Dr. Berger (Frankfurt, Germany), Hymen Reconstruction Surgery 

Dr. Berger, on your website - www.praxis-berger.com – you provide information in Arabic. Have you been seeing an increase in the number of your patients coming from Arab countries?

Dr. Berger: Actually yes. I’ve been having more and more female patients who want to combine their plastic surgery with a vacation to Europe; although, there are those who come here just for the surgery. I have a practice in Frankfurt and also one in Zurich – both of which are cities with excellent international airports. Thus, traveling there is extremely easy.

At the same time, the Arab states have there own experienced plastic surgeons. Isn’t that true?

Dr. Berger: That is of course true; however, the local surgeons who provide these types of services are almost exclusively male and most Arab women are reluctant to seek this kind of treatment from a male doctor. In my practice, my staff is exclusively female. In addition, I have colleagues who are fluent in Arabic. Besides the above, the single most important factor with respect to this clientele is discretion and confidentiality; and, this is something I can guarantee them. It is especially important in my area of specialization – surgical procedures involving intimate parts of the body. In my practice, this includes hymen reconstruction surgery.

Dr. Petra Berger

What you are basically talking about is the restoration of virginity, isn’t it?

Dr. Berger: Precisely. In the Moslem culture, an intact hymen is highly valued for purposes of marriage and whenever there is any serious doubt with respect to the bride’s virginity, it can have very unpleasant consequences. One can therefore easily imagine why this is such a big issue for these young women. Not infrequently, Arab men insist on having a certificate to confirm that their intended bride is a virgin. At the same time, a perforation of the hymen can occur during sports or as the result of a fall.

What can you, as a professional, offer to such patients?

Dr. Berger: As I mentioned before, the first thing I can offer my patients is total confidentiality. Even though we provide assistance to the patient with the trip – by recommending a specialized travel agent, who is knowledgeable about the formalities associated with such a trip, and by recommending an appropriate hotel – we never receive any information about the patient’s identity. We also offer these women a feeling of security by understanding and respecting the culture and traditions of the country they are coming from.

How would you describe your average female patient?

Dr. Berger: Most of them are well-educated young women – bankers, attorneys, flight attendants, business owners, etc. When they come here, they are usually wearing a chador and they are very nervous.

How long does it take to complete this type of surgery?

Dr. Berger: The actual procedure takes about an hour. Here, I would like to reiterate again that all of the staff present during the procedure – the surgical nurse and the anesthesiologist – are also female. Once we restore the hymen, it can then be perforated naturally during initial sexual intercourse, just as with a naturally intact hymen – which includes minor bleeding. After a night at a hotel or at the clinic, the patient can be released and return home.

Considering the level of service you provide, one would expect that the number of your Arab patients would be continuing to increase.

Dr. Berger: This is all very possible. In any case, I personally am very glad to be able to help these women out. They are in a very difficult situation and if they can come to a place where they can undergo this procedure, while being treated with respect, they can then return back home extremely relieved. Despite their initial trepidation, many of my patients have ended up inviting me to visit them in their own country after the procedure.

A final question: How would you sum up your successful work with your Arab female patients in a single sentence?

Dr. Berger: All I need to give you is three simple words – respect, professionalism and confidentiality.

Thank you very much for this enlightening and interesting interview.

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Dr. med. Petra Berger