My Cosmetic Surgery Was Botched. What Should I Do?*

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Cosmetic surgery and procedures have grown massively in popularity over the past 20 years. If you want to improve the way a certain part of your body looks and makes you feel, chances are there is a surgical procedure that can help you to achieve this aim.

Some of the most common cosmetic surgeries and procedures include breast enlargements, breast reductions, facelifts, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, botox injection and dermal fillers.

But what happens if something goes wrong? We have all seen horror stories in the news and on TV about botched surgery and exploding implants. But despite the risks, thousands of people choose to go under the knife in the name of beauty each and every year across the UK.

The vast majority of these procedures are of course carried out to a high standard and give the recipient the look and confidence boost they were hoping for. But unfortunately, from time to time things do go wrong, and the impact on the victim’s life can be devastating. Having a botched surgery or procedure can not only leave your body disfigured, but it can also cause significant distress and can often lead to depression.

Can I make a cosmetic surgery claim?

If you are not happy with the results of a procedure you have received, the first thing you should do is make a complaint. The complaint should ideally be made in writing and sent to the hospital, medical centre or beauty salon where the treatment was provided.

You should in most cases be given the opportunity to speak to the surgeon or beauty therapist who performed the procedure. This will help to ascertain what went wrong and why. They may also be able to suggest options to rectify the error if possible. Whether you accept additional treatment will of course depend on what happened and whether you still have any confidence in them.

If you feel that you may have been a victim of negligence, you could be entitled to make a cosmetic surgery compensation claim. This falls under the remit of medical negligence, which is an area of personal injury law.

In this instance, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. They should provide you with a consultation to discuss what has happened to you, and what the affect of the botched cosmetic procedure has had. From this information, the injury lawyer will be able to tell you if you are entitled to make a claim or not.

To have a valid claim against the provider it must be proven that the service they provided fell below the standard that should have been expected.

It also needs to be shown that this has resulted in some form of personal injury to you. For example, you might have been left with unnecessary pain, excessive scarring or damage to internal organs. You may have needed additional surgery to rectify the problems which should not have been required.

If you meet the legal requirements to make a clinical negligence claim, your chosen solicitor will gather evidence to support your case. This will include medical evidence, photographic evidence and details of any financial losses.

When it comes to claiming compensation, you are entitled to receive damages for the actual pain and suffering that has been caused. But in addition to this, you are also entitled to be compensated for financial losses, such as having to take time off work for example.

Most solicitors will be able to offer you a conditional fee agreement, which is often called a no win no fee service. The good news is that this enables you to make a claim without having to put your hand in your pocket. The solicitor will get started with no upfront payment and will only charge you a fee if they win your case. The amount they can charge is capped at a maximum of 25% of whatever compensation you are awarded.

So if you have suffered due to a poorly performed or botched cosmetic surgery, you could be entitled to be compensated. There is a three year time limit, so don’t delay and speak to an experienced solicitor today.

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