A plastic surgery mistake can cause permanent disfigurement and life-altering injuries to patients. These errors can result from miscommunication, lack of training, lack of experience, and failure of medical personnel to properly prepare the patient for the procedure. When these errors occur, the patient is the one who has to bear the visible and hidden emotional scars of a botched procedure.
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Common Plastic Surgery Procedures
There were more than 1.7 million invasive cosmetic surgery procedures conducted in 2015. Of these, 279,000 were breast augmentations, 222,000 liposuction procedures, 218,000 rhinoplasty procedures, 204,000 eyelid surgeries, and 128,000 “tummy tucks.”
These were far outweighed by the number of minimally invasive procedures that were conducted. In 2015, there were 6.7 million Botox injections, 2.4 million soft-tissue fillers, 1.3 million chemical peels, and 1.1 million laser hair removals.
The Dangers of Plastic Surgery
Whether the procedure is invasive or minimally invasive, plastic surgery mistakes and errors do happen. The most common forms of medical malpractice involved in plastic surgery include mistakes with the administration of anesthesia, infection, and adverse reaction to medications. These can lead to extensive scarring, nerve damage, permanent disfigurement, prolonged recovery, and even death.
Scarring from breast implants can include uneven nipple position and mismatched breasts. It can also include improper positioning of the implants, and discoloration from infection. Internal scars and damage to nerves can also result in a significant loss of sensation.
Face lifts can cause scarring near the hairline. In the event the surgeon cuts a nerve, this can lead to Bell’s Palsy, which causes the face to droop. This can cause problems with speech as well as create considerable emotional distress. Similarly, eye-lid surgeries can result in injury to the eye and hinder the individual’s ability to open/close their eyelids.
Errors in liposuction and tummy tucks can lead to disfigurement of the abdomen, as well as numbness from damaged nerves. It is among the most dangerous procedures as it carries a significant risk for internal bleeding, which can lead to death if not promptly treated.
Rhinoplasty errors can result in an asymmetrical nose that negatively impacts the patient’s appearance. Damage to the nose can also lead to the development of breathing problems that can negatively impact the individual’s quality of life and their ability to enjoy physical exercise.
When Is a Plastic Surgery Mistake Considered Malpractice?
Some medical malpractice cases may involve certain plastic surgery mistakes that cause harm to patients.
Examples of plastic surgery mistakes constituting medical malpractice may include:
- Plastic surgeons and other professionals have inadequate experience or training
- Staff fails to obtain consent from patients before beginning a procedure
- Errors occur during pre-op or plastic surgery, such as performing the wrong procedure or supplying the incorrect dosage of anesthesia
- Neglecting to review the patient’s complete medical history to determine any potential risks that might affect a plastic surgery procedure, including potential reactions to medications the patient is taking
As a result of these mistakes, patients may sustain various injuries, including everything from plastic surgery disfigurement and allergic reactions to blood clotting and excessive bleeding.
Proving Medical Malpractice After Plastic Surgery
If you wish to file a successful medical malpractice case after a plastic surgery incident, you will need to prove that negligence was behind the damages you sustained.
Specifically, you will need to prove that staff owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care, and that this breach caused harm resulting in calculable damages.
Chicago plastic surgery mistake attorneys may be able to help prove each of these items with sufficient evidence. You may then recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other damages.
