. Andreas Heitland

Members

146 (as of October 2024)

Accreditations:

DGPRAEC – Deutsche Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen (German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeons)

IPRAS – International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery

ISAPS – International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Brief portrait of the Association of German Aesthetic-Plastic Surgeons:

The Assocation of German Aesthetic-Plastic Surgeons (VDAEPC) is a subsidiary of the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery (DGPRAEC).

There are four pillars of plastic surgery:

  1. Aesthetic surgery
  2. Reconstructive surgery
  3. Burn surgery
  4. Hand surgery

The VDAEPC is a working and interest group for aesthetic plastic surgeons with a primary focus on aesthetic surgery. Aesthetic surgery includes procedures aimed at restoring and improving the physical form and correcting visibly impaired physical functions. It seeks to correct congenital anomalies as well as acquired or age-related changes in the outer appearance. Full membership in the VDAEPC is restricted to Specialists in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery licensed in Germany under the currently valid version of the Continuing Education Regulations.

The VDAEPC pursues three primary goals:

  1. Vouching for quality and competence by maintaining strict membership criteria
  2. Promoting research and development in the field of aesthetic-plastic surgery as well as continuing education and training
  3. Quality assurance by supporting members in the area of quality management

Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery:

In May 2005, the word “Aesthetic” was added to the existing title of “Specialist in Plastic Surgery”, creating the current designation of “Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery”. This addition underscores the fact that aesthetic surgery is a specific field within plastic surgery, and that the bearer of the title has completed at least six years of continuing education along with the relevant exams. Terms like “plastic surgeon” and “cosmetic surgeon” are not legally protected; alone, they provide no information on the doctor’s qualifications.