The Imelda Hospital

The Imelda Hospital in Bonheiden is where the actual surgery takes place. Dr. Julien Colle is affiliated with the department of plastic surgery there.

Address: Imeldalaan 9, 2820 Bonheiden

What a hospital offers and a practice does not: an operating theater, anesthesiologists, nursing care day and night, on-site lab and imaging, and the proximity of other specialties when needed. For a procedure under general anesthesia, for patients with additional conditions, and for everything that requires admission, this is not a luxury but a requirement.

What happens in Bonheiden

Procedures under general anesthesia

The majority of surgical procedures take place here: breast surgery, facial surgery such as a facelift or neck lift, and body surgery such as a tummy tuck or a mommy makeover.

Reconstructive surgery

Bonheiden is also the location for reconstructive work. Breast reconstruction after breast cancer, including reconstruction with autologous tissue via a DIEP flap and reconstruction with an implant, takes place within the multidisciplinary pathway of the breast clinic. Skin tumor surgery is also performed here.

Microsurgical reconstruction requires an environment where the blood supply to the transferred tissue can be closely monitored during the first few days. This can only be done in a hospital.

Consultations

Hospital-based consultations take place here, particularly following a referral by a GP or another specialist, and in cases of medical indication.

For which region

Bonheiden is centrally located between Mechelen and the Kempen. The hospital is easily accessible from Bonheiden, Rijmenam, Mechelen, Putte, Keerbergen, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Bonheiden-Zellaar, Heist-op-den-Berg, Lier, Duffel, and Berlaar, and by car via the N15 and the E19.

There is ample parking, and the hospital is accessible by public transport from Mechelen.

How the process works

A procedure in Bonheiden rarely begins in Bonheiden. Usually, it follows this process:

• Initial consultation. Often in Keerbergen, Putte, or Westerlo, or at the hospital itself in case of medical indication.
• Cooling-off period. Legally required for aesthetic procedures, and also meaningful in terms of content.
• Second consultation. The plan is finalized.
• Anesthesia consultation and blood collection. At the hospital.
• The procedure and admission. In Bonheiden.
• Follow-up appointments. Depending on the situation, at the hospital or at the practice.

Reimbursement and administration

For reconstructive procedures and procedures with a medical indication, billing is handled through the hospital and your health insurance fund. For certain procedures, such as a breast reduction or an upper eyelid correction in case of visual field limitation, an application to the advisory physician is required. What applies to your situation will be discussed during the consultation and explained by the hospital’s billing department.

For purely aesthetic procedures, there is no health insurance coverage. The terms are stated in the terms and conditions.

Make an appointment

For a consultation at the Imelda Hospital, you can contact the secretariat at +32 456 98 06 11 or via info@drcolle.be. More information can be found on the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do all procedures take place in Bonheiden?

Procedures under general anesthesia and reconstructive surgery do. Smaller aesthetic procedures can take place in a medical center, and consultations also occur in Keerbergen, Putte, and Westerlo.

Can I come here for breast reconstruction after breast cancer?

Yes. At the Imelda Hospital, breast reconstruction takes place within the multidisciplinary pathway of the breast clinic, using both autologous tissue and implants.

Do I need a referral letter for a consultation at the hospital?

In case of a medical indication, a referral letter from your GP or another specialist is useful, and sometimes necessary for administrative processing. For a purely aesthetic inquiry, it is not.

How long is the hospital stay?

That depends entirely on the procedure. Some procedures are performed as day surgery, while others require one or more overnight stays. For microsurgical reconstruction, the stay is longer.

Where can I park?

The Imelda Hospital has ample parking facilities. The hospital is also accessible by public transport from Mechelen.