Medical Malpractice Can Happen During Cosmetic Surgery

By Thomas Greer | May 12, 2014

Cosmetic surgery, or plastic surgery as it is often called, includes a wide variety of procedures that are intended to enhance the appearance of the patient, or to repair the patient’s injuries through skin grafts or reconstruction. As with any type of medical procedure, patients who undergo cosmetic surgery are at risk for being damaged by the negligent actions of medical professionals.

Since medical malpractice claims which arise after improperly performed cosmetic surgeries are based on negligence, it is important that patients understand what negligence is. Negligence occurs when a person (the surgeon) who owes someone (the patient) a duty of care breaches that duty of care in such a manner that the breach of duty causes the patient to suffer damages. Surgeons who perform cosmetic surgery are expected to use the same degree of care in performing their operations as other cosmetic surgeons would use.

There are four common types of injuries which patients may experience when cosmetic surgery is performed in a negligent manner. Reconstructive surgeries are intended to repair existing injuries, but they can result in complications during the healing process if they are not performed correctly. A patient could be injured, instead of having their appearance enhanced or an injury repaired if a surgery is performed on the wring part of their body, or if the medical professionals who are performing the surgery do not use the requisite skill and care. Some types of cosmetic surgery involve the implantation or injection of substances into the body, such as breast implants and collagen injections. If surgeries of this nature are performed incorrectly, the substances can leak into areas of the body near the site of the surgery, causing pain or discomfort. Sometimes, incisions from surgery can reopen, especially following the gain or loss of a large amount of weight. These four types of injuries are not the only ways in which patients who have been injured during plastic surgery experience pain or discomfort, so be sure to seek medical attention for any adverse conditions that you experience following cosmetic surgery. It may be helpful to get a second and maybe even a third opinion about your injuries from doctors who were not involved in the surgery which resulted in your injuries.

If you are able to prove that your injuries were caused by the negligence one or more medical professionals who performed your cosmetic surgery, you may be able to recover for the losses that you have experienced. For example, you may recover the costs of additional surgeries or treatments that were required to remedy the pain or disfigurement, future care that you will require as a result of your injuries, and lost wages if your injury caused you to miss work. Also, you may be able to recover for the pain and suffering that you have endured as a result of your injuries.

If you or someone that you love has been injured by negligence which occurred during a cosmetic surgery, it is essential that you get help from an attorney right away. The knowledgeable Tennessee Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC are here to help. We believe that the victims of medical negligence deserve top quality legal representation. To learn more about how we can help you, please call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case.  At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.

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