Frequently asked questions

Complications can occur with surgical procedures. It is important that you are well informed about possible complications. Only then can you decide whether you want to have the treatment performed. During the first consultation with the plastic surgeon you will receive all information, both verbally and in writing. Make sure you are well informed by a registered plastic surgeon. This way you enter the process in the safest possible manner.

When a plastic surgeon is BIG-registered, they are legally authorised to use this protected title. All our plastic surgeons are BIG-registered. The registration numbers can be found on the personal page of each plastic surgeon.

The nationally determined minimum age for cosmetic procedures is eighteen years. This has been established by the Dutch Association for Plastic Surgery. As a clinic we comply with this legislation. This applies to all our invasive treatments and treatments with injectables (Botox and fillers).

During the first consultation we discuss not only your wishes and expectations but also your general health. This gives the plastic surgeon sufficient information to indicate whether your wish is appropriate given, among other things, your age. If the plastic surgeon has any doubts about this, they will discuss it with you.

In general, non-smokers in good health with the right treatment indication are suitable. If you have medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems or depression, the plastic surgeon or anaesthesiologist may advise against treatment. It is therefore important that you are honest about your medical history, your wishes and expectations. Naturally, all of this will be discussed extensively during the first consultation with the plastic surgeon. Together we will look for the right treatment to achieve the best possible result.

The Dutch Association for Plastic Surgery and the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate have determined that people with a BMI (Body Mass Index) above 32 do not qualify for plastic surgery due to the increased risk of postoperative complications. A BMI above 32 is a contraindication for surgery.

Within our team we have both male and two female plastic surgeons. If you have a preference, we will take this into account.

Our clinic is located in Spaarne Gasthuis Noord, 3rd floor, at Vondelweg 999, 2026 BW Haarlem. The Spaarne Gasthuis is easily accessible by car from the N208 ring road — exit Spaarne Gasthuis. By public transport you can take 3 Connexxion buses from Haarlem station: 3, 73 and 385. By bus you will travel approximately fifteen minutes to the 'Delftplein/Spaarne Gasthuis Haarlem' stop. From the bus stop it is a 4-minute walk to the clinic.

During the consultation with the plastic surgeon it is important that you communicate your wishes clearly and honestly so that the surgeon can draw up a concrete treatment plan for you. If you have information about your medical history it is advisable to bring this with you, including current medication lists. You do not need a referral letter.

Since we exclusively provide non-insured care, you do not need a referral. If you believe you are eligible for reimbursement, you will need a referral letter from your GP. With this you can make an appointment at the Plastic Surgery outpatient clinic of the Red Cross Hospital or at the Plastic Surgery outpatient clinic of Spaarne Gasthuis; in that case we cannot treat you at our clinic. Treatments at the clinic are always at your own expense.

In order to prepare you as well as possible for a surgical treatment, we will ensure that you receive all necessary information, including the surgical package leaflet and the pre- and post-operative information. On the day of the treatment you will sign a consent form stating that you have been extensively informed and are giving consent to the treating plastic surgeon to perform the surgical treatment.

If your weight plays a role in your treatment, the plastic surgeon will discuss with you when you should contact the clinic to report any weight loss or gain. If necessary, the plastic surgeon can anticipate this. If there is weight gain or loss after the treatment and you have questions or concerns about this, you can always contact the clinic.

If you have become pregnant between your first consultation and your treatment, please contact us immediately. If you have a treatment scheduled or are on the waiting list for a treatment, we are obliged to postpone the treatment. We do not operate on you if you are pregnant. During pregnancy we also do not perform injectable treatments. If you are pregnant after the treatment, you notice that your body is changing and you have questions about this, we advise you to contact us. Furthermore, our plastic surgeons will, prior to the treatment, inform you whether a possible future pregnancy will affect the procedure performed. This is especially the case with abdominal and breast operations. In some cases it is advisable to postpone a treatment if you wish to have children in the near future.

In recent years there has been much research into a link between the development of breast cancer and breast augmentation with prostheses. It has not yet been scientifically proven that the presence of prostheses contributes to the development of breast cancer. If you are considering a breast augmentation with prostheses, the plastic surgeon will discuss the possible complications with you. After your consultation you will receive the surgical package leaflet. Clients with prostheses can also participate in the national breast cancer screening by means of a mammogram. It is advisable to mention the presence of the prostheses at the start of the examination.

Naturally, we take your wish as the starting point as much as possible to arrive at the final volume. In determining the prosthesis, a number of other factors also play a role (apart from the volume). The starting point is your own anatomy. The plastic surgeon will discuss the various options with you or explain why a certain type of prosthesis is excluded. To determine the desired volume, a fitting session will also take place during the first consultation. Wishing to change the volume later will always be done in consultation with the treating plastic surgeon, so that the desired result can be achieved.

Many women with breast implants have successfully breastfed their babies. However, it is not known whether there are risks associated with breastfeeding for a woman with breast implants. A study into the element silicon (a component of silicone) in breast milk showed no elevated values in the milk of women with silicone implants compared to women without implants. Cow's milk contains higher levels of silicon compared to human breast milk. Techniques with incisions near the nipple and areola can reduce the success of breastfeeding; the plastic surgeon will always inform you about this.

Approximately six to twelve months after the last time you breastfed, your breasts will have recovered and you can undergo a breast operation.

We do everything we can to prepare you as well as possible for your treatment. In some cases it may be necessary to enlist the help of your loved ones during recovery. You will be informed about this in advance. The degree of pain to be expected differs per treatment and will be discussed during the consultation. One or two days after your treatment we will contact you by phone to ask how you are doing. We will also always ask how you are experiencing any pain and assess whether this is within the expected range for your treatment. If necessary, the plastic surgeon will prescribe additional pain medication.

We perform two types of injectable treatments: filler and Botox treatments. We exclusively use temporary fillers. These fillers are dissolved and removed by the body after a certain period. How long the fillers last can vary per location; generally the fillers disappear from your body after six to nine months. If desired, the treatment can be repeated. A Botox treatment provides maximum results for up to three months; therefore we advise repeating the treatment three times a year for optimal results.

In most cases we offer an overnight stay for treatments under general anaesthesia. During the first consultation you will be informed whether this is the case for your treatment, or whether you can go home the same day. For treatments under local anaesthesia (where only the area to be treated is numbed) you always go home after the treatment. In that case, please bring someone who can accompany you home.

It is important that you follow the plastic surgeon's advice and study the post-operative information carefully before your treatment, so that you can be sure you have done everything you can to promote recovery. After the treatment we will also follow the recovery with check-up appointments.

When the plastic surgeon makes an incision in the skin, a scar is always created. We try to keep the scar as minimal as possible and place it in the most logical location. Our plastic surgeons look very critically at these factors. After the treatment your body will form the scar itself. In some cases we advise starting with Staudt scar cream. The scarring process starts approximately four to six weeks after the treatment and matures up to one year after the treatment. This means that at the first check-up with the plastic surgeon after 3 months, we are always in time to potentially start treatment with the Staudt scar cream.

We do everything we can to prepare you well for your treatment. We fully understand that in some cases you also want to plan ahead and that it is helpful to know what to expect. The time it is desirable to take off and when you can responsibly work and exercise again differs per treatment. You will be informed about this during the consultation.

The consultation takes place with one of our plastic surgeons. We reserve time to answer all your questions. Therefore we charge a consultation fee of EUR 100 for the first consultation. This amount must be paid after your consultation at the front desk by cash or debit card (credit cards excluded). If you proceed with a treatment, this amount will be deducted from the quote and invoice.

During the consultation a treatment plan is drawn up and you will receive a quote. This quote is valid for six months. You will only receive the invoice from us when your treatment is scheduled. The invoice is never different from the quote if the treatment plan has not changed. The amount must be credited to our account 3 weeks before the agreed date of your treatment. Payment in instalments is unfortunately not possible. If you have any further questions or wish to contact one of our staff members, you can reach us on telephone number 023 544 4974, via email info@bloomingpc.nl or you can request a consultation directly.