Liposuction is a popular cosmetic procedure that promises to reshape areas of the body by removing stubborn fat deposits. But what happens when the results aren’t what you expected, or worse, you’re left with injuries or complications? Sadly, surgical errors and negligence during liposuction procedures do occur, and it’s essential to know your options. In this article,
we’ll delve into liposuction surgery negligence, exploring its various forms, your rights, and how to seek compensation if you’ve been affected. We will also highlight how you can start a medical negligence claim.
What is Liposuction?
Let’s start with the basics. Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or simply ‘lipo,’ is a surgical procedure that uses a thin tube called a cannula to suction out fat from beneath the skin. It’s often used on problem areas like the abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, arms, and neck. While a popular choice, it’s important to remember that liposuction is not a weight-loss solution and is best suited for targeting specific fat pockets.
When Liposuction Goes Wrong: Signs of Negligence
Liposuction, like any surgery, carries risks. It’s normal to experience temporary bruising, swelling, and discomfort. However, there are specific signs that may indicate liposuction surgery negligence has occurred. These include:
- Asymmetry and uneven results: Lopsided, lumpy, or overly contoured areas where the fat removal was not performed smoothly.
- Infections:Â Serious infections can arise from improperly sterilised equipment or inadequate post-operative care.
- Nerve Damage: Numbness, tingling, or persistent pain in the treated area may suggest damage to nerves during the procedure.
- Scarring: Excessive or unusually noticeable scarring, especially if it wasn’t adequately discussed as a potential risk during your consultation.
- Internal Organ Damage: Though rare, a surgeon’s negligence can lead to internal punctures or organ damage.
- Serious complications: Such as blood clots (pulmonary embolism) or fluid build-up in the lungs (pulmonary oedema).
What Constitutes Liposuction Negligence?
Proving medical negligence can be a complex process. In the case of liposuction surgery, some common examples of negligence might include:
- Failure to obtain informed consent: Your surgeon must thoroughly discuss the potential risks, side effects, and realistic expectations of the procedure beforehand.
- Lack of proper assessment: Not adequately assessing your suitability for liposuction or failing to identify health conditions that might make the procedure unsafe.
- Substandard surgical technique: Errors during the surgery itself, such as removing too much fat, causing damage to surrounding tissues, or leaving uneven results.
- Poor aftercare: Insufficient post-operative instructions, failure to monitor for potential complications, or inadequate wound management.
Your Rights as a Patient
If you suspect you’ve been a victim of liposuction surgery negligence, it’s essential to know you have rights. The law protects you from substandard medical care. You are entitled to:
- Access your medical records: To understand the details of your procedure and help identify potential discrepancies or causes for concern.
- Seek a second (or third) opinion: To get an objective assessment of your situation and understand the full extent of any potential harm caused.
- File a formal complaint: With the hospital or clinic where the procedure took place or with regulatory bodies such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
- Seek legal advice:Â Consult with a solicitor specialising in medical negligence to explore your options for a compensation claim.
Receive a Call About Your Claim
Proving Liposuction Surgery Negligence
Building a medical negligence case requires proving several key elements, these include:
- Duty of Care: Establishing that your surgeon had a duty of care towards you as their patient.
- Breach of Duty: Demonstrating that your surgeon failed to meet the expected standards of care, resulting in your injuries.
- Causation: Proving a direct link between the surgeon’s negligence and the harm you suffered.
- Damages: Showing the physical, emotional, and financial losses you incurred due to the negligence.
Making a Medical Negligence Claim with National Claims
At National Claims, we understand that medical procedures can go wrong, sometimes due to errors or negligence on the part of healthcare professionals. If you believe you’ve suffered harm as a result of substandard medical care, our team is here to help you understand your rights and explore your options for pursuing compensation.
Free Consultation
Let’s start with a free consultation to discuss the details of your experience. We’ll listen to you with compassion, assess the circumstances surrounding your medical treatment, and offer initial advice on whether you have grounds for a strong claim.
*No Win, No Fee
National Claims believes that everyone deserves access to justice, regardless of financial circumstances. That’s why we operate on a “No Win, No Fee” basis. You won’t have to pay upfront legal fees, and our fees will come from a percentage of your compensation if your claim is successful. This means you can seek legal support without additional financial worry.
*Customers pay up to 25% (incl. VAT) of the amount recovered towards solicitor costs and if you cancel outside your cooling off period, you may be charged a fee.
Conclusion
Experiencing complications or unsatisfactory results after liposuction surgery can be distressing and frustrating. While liposuction is generally a safe procedure, understanding that negligence can occur is crucial. If you have concerns about your liposuction experience, don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion and explore your legal rights.
Contact us today to speak to one of our claims agents who will be able to help you get started on your claim.
Click below to see why we are one of the most trusted claims management companies in the UK.
We’re proud of our excellent customer reviews
We thrive on delivering exceptional service and ensuring our clients’ satisfaction. Don’t just take our word for it. Check out some of our independent reviews to see what our clients have to say.
Excellent
This firm is excellent, they sorted out my car pay out and injury claim very fast, they always communicate with you all the time.
My accident case was dealt with confidence and with great result of the outcome, especially James kept me informed all the time.
I was very impressed at the way my inquiry was treated. I was listened to attentively and everything I needed to know was explained to me.
