Thousands of people all over the UK make the decision to undergo plastic surgery. For many, it is a personal choice influenced by wanting to feel good about themselves. Others have other reasons. The patient is likely to be feeling nervous about the operation, and the surgeon performing the surgery needs to ensure that they receive the highest level of care. Prior to 2002 the plastic surgery industry was largely unregulated. However, this changed when the National Care Standards Commission introduced regulations. Under this scheme, the clinics and surgeons are under the responsibility to ‘ensure the safety and well-being of individuals having treatment’. This means that all the doctors registering after April 1st 2002 cannot perform plastic surgery without first completing specialist surgical training. It should however be noted that this only applies to doctors registering after this date, not before.
Most of the surgeries carried out are by qualified surgeons, however on the rare occasion this is not always the case. If you have been a victim to one of these rare occurrences then we may be able to help you.
Your case for compensation
If you have suffered significant scars or injuries as a result of the surgery, you will be entitled to make a compensation claim. It is natural to be feeling shaken, however you should be aware that it is your right to claim as every plastic surgeon owes a duty of care to their patient. The duty of care is owed both during and after the operation. You should be able to feel relaxed under the assurance that your surgeon will look after you and that your operation will be performed under the correct protocol.
If your plastic surgeon caused you to suffer significant injuries or scars as a direct result from the surgery, then it is very possible that their duty of care towards you has been negligent.
You should note that a good plastic surgeon will always:
Be qualified
Inform you properly of the procedure and the personal benefits to you
Inform you of all the risks involved in the procedure
Discuss alternative options with you
Give you the opportunity to think about your options
Unfortunately you may have suffered at the hands of a plastic surgeon that used the wrong instruments to perform the surgery, or made other catastrophic errors that resulted in you being scarred not only physically but also psychologically. In these circumstances it is your personal right to be able to make a plastic surgery compensation claim.
The most common types of complaints usually made include the following:
Lack of necessary information regarding the risks involved in the procedure
Nerve being damaged during a facelift
Extensive scarring during a procedure such as liposuction
Unanticipated scarring on the face during a facelift procedure
The types of mistakes outlined above are only some of the types of claims that are usually made. However, it is these types of serious errors that lead to successful plastic surgery compensation claims.
Our clinical negligence specialist solicitors have a great deal of experience in dealing with patients who have been emotionally and physically scarred at the hands of their plastic surgeons. It is understandable that your self-confidence will have been affected by this harmful experience. Our specialist advisers will seek to understand your individual situation, and will always treat your case with great sympathy and compassion.
Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about Solicitors, solicitor, plastic surgery compensation, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation
