School of Medicine
Chair of Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery in clinical care, teaching and research
The Chair of Plastic Surgery at Witten/Herdecke University is based at the Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH, Cologne Merheim Medical Centre, specifically within the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery and the Centre for Severe Burn Injuries. The Chair is held by the Director of the Clinic, Professor Dr Paul Fuchs, MD. He represents the discipline in patient care, teaching and research.
Key areas of focus at the Department of Plastic Surgery:
- Reconstructive surgery: microsurgical flap procedures to cover defects following trauma, chronic wounds or tumour removal; breast reconstruction using the patient’s own tissue; defect coverage and restoration of function
- Hand and microsurgery: treatment of hand fractures, replantation of fingers and hands, carpal surgery, rheumatic surgery, osteoarthritis surgery, wrist arthroscopy
- Burn surgery: Acute care for patients with severe burns and corrective procedures for burn scars
- Maxillofacial surgery: Treatment of midface trauma and tumour surgery in the oral, maxillofacial and facial regions
- Cosmetic surgery: Including minimally invasive procedures
- 24-hour replantation and burns service
There is close collaboration with the Cologne-Holweide Breast Centre on the right bank of the Rhine and the Gummersbach Breast Centre.
Further information on the clinic’s services and team can be found on the Cologne-Merheim Hospital website.
Chair holder
Prof. Dr. med.
Paul Fuchs
Chair Holder
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Chair of Plastic Surgery
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 Köln
Research
The Chair of Plastic Surgery is active in various areas of research. The aim is to further improve patient care. We carry out projects ranging from basic research through to clinical research and health care research.
Students interested in undertaking a PhD or a research placement are always very welcome.
Contact
Do you have any questions about our department’s research, or are you planning a collaboration? Please contact Senior Consultant PD Dr J. Schiefer or Senior Consultant Dr Jan-Philipp Stromps.
Research topics
Basic research
Epidermal and dermal skin substitutes
At the department, externally funded research groups are working on the following topics:
- Three-dimensional bone and cartilage regeneration using stem cells cultured on ‘smart’ biomaterials
- Physiology and pathophysiology of wound healing in acute and chronic wounds
- Stem cell therapy for chronic wounds.
This research is carried out in close collaboration with the Institute for Operative Medicine (IFOM).
Clinical research
In the field of clinical research, we focus on the following areas:
- Treatment of sternum osteomyelitis following cardiac surgery
- Autologous fat grafting for chronic wounds
- Enzymatic debridement in the treatment of burns
- Modern wound dressings in burn medicine
- Scar formation in burn patients
- Kinematic and pathological aspects of the wrist.
Health care research
Our work in the field of health care research focuses primarily on changes in quality of life following plastic and cosmetic surgery.
Plastic Surgery Research Groups
As a chair of Plastic Surgery, we are dedicated to various innovative research topics in the field of plastic surgery through our different research groups. We are proud to conduct research that meets the highest academic standards. Our team works closely with partners in the fields of clinical and basic research. Our focus is on new techniques, novel wound care materials and state-of-the-art technology to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients.
Wound Healing Working Group
To ensure optimal recovery and wound healing, there is a wide range of products on the market that claim to deliver the best possible results. The Wound Healing Working Group critically evaluates newly approved products on the market, with the aim of optimising wound healing. In the field of burns medicine, this includes, in particular, the use of innovative wound dressings to improve wound healing, as well as optimising patient comfort.
Head: PD Dr Jennifer Schiefer, academic with postdoctoral lecturing qualification
Team: Dr Wolfram Heitzmann, Dr Mahsa Bagheri, Maria von Kohout, Maximillian Mattern
Skin and Scar Quality Working Group
As a centre for the treatment of severe burn injuries, one of our main areas of research is improving skin and scar quality following severe burns. Despite advances in modern medicine, disfiguring scars still occur due to pathophysiological factors, which significantly impair the quality of life of affected patients. The Skin and Scar Quality Research Group aims to improve quality of life by optimising treatment to enhance the appearance of scars. The research is conducted using scientifically validated, objective measuring devices.
Head: PD Dr Jennifer Schiefer, academic with postdoctoral lecturing qualification
Team: Dr Mahsa Bagheri, Maria von Kohout, Maximillian Mattern, Dr Wolfram Heitzmann
Dr Sissy Schulz
Doctoral students: Michelle Werres, Sophia Metzger, Sofija Lukic, Theo Matthis, Julia Enzmann
Epidemiology Working Group
In epidemiological research, our ultimate aim is to improve prevention, treatment and patient care. Through epidemiological studies, we seek to identify risk factors for burn injuries, understand their underlying mechanisms and develop effective prevention strategies.
We work closely with Professor Lefering, Head of the Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), as well as national burns centres and other experts, to collect and analyse extensive datasets. By employing robust research designs, we aim to generate evidence-based findings that contribute to the further development of burn medicine.
Head: PD Dr Jennifer Schiefer, academic with postdoctoral lecturing qualification
Team: Dr Mahsa Bagheri, Dr Jan Akkan
Collaborating partner: Prof. Dr Rolf Lefering (IFOM)
Infectious Diseases Working Group
Our Infectious Diseases Research Group focuses on researching new techniques for preventing infections following burn injuries, which represent the most serious complication of such injuries. Working in close collaboration with our Intensive Care Unit, we investigate various strategies for preventing and treating infections, both clinically and in our laboratory. Our aim is to develop innovative approaches to significantly improve the safety and recovery of burn patients.
Head: PD Dr Jennifer Schiefer & Dr Mahsa Bagheri
Doctoral student: Luise Neumann (cand. med.)
Collaborators: PD Dr Christian Opländer, Prof. Dr Rolf Lefering (IFOM)
Publications
All publications by the Chair of Plastic Surgery at UW/H are listed in the university bibliography.
Team at the Chair of Plastic Surgery
| Senior Lead Consultant: | Dr Seyhan | SeyhanH@kliniken-koeln.de | Telephone: +49 (0)221 / 8907-3817 | |
| Senior Consultants: | Dr V. Meinhardt | MeinhardtV@kliniken-koeln.de | ||
| Prof. Dr J. Schiefer | SchieferJ@kliniken-koeln.de | |||
| Dr J.P. Stromps | StrompsJ@kliniken-koeln.de | |||
| Secretariat: | Ms Bormann | BormannHe@kliniken-koeln.de | Telephone: +49 (0)221 / 8907-3817 | Fax: +49 (0)221 / 8907-3878 |