Cosmetic surgery has become popular as a means of enhancing one’s aesthetic appearance, but it can cause traumatic, excessive scarring if it is performed negligently.*
The increase in demand for cosmetic surgery has encouraged many unregulated beauty therapists to offer treatments and procedures that should be approached with great caution. Not all problems are caused by unregulated therapists, however, and even the most experienced surgeons can fail to offer the appropriate standard of care.
Damage by an inexperienced or careless surgeon can be irreparable and have devastating consequences on a patient. The damage can be physical, particularly when excessive scarring remains on the face or other visible body parts, but it can be emotional and financial too.
Examples of negligence which may lead to excessive scarring include:
- Deposits of excessive amounts of collagen
- Excessive lacerations to the skin due to inadequate care
- Infection of an incision due to incorrect care
- Using the incorrect stitches
- Poorly/incorrectly conducted procedure
- Inadequate treatment for an existing wound
- Inadequate monitoring for infection post-procedure
- Surgical errors
- Failure to fully inform the patient of all risks and possible complications, resulting in a lack of informed consent
What to Do If You Think You Have Excessive Scarring Due to Negligence:
It is important to note that scars following a cosmetic procedure do not entitle patients to claim for negligence automatically. Scarring is associated with many medical procedures, unfortunately, and a person’s skin type, age, and health can influence how a scar heals.
To proceed with a claim for negligence, a patient must show that the procedure fell below the accepted standard of care. The patient must also prove that the injury/scarring is worse than what would have been reasonably expected and was caused as a result of a lapse in the ordinary standard of care.
If you are unsure as to whether you have a case, get in touch with the HOMS Assist Team. We will assess the circumstances surrounding the excessive scarring with the assistance of our panel of medical experts. We will take up copies of the relevant medical notes in order to ascertain whether negligence exists or not. If negligence is identified, we will proceed with the case on your behalf.
We understand that you may be apprehensive about the process, but the HOMS Assist Team will be there to guide you through every step.