What Are the Risks of Cosmetic Surgery Malpractice?

Cosmetic surgeries are often not viewed as seriously as necessary medical procedures; however, the consequences of malpractice in either scenario can be the same. Regardless of why and where a patient chooses to receive cosmetic surgery, the surgeons and medical staff are required to meet the same basic standard of care.

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical facility or care provider fails to meet this standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. Just as medical malpractice in a mandatory procedure can have severe physical, financial, and psychological, so can cosmetic surgery malpractice.

Injuries that may occur from cosmetic surgery malpractice include but are not limited to:

• Trauma
• Long-term pain
• Surgical errors
• Nerve damage
• Breathing problems
• Infection
• Botched liposuction
• Severe scarring
• Burns
• Tissue damage
• Disfigurement
• Internal bleeding
• Bad Botox
• Blood clots
• Death

Another common problem in cosmetic surgery malpractice is wrong-site or wrong-size surgery.

These mistakes are typically referred to as “botched” cosmetic surgery and can have serious consequences including unnecessary pain and health complications as well as the need for additional surgeries and hefty medical bills. When the wrong procedure is performed on the right part of the body, or the right procedure is performed on the wrong part of the body, the results can be deeply distressing.

In these scenarios, not only was the desired procedure not performed, but oftentimes part of the body that was never supposed to be operated on is permanently altered; even when a botched cosmetic surgery is corrected, there may be resulting scar tissue, nerve damage, and residual pain.

Someone who has suffered from cosmetic surgery malpractice may suffer the following damages:

• Past and future medical bills
• Cost of corrective surgery
• Cost of surgery for the procedure done correctly
• Wages lost during treatment and recovery both for the victim and any loved one who had to take off work to care for the victim
• Pain and suffering
• Humiliation
• Ongoing life care expenses as necessary

The good news is that these damages can be sought in a medical malpractice claim against the liable party. A medical malpractice claim or lawsuit seeks to recover the necessary compensation to help the injured party and their family work toward maximum healing and recovery, as well as to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions.

Medical malpractice lawyers understand the toll a botched cosmetic surgery can take, and typically offer free consultations to injured clients. In fact, many medical malpractice attorneys also work on contingency, which means a client doesn’t pay for their services unless and until their case is won.

If a loved one dies from cosmetic surgery gone wrong, surviving loved ones may be eligible to file a claim on their behalf.

Cosmetic surgeries are not supposed to be life-threatening; however, when malpractice occurs during the preparation, surgery, or postoperative process the effects can be fatal. When someone dies as a result of cosmetic surgery malpractice, surviving loved ones may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim.

In a wrongful death claim, the family of the deceased may be eligible to seek compensation for all the related damages their loved one suffered while they were alive in addition to damages specific to wrongful death cases, including loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and more. The difficulty with any kind of medical malpractice case can be obtaining the necessary records and conducting a thorough investigation. When errors occur, the responsible party is unlikely to admit their liability or provide information that could show evidence any wrongdoing on their part.

To learn more about the risks of cosmetic surgery, or for help filing a claim, reach out to a medical malpractice lawyer in your area.