Each year, millions of people undergo a cosmetic procedure to alter their appearance or improve their health. Unfortunately, things do not always go as planned. Instead, newspaper headlines blare the news that someone has suffered horrific injuries—or even died.
If you or a loved one has experienced a plastic surgery nightmare, you might be able to bring a lawsuit against your surgeon for medical malpractice.
Determining Medical Malpractice
Not everyone disappointed with their appearance has fallen victim to medical malpractice. For example, disappointment that the bags under your eyes haven’t completely disappeared or that you do not look 20 years younger after a facelift are not typically grounds for medical malpractice.
Instead, your surgeon owes you a duty to operate with the skill and care that other surgeons in the field would exercise under the circumstances. This standard means doctors do not need to be miracle workers. It does require that they be sufficiently competent at their jobs.
Common Plastic Surgery Injuries
Careless and incompetent plastic surgeons can cause horrific injuries, such as:
- Scarring;
- Infection;
- Paralysis, especially in the face;
- Deformities that require corrective surgery;
- Nerve damage;
- Burns; and/or
- Death.
For example, a doctor injecting dermal fillers might inadvertently inject the filler into a nerve ending, causing extreme pain and possibly paralysis. A surgeon performing breast augmentation might severely deform one or both breasts or cause a patient to die on the operating table because of anesthesia errors. In these situations, the patient has suffered physical injury and is not merely disappointed with their appearance.
If you are in pain and worried about the results of your surgery, please consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Miami to review your case.
Compensation for Injuries
Botched plastic surgery often requires additional corrective surgery which is both expensive and dangerous. Patients incur additional medical expenses and probably are unable to work as they recover from additional surgery.
If you have suffered an injury because of a plastic surgeon’s medical negligence, you might receive compensation for:
- All medical bills, including bills for corrective surgery;
- Lost wages;
- Pain and suffering; and
- Emotional distress.
Speak with a Miami Medical Malpractice Attorney
Plastic surgeons, like other medical professionals, must be held accountable when their negligence injures patients. At Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, LLP, we have sued many surgeons on behalf of our clients, and we are anxious to talk to you about your options. Please call 305-371-2692 to schedule your free consultation.