Guide to Understanding Cosmetic Surgery Negligence
March 5, 2019
What is the key to understanding cosmetic surgery negligence? So important is the matter that we thought we should lay it out for you definitively below.
Cosmetic surgery can seem like the answer you were looking for. When it’s done right, cosmetic surgery can alter (for the better) body features that you don’t like or want to change. It can be anything from something as small as a mole removal to something as significant as plastic surgery.
Contrary to popular belief, cosmetic surgery doesn’t merely occur against those looking to beautify their appearance. In some cases, cosmetic surgery can be done to improve the patient’s quality of life. For instance:
- If they cannot open their eyes properly because their skin sags over their eyes, or;
- Perhaps they have a cleft lip.
In short, people of all kinds will undergo cosmetic surgery. However, like any medical procedure, it carries risks.
What is Cosmetic Surgery Negligence?
Cosmetic surgery negligence occurs when a cosmetic surgeon provides you with a substandard level of care. This can occur more often than you think. In short, private cosmetic surgery clinics are subject to very few regulations keeping them in check.
If something does go wrong, the effects can be disastrous from infection to severe facial disfigurement. You can also suffer from nerve damage, scarring, perforations, and so much more. Even without those more severe cases, not getting the results you expect can be a case for negligence.
Understanding Cosmetic Surgery Negligence Types
When it comes to medical negligence, there are several levels. If you simply choose the wrong procedure, for example, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to claim compensation. The fact is that not liking what you chose is just not the same as bonafide negligence.
Some examples of medical negligence that you could claim compensation for include:
- Issues with the procedure;
- Incorrect anaesthesia dosage;
- Misdiagnosis of health before the procedure;
- Errors in the final result;
- Poor patient care;
- Failure to provide recommendations before the procedure.
Steps you need to take as a victim of cosmetic surgery negligence
Victims of cosmetic surgery negligence have some steps to take on the path to making a compensation claim. Nevertheless, you’ll certainly want to make certain that you act very quickly. Though the time frame for filing a compensation claim on the grounds of medical negligence is three years. Or, three years after you become aware of the issue.
Regardless of when you begin your claim, it’s often best to start as soon as possible. Compensation can cover cosmetic surgery offered by a renowned practitioner to fix the mistakes your last cosmetic surgeon caused. This can be very expensive, and having compensation can cover the costs.
Moreover, by starting early (when you remember things most clearly, and can still reach evidence and witnesses), you give your claim a better opportunity to succeed.
To make a claim for maximum compensation, you will need to start putting together a case. This includes:
- before and after photos to show the extent of the issue;
- hiring a viable, experienced negligent cosmetic surgery solicitor on a no win no fee basis;
- ensuring you file your claim against the liable medical practitioner well within the three-year time limits;
- a photo to show what you expect to look like, and so on.
A note about the importance of no win no fee solicitors for surgical procedures
Let’s make this as plain and simple about compensation for cosmetic surgery. When cosmetic procedures go wrong, a cosmetic surgery negligence claim for clinical negligence absolutely requires someone that knows cosmetic surgery claims.
Your bank account will agree, too, whether your case involves a tummy tuck or liposuction. Because funding a claim yourself might be an uphill fight, especially when capable no win no fee solicitors want to take on your case. When lawyers authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority assume the funding for your claim, they’re affirming their belief in your case against negligent cosmetic treatments.
Furthermore, if you’re stuck funding a claim against a medical professional after we’ve tried to qualify it, it effectively means that capable solicitors are showing you the writing on the wall – a case they refuse to take on means a case that is doomed to fail.
Learning the extent of plastic surgeons negligence
It can also be beneficial to visit a doctor to learn the extent of your issue. You will also want to keep a journal of how the experience has affected you, from emotional to financial.
Any time during those steps is a good time to contact a law firm so that you can get medical negligence solicitors on your side. They will help you pull together more evidence and documentation. Then, they’ll put together a case for you that should help you get the compensation you need.
That money can cover loads of expenses:
- the cost of fixing your cosmetic surgery;
- the cost of therapy, and;
- any loss of income you might endure.
How can we help?
The team of solicitors at The Medical Negligence Experts have extensive experience in representing clients seeking compensation for injury caused by clinical negligence.
It is our job, above all, to negotiate and fight on your behalf for the best possible financial outcome. And we do that, moreover, by building robust medical negligence cases that win.
We understand the devastating impact implant negligence can have on our client’s lives. Moreover, we’ll do all we can to help you minimise the ill-effects of your injury and live to your full potential.
We support our clients by:
- Investigating their situation thoroughly to ascertain whether their claim has a good chance of success. The onus is on the claimant to prove negligent care causes their injury, and it can be painful if it fails.
- Collecting and organising evidence to present a solid case to the responsible care provider that supports your claim for compensation, which can also include putting you in contact with the right independent medical experts for their assessment.
- Negotiating an acceptable amount of compensation based on your circumstances, and what has claimants with similar injuries to yours have received in the past.
- Representing you and supporting you should your claim go to court either due to the responsible party disagreeing with the claim, or refusing to pay fair compensation.