Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Damages Received in Clinical Negligence Case After Breast Operation Went Wrong
15th November 2010
A young woman who went under the knife to improve her appearance has warned of the risks of cosmetic surgery. Our expert personal injury lawyers assisted her in a clinical negligence claim after she suffered ill effects due to a surgical error.
Cosmetic Surgery
The claimant received £22,500 in compensation after a breast enlargement operation went wrong, leaving her even more insecure about her appearance.
She saved up for over a year to pay the £4,200 to have her breasts enlarged from a B cup to a C or a D cup. She wanted the operation to help her confidence after agreeing to be her sister’s bridesmaid and, after researching recommended surgeons, she decided to undergo the procedure.
Despite having a phobia of being sick and recognising the after effects of the drugs used during the operation may make her ill, she decided facing her fears was worth it for the final result.
Surgical Error
After the operation she was left with breasts three times bigger than expected at a G cup and suffered from mild symmastia, a complication which can occur after breast augmentation. The condition occurs when the implants are placed too close together. It can leave the sufferer with the appearance of a ‘uniboob’, where the breasts appear to be joined together as one. In worst scenarios the implants can be pushed from one breast to the other.
Despite being violently sick from the operation she agreed to undergo corrective surgery. Unfortunately the operation failed and she was left with scarring and now needs to wear specialist bras to separate her breasts.
Her sister was forced to change her bridesmaids’ dresses to hide the effects of the operation and she can no longer wear a regular bikini whilst on holiday.
She said: “I wish I had never gone for a breast enhancement. I thought it would help me feel better about my appearance but instead I have been left feeling worse. My breasts are much bigger than I had planned, I have terrible scarring and no cleavage. I have to be careful about the type of clothes that I can wear and I am more self conscious about my appearance than ever.
“I want to warn other people about the risks of breast surgery. I spent a long time researching my operation and was careful about making sure I chose a recommended surgeon but in the end I would have been better off not having the operation at all.”
Clinical Negligence Claim
Following the second procedure she instructed our specialist medical negligence lawyers to pursue a claim for compensation. We asserted no blame for the outcome of the first operation but our experts were of the view that the second operation had been performed negligently as the surgeon hadn’t made a large enough lateral cut.
Liability was not admitted by the surgeon but our specialist personal injury lawyers were able to negotiate a settlement of damages for the client. The solicitor who represented the claimant said: “Undergoing a plastic surgery procedure like breast enhancement is a decision not to be taken lightly. Where the client is not happy with the final result it does not automatically mean that medical malpractice has occurred. However, in this case we were able to negotiate a successful compensation settlement for the client.”
Injury Claim Advice
If you have suffered a personal injury or illness due to sub-standard medical care, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim.
At The Legal Line, our lawyers have extensive experience in all areas of personal injury, including accident, industrial disease and medical negligence claims, and we can provide you with specific advice on your case. Contact us on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online.
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