Cosmetic Surgery Claims Solicitors

Cosmetic procedures, whether performed by cosmetic surgeons, plastic surgeons or another healthcare professional, carry risks like any other surgery. While most surgeries are performed to a good standard and leave patients happy with the results, mistakes can and do happen, affecting people both physically and emotionally.

Unsatisfactory results

Poor surgical technique could lead to a result you did not expect or want, such as asymmetrical or lopsided breasts, or a misshapen nose. This can be deeply psychologically damaging, especially when these procedures are specifically undergone in order to make you look and feel better.

Poor consenting process

Whether your surgeon failed to give a realistic view of what the procedure can and cannot achieve, or they failed to make you fully aware of the risks associated with your surgery beforehand, poor consenting can be negligent treatment.

Damaging a nerve or blood vessel

During surgery, a nerve or blood vessel may be cut or overstretched by mistake. The impact of this can vary significantly from case to case, from losing sensitivity in places, to parts of the body being left completely paralysed. In addition, a cut blood vessel may lead to abnormal bleeding leading to bruising and clots (haematomas) post-surgery.

Infection following surgery

Open surgical wounds and cuts can provide entry points for bacteria and viruses, making infection a very real risk following any form of cosmetic surgery.

Allergic reactions

If a dermal filler moves away from the intended area of the body, it may cause you to suffer rashes, swelling, itching and potentially allergic reactions, leading to anaphylaxis.

Mismanagement of anaesthetic

An anaesthetist may use too much anaesthetic during a surgery, placing your health in jeopardy, or too little, which could result in anaesthesia awareness.

Excessive scarring

There is inevitably scarring following any procedure. However, when the aim of cosmetic surgery is to look better afterwards. Poor technique of patient selection can result in extensive or unacceptable scarring, which can be both unpleasant to look at and painful.

Unsuitable aftercare

A lack of reasonable aftercare following cosmetic surgery, whether it is the application of compression garments or massaging scar tissue, can lead to unwanted results.

Have any of the above affected you or a loved one following cosmetic surgery, either relating to your appearance or your health and wellbeing? We guide you through the claims process to help you secure compensation for corrective treatments and any further support you might need.

Like other surgical complication claims, we will work with you establish the three key elements needed for any successful claim:

1. A healthcare professional breached their duty of care towards you
2. You suffered pain, injury, loss or damage during your treatment
3. The harm you endured was directly related to the breach of duty

To help us do this, we engage with independent, impartial cosmetic surgeons, who are both actively working in their field and understand the legal and medical tests we require of them. Their expertise helps us understand whether negligence was the most likely cause of your pain and suffering, and whether your cosmetic surgeon gave you realistic expectations.

We will also speak to relevant medical experts on how much your circumstances have changed compared to if your surgery had gone according to plan. This will be crucial in quantifying the compensation you deserve.

Furthermore, we will thoroughly investigate all available evidence to get to the bottom of your case, including:

• Medical records
• Claimant statements
• Witness statements
• Complaint correspondence
• Photographs

We can provide this specialist legal advice and support on a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis. This means you will only pay us if we win your case, with our payment recovered from the compensation you receive.

Due to the breadth of outcomes that can occur following a negligent cosmetic surgery, it is impossible to suggest an ‘average’ settlement amount. It will depend entirely on your unique circumstances and how you have been affected in the short and long-term.

For instance, in the case of Miss H, she consulted a private plastic surgeon to undergo breast reduction surgery, as the size was causing her both embarrassment and back pain. Read more on her story below:

Had the outcome for Miss H presented a more permanent issue, say partial paralysis due to nerve damage, then the compensation would likely have been greater.

We always take the time necessary to understand your specific case and how you’ve been affected, so we pursue the right amount of compensation for your needs.

While every case is different, we would expect a cosmetic surgery claim to take between two and five years to reach final settlement. However, this depends on the stance taken by the defendants, and how long it takes for medical experts to reach an accurate prognosis.

Is there a time limit on making a cosmetic surgery claim?

Like other medical negligence claims, most cosmetic surgery claims must be made within 3 years of the injury being realised. However, there are exceptions to this:

• Children have until their 21st birthday to make a claim
• There is no time limit for anyone who is mentally incapacitated

Furthermore, the date of knowledge ensures that the three-year time limit only begins at the point a claimant could reasonably realise that something was wrong with them. This is useful if it takes several months for a surgical error to become apparent, such as a nerve gradually dying due to ongoing blood loss.

If your injury did occur over three years ago, we would still urge you to contact us. Every claim is at the discretion of the Court, and we can advise on whether your claim is likely to be allowed.