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 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 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 did not make you fully aware of the risks associated with your surgery beforehand, poor consenting can be considered a negligent act.

Damaging a nerve or blood vessel

During surgery, a nerve or blood vessel may be cut or overstretched by mistake. The impact 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, 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 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, poor technique can result in extensive or unacceptable scarring, which can be unpleasant and painful.

Unsuitable aftercare

A lack of reasonable aftercare following cosmetic surgery, whether it is 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 work with you to establish the three key elements of 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

We engage with independent, impartial cosmetic surgeons, who both actively work 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 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. However, mistakes made by her surgeon meant her procedure was completed incorrectly.

After making a cosmetic surgery claim, her case was eventually settled for £30,000 – compensation she used to undergo corrective surgery to address the shortcomings of her first procedure and ensure no lasting damage was done. 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 a fair amount of compensation for your needs.

It is not uncommon for people to have cosmetic procedures performed overseas, as this can be cheaper than in the UK.

At Gadsby Wicks, we only deal with breaches of obligation in England and Wales. That means if the contract for the procedure is made in England or Wales and then performed overseas, we can support a medical negligence claim.

In circumstances when the contract is made outside of England and Wales, we cannot help someone make a claim.

The physical and psychological damage that can result from a negligent cosmetic procedure can be significant, and should never be underestimated.

It could be that your result is not what was expected, meaning you need to undergo further procedures to correct the issue and take more time off work to recover. It is important to note that it may take several months to recover from cosmetic surgery, and some problems will heal naturally over time.

Or, as is the case in other surgeries, nerve or blood vessel damage can have long-term consequences on your health. This could range from a minor loss of mobility to total paralysis, or you could become very unwell due to internal bleeding that is not addressed post-surgery.

Furthermore, if you were seeking to improve your appearance through surgery to benefit your body image and self-esteem, we recognise that an unsatisfactory result can be an even bigger blow to your emotional and psychological wellbeing.

At Gadsby Wicks, we never undervalue how a poorly performed cosmetic surgery can change your lifestyle, relationships and career. We take the time to understand exactly how you have been impacted by the negligent care you received to ensure your compensation reflects this.

In the unfortunate event that a patient dies due to negligence during surgery, those who depended on the deceased financially, or benefited from services they provided for free, may be entitled to claim for compensation.