Emergency Consultations
weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. by appointment
Practice in Basel
Practice room in Basel
Practice room in Basel
Practice room in Basel
Practice in Liestal
Waiting room in Liestal
Practice room in Liestal
Staircase in Zürich
Waiting room in Zürich
Consulting room in Zürich
Practice room in Zürich
Dear Patients,
We welcome you to the practice ZWEICHIRURGEN at our three locations in Switzerland directly on the Rhine in the heart of Basel, in the old town of Liestal and on the lakeside in Zurich. ZWEICHIRURGEN was founded in October 2018 by the two surgeons Prof. Philipp Kirchhoff and PD Henry Hoffmann. Our concept is based on taking the time to hear your questions and problems and then creating a treatment strategy based on a comprehensive understanding of your individual needs. We will coordinate a seamless first consultation in our office and if necessary a hassle free short hospital stay in one of the top private clinics in Switzerland. In addition, we keep your general practitioner informed and updated on the outcome of your time under our care.
We offer our many years of surgical experience where we specialized on cutting edge treatments for all types of hernias (Inguinal Hernias, Umbilical Hernias, Diastasis recti, Sportman Groin, Chronic postoperative inguinal pain, Hiatal Hernia and more) and proctologic diseases (Hemorrhoids, Sinus pilonidalis (sacral dermoid), Anal fissure, Anal fistulas, Pilonidalis abscesses and more). In addition we perform standard surgical procedures such as gallbladder resections, lipoma, fibroma or scar removal, abscess treatments and laparoscopy.
We aim to build a relationship of trust and a high quality surgical experience with you.
We look forward to your visit.
Dr. med. Debora Nowakowski Prof. Dr. med. Philipp Kirchhoff PD Dr. med. Henry Hoffmann
Doctors and employees
Prof. Dr. Philipp Kirchhoff
Philipp Kirchhoff is a specialist in coloproctology and hernia surgery and teaches as a professor at the University of Basel.
From 1996 to 2003 he studied medicine at the Universities of Freiburg, Vienna, Yale and Berlin. Philipp Kirchhoff began his surgical training at the University Hospital of Zurich and worked at various Swiss hospitals during his training.
After obtaining his specialist title in surgery, he completed two years of research at Yale University (New Haven, CT USA). There he developed a new drug for the treatment of heartburn as part of his project. After his return, he worked as a senior physician at the Clinic for General and Visceral Surgery at the University Hospital of Basel since 2010 and habilitated in 2011 based on his research on “The Regulation of Gastric Acid Secretion”.
Philipp Kirchhoff subsequently completed a clinical fellowship at Cambridge University (U.K.) with a focus on minimally invasive colon surgery and proctology. In this field, he subsequently obtained the European Coloproctological Specialization (ESBQ). Until 2018 Philipp Kirchhoff was the senior consultant at the Clinic for Visceral Surgery at the University Hospital of Basel where he was in charge of general and private patients, resident training and department management.
Philipp Kirchhoff is the inventor and developer of KORING®, a polyurethane ring device for the prevention of parastomal hernias. His surgical focus is on the surgical treatment of rectal diseases and hernia surgery. He is a reviewer of several international professional journals and a member of numerous surgical societies (SGC, SGVC, DHG and EHS) and international professional committees. Prof Dr. med. Philipp Kirchhoff was appointed by the medical faculty Basel as a Associate Professor in november 2019.
Together with his colleague PD Dr. med. Henry Hoffmann he is the founder of the Swiss Hernia Days. Philipp Kirchhoff speaks fluent German and English.
PD Dr. Henry Hoffmann
Henry Hoffmann is a general surgeon (FMH) and a specialist in Abdominal Wall and Hernia Surgery (EBSQ Abdominal Wall Surgery), a doctor of medicine, a private lecturer at the University of Basel and President of the Swiss Hernia Society SAHC.
After completing his surgical specialist training in Switzerland, he worked from 2013 to 2018 as a senior physician in the Clinic for General and Visceral Surgery at the University Hospital of Basel. In 2011/2012, PD Dr. Hoffmann completed a clinical fellowship in Great Britain, where he received further training in colorectal and hernia surgery. He then completed a year of research focusing on minimally invasive surgery and VR simulation in surgery.
During his many years as a consultant at the University Hospital of Basel, he successfully managed projects aimed at improving patient safety, speeding recovery from abdominal surgery and quality assurance in hernia surgery. He is particularly interested in quality-assured hernia surgery, and the treatment of sportsmen’s groin and chronic groin pain.
PD Dr. Hoffmann holds a certificate of competence in “Laser Treatment of the Skin and Mucous Membrane” (Type I and II), co-founded the Swiss Hernia Days, is a reviewer of several internationally renowned specialist journals and a member of numerous surgical societies (SGC, SGVC, DGCH, DGAV, DHG and EHS). Henry Hoffmann is fluent in German, English and Italian.
Dr. Debora Nowakowski
Debora Nowakowski is a specialist in surgery (FMH) with a focus on abdominal wall surgery (F.E.B.S. Abdominal Wall Surgery) and the youngest member of ZweiChirurgen’s medical team.
From 2004 to 2010, the native of Grisons studied medicine at the universities of Fribourg and Basel. She then began her surgical residency at the “Universitätskinderspital beider Basel” (UKBB), followed by further years of training at the St. Claraspital Basel and the University Hospital Basel. At the University Hospital Basel, Dr. Nowakowski was also trained for a longer period of time by Prof. Dr. Kirchhoff and PD Dr. Henry Hoffmann.
After obtaining the specialist title for surgery (FMH), Dr. Nowakowski worked as a senior physician at various renowned hospitals in Switzerland, including the Cantonal Hospital Olten, the Linth Hospital (Uznach) and most recently at the Cantonal Hospital Baselland. There she was able to further deepen and expand her surgical skills and abilities.
In recent years, hernia surgery, general surgery and proctology have become the focus of Dr. Nowakowski’s professional and specialist activities. In addition, she regularly participates in national and international congresses to further expand her professional expertise.
Dr. Nowakowski is married, the mother of two sons and, after several years of professional training at various clinics in Switzerland, now makes her home with her family in the Basel region
Debora Nowakowski is fluent in German, English, French and Dutch.
Sandra Müller, MPK
Sandra Müller graduated as a medical practice assistant (MPA) in 2016 and completed her training as a qualified nurse HF in 2019. In 2024, she successfully completed her further training as a medical practice coordinator (MPK) and has been leading the dedicated MPA team at ZweiChirurgen ever since. Thanks to her many years of experience, she brings valuable knowledge and skills to patient care and organization.
Ms. Sandra Müller speaks German and English.
Alina Horvath, MPA
Alina Horvath completed her training as a medical practice assistant at the vocational school in Aarau. During this time, she worked in a group practice with laboratory, X-ray and minor surgery, where she was able to gain extensive practical experience.
Ms. Alina Horvath speaks German and English. She joined our MPA team in January 2024.
Memberships
Memberships in professional societies
- SAHC (Schweizerische Arbeitsgruppe für Hernienchirurgie)
- VSAO (Verband Schweizer Assistenz – und Oberärzte)
- FMH (Verbindung Schweizer Ärztinnen und Ärzte)
- SGC (Schweizer Gesellschaft für Chirurgie)
- ESCP (European Society of Coloproctology)
- SGVC (Schweizer Gesellschaft für Viszeralchirurgie)
- DHG (Deutsche Herniengesellschaft)
- EHS (Europäische Hernien Gesellschaft)
- DGAV (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirugie)
- IEHS (International Endohernia Society)
Memberships in Advisory Boards
- Parastomal Hernia Prevention Faculty, European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) (P. Kirchhoff)
- International Endohernia Society (IEHS) (H. Hoffmann)
- European Hernia Advisory Board (H. Hoffmann)
Reviewer for medical journals
Guidelines and consensus conferences
Minimally invasive surgical techniques in ventral hernia repair. Update of the International Endohernia Society (IEHS) Guidelines. Peking, China, 2017.
2. Preoperative adjunct interventions in ventral hernia repair. Update of the International Endohernia Society (IEHS) Guidelines. Peking, China, 2017.
3. Sportsman groin: Role of clinical examination and radiological imaging. Consensus Guideline Conference, German Hernia Society (DHG). Hamburg, 2017
Appointments & Patient Referral
Appointments
In our practice we treat patients of all insurance classes and health insurance companies.
Here you can make an appointment directly with the two surgeons, call us or write an e-mail to our practice.
If you are insured in the general practitioner model (HMO), you should have your general practitioner refer you to us.
In urgent cases, we will try to give you an appointment on the same day.
International Patients
We are warmly welcoming our international guests in our practice. We speak German, English, French, Italian and Russian. For your request please contact us via E-Mail.
As soon as we have booked your appointment, we are happy help with the organization of your stay in Basel during the diagnostic and treatment including transfers and hotel accomodation.
Patient Referral
You can refer your patients to us at any time by telephone, email or fax with the following information: first and last name, date of birth, contact details of the patient, diagnosis and insurance. This will help us to coordinate your appointments smoothly.
Contact us
Location Basel
St. Johanns-Vorstadt 44
CH-4056 Basel
Tel. +41 61 7119000
Fax +41 61 7119005
Make an appointment
Practice mail
Location Liestal
Rathausstrasse 40 (Eingang Salzgasse)
CH-4410 Liestal
(How to get there)
Tel. +41 61 9221818
Location Zurich
Bellerivestrasse 3
CH-8008 Zürich
(How to get there)
Tel. +41 44 2011221
All insurance classes and consultation possible without GP referral (except insurance in the GP model)
Publications
Book chapters
- Philipp Kirchhoff, Tarik Delko, Facharztprüfung Chirurgie (2. Auflage), Gutartige Erkrankungen der Appendix und des Kolons, EMH Scripts
- Philipp Kirchhoff, Urs Zingg, Operatives Risiko, Facharztprüfung Chirurgie (2. Auflage), EMH Scripts
- Savas Soysal, Tarik Delko, Philipp Kirchhoff, Gutartige Erkrankungen der Appendix und des Kolons, Facharztprüfung Chirurgie (3. Auflage), EMH Scripts, (HRSG.: Daniel Oertli, Philipp Kirchhoff)
- P. Kirchhoff und H. Hoffmann. Stoppa-Technik. In: U. Dietz, G. Beldi, R. Fortelny, A. Wiegering (Eds.): Offene Hernienchirurgie, Springer (2018)
- Hoffmann H. und Kirchhoff P. Primäre Inguinalhernien-Chirurgie. In: Facharztprüfung Chirurgie, 3. Auflage. EMH Scripts (2018).
- Weixler B, Hoffmann H. Darmischämie. In: Facharztwissen Viszeral- und Allgemeinchirurgie, Springer (2017)
- Philipp Kirchhoff, Henry Hoffmann, Operatives Risiko, Facharztprüfung Chirurgie (3. Auflage), EMH Scripts, 2018, (HRSG.: Daniel Oertli, Philipp Kirchhoff)
- Chronische Bauchschmerzen, Kapitel: Intraabdominelle Verwachsungen
Philipp Kirchhoff, Markus von Flüe, Herausgeber: Prof. Buchmann, Prof. Degen
Books
Facharztbuch Facharztprüfung Chirurgie, Dritte Auflage 2018 EMH Scripts, (HRSG.: Daniel Oertli, Philipp Kirchhoff)
Partners
Herniamed
In order to improve the results and quality of hernia surgery, the non-profit company Herniamed was founded in 2009. It is a network of hernia surgeons.
The core of the Herniamed project is an Internet-based quality assurance databank. Here, clinics and established surgeons can enter data regarding their hernia operations free of charge. The data is recorded and according to scientific standards which helps in the analysis and eventual interpretation of results. On the basis of these results, the experts can then work out the best future therapy options for patients.
Medgate
The Swiss company Medgate quickly offers comprehensive medical care by telephone or Internet with the aim of improving health care. In doing so, it draws on local partners, doctors and networks in order to provide patients with the best and fastest possible treatment for their complaints.
Merian Iselin Klinik Basel
The Merian Iselin Clinic is one of the leading private surgical clinics in Switzerland. Based on a high-quality patient care and trustful interdisciplinary cooperation between surgeons and anesthetists the Merian Iselin Clinic provides one of the best performance profiles in north-west Switzerland.
With this clinic ZweiChirurgen have a clinic partner on their side to cope with the highest needs of our patients.
Dr. med. Rik Osinga
For operations on the abdominal wall, we work exclusively with Rik Osinga, MD, if required. He is extremely experienced in reconstruction and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall. Here, the treatment and, if necessary, surgery always takes place together in the cockpit procedure.
Swiss Hernia Days
The Swiss Hernia Days are an annual Swiss surgical congress focusing on hernia surgery. The conference was founded in 2017 by PD Dr. Hoffmann and Prof. Dr. Kirchhoff to create a platform for surgical education, close interprofessional exchange and collaboration with the technological leaders in the field. The congress takes place in Basel and is scientifically managed by ZweiChirurgen. Around 30 national and international speakers and experts as well as 300 participating surgeons from Switzerland and abroad join the conference every year. Since 2023 the Swiss Hernia Days are the official annual conference of the Swiss Hernia Society (SAHC) and have established as one of the most successful congresses of its kind in Europe.
Our Offices
We would like to welcome you to our ZWEICHIRURGEN practice. At our three practice locations in Switzerland in Basel, Zurich and Liestal, we will make your stay as pleasant as possible. The combination of modern ambience and historical building structure offers a private atmosphere in which you can feel at ease.
Located in the historical neighborhood of St. Johan Vorstadt in Basel, we offer you a charming yet modern experience mixing architectiural design in a former book printing press building. Although this space has been converted into a doctor’s office you will enjoy our attention to detail, giving you the feeling of privacy and warmth. Your consultation itself will be in the Dr.’s private offices with gorgeous views of the Rhine.
In addition to the reception and waiting room, the surgeries in Basel and Liestal offer consultation rooms and an examination room in which minor procedures can also be performed under local anaesthetic. Our procedure room in Basel also has a laser and a high-resolution examination camera. Our practice in Basel, including the WC, is wheelchair-accessible.
Consultation hours in Basel, Liestal & Zurich
At our practice locations in Basel, Zurich and Liestal in Switzerland, we hold our consultation hours by individual appointment between 8-12 am and 2-6 pm. In a trusting and private atmosphere, we will take time to discuss your problems, ask you about your symptoms in detail, examine you professionally and draw up a diagnosis and therapy plan together with you. In addition, you will receive an information brochure with easy-to-understand text and illustrations about your diseases and treatment options.
We also carry out the controls after a possibly necessary operation in our consultation hours. You will receive individual and competent advice from our specialists, and one doctor will remain responsible for you until you have recovered. If you would like to see a particular doctor, please let us know without hesitation.
Our office hours are open to all insurance classes. You can conveniently make an appointment online, by phone or by e-mail. Please bring your current health insurance card and your list of medications and allergies with you to your appointment. If you are insured under the so-called “family doctor model”, we absolutely require a referral from your family doctor for your treatment.
Sie erhalten einen Tag vor dem Termin in aller Regel eine Termin-Erinnerung per SMS. As a rule, you will receive an appointment reminder via SMS one day before the appointment. If you are unable to keep the scheduled appointment or are prevented from coming at short notice, please let us know by phone or e-mail.
Our consultation hours are also open for certain emergencies. In case of severe pain, abscesses or bleeding from the anus, please call us. Then we can usually offer you an appointment directly.