Liposuction Surgery Compensation Claims

Liposuction surgery compensation claims describe when you take legal action against your surgeon for failing to provide you with the right standard of care during your surgery and have made you suffer pain and suffering which could have well been avoided.

What Is Liposuction Surgery?

Liposuction surgery also known as lipoplasty or suction assisted lipectomy is a form of cosmetic surgery done to remove unwanted body fat to improve appearance. In this surgery, excess fat is removed from under the skin by suction methods

Liposuction is fast becoming a popular type of cosmetic surgery for both males and females in the UK. Currently, it ranks the fourth most popular procedure with women and fifth for men.

In a lipoplasty procedure, excess, hard-to-burn fat is literally sucked out but is not done as an alternative to standard weight loss techniques. It works in areas such as the thighs, abdomen, buttocks, chin as well as the back of the arms. This procedure works best for people who have tight and perfect skin in the intended surgery area and are at their recommended weight.

The removal of fat through a cannula tube can be carried out in different ways. It is usually performed under anaesthesia and takes about 2-3 hours. The most popular method is to make tiny cuts in the skin into which the tube is inserted and the fat sucked out using a powerful vacuum machine. The cuts are then stitched up after the procedure and they heal in a few weeks. 

Some surgeons prior to sucking out the fat will inject certain solutions into the area to aid the removal of the fat while in other cases, an ultrasound may be used to break down the fat before sucking it out. The process may have to be repeated depending on the type of operation being carried out and the patient.

If you have suffered as a result of a botched liposuction procedure due to medical negligence, we can assist you make a claim. We have medical negligence solicitors who are experts in liposuction surgery claims and have helped many clients over the years make liposuction surgery negligence claims and secured maximum compensation amounts possible for them. We will do a free professional assessment of your claims to determine if you have strong grounds for a claim and thereafter give you the needed legal advice on what to do next.

Negligence In Liposuction Surgery

Negligence with regards to liposuction can fall into three broad areas;

• Pre-operative period
• During the surgery
• Post-operative period

Pre-Operative Period

The commonest type of negligence that occurs during this period is risk notification. When the surgeon fails to inform the patient of the associated risks of the procedure and get an informed consent, if things go wrong, the patient can make claims against the surgeon. It is important that surgeons inform the patient of potential outcomes and if they are to stop some habits within the weeks leading to the surgery date.

During The Surgery

During the surgery, the surgeon needs to take extra care to ensure that the right standard of care is given to the patient. Negligence during surgery could lead to unnecessary scarring, damage to organs, bleeding, infections and other complications which could be fatal.

Post-Operative Period

Post-operative care is also very important to ensuring the success of the procedure. When the surgeon is negligent and fails to properly observe the patient before discharging or fails to advise on what and what not to aid recovery, the surgeon can be held liable for any complication that occurs.

Liposuction Risks

Although the procedure is regarded as one of the safest cosmetic procedures, complications can arise when the procedure is performed poorly. A well-trained surgeon should be wary of these risks and take adequate precautions to avoid them as much as is possible under standard medical practice. 

Where there are complications which are not part of the normal risks or side effects associated with the procedure, you can make lipoplasty claims.

The following could happen as a result of surgeon negligence;

• Swollen or bruised flesh in the surgery area
• Numbness in the surgery site
• Long-term or permanent scarring (ideally scaring should fade away with 12-18 months)
• Inflammation of the veins in the surgery site
• Fluid escaping from the incisions made
• Damage to any of the internal organs.
• Lumps in the flesh in the area the surgery was carried out on
• Bleeding underneath the skin (haematoma) in the surgery site
• Skin discoloration
• Pulmonary Embolism (blood clots in the lungs) or Pulmonary Oedema (fluids filling up the lungs)
• Heavy bleeding in the surgery site
• Infections
• Reactions to anaesthesia
• Blood Toxicity where too much solution is injected during the procedure
• Allergic reactions to the stitches or tapes used to protect cuts
• Asymmetry which may require further corrective surgery
• Seroma (accumulation of fluid in the liposuction area)

If you suffered due surgeon negligence during your liposuction, such as these problems listed above, we encourage you not to hesitate to contact us or book an appointment by completing our quick Free Claim Assessment or call us on 0800 644 4240. 

Can I Make Liposuction Surgery Compensation Claims?

Yes, you can if you have been let down by your surgeon’s actions or inactions causing you to suffer avoidable pain after your liposuction surgery.

During our free consultation session, our cosmetic surgery solicitors will listen to your story and make a proper assessment of your claim and advise you if you have strong grounds for a claim. They will ensure you are well supported in any way you require and make sure that you get the right amount of compensation for your financial losses as well as psychological and physical harm you have suffered. 

Why Should I Make A Liposuction Surgery Compensation Claim?

Apart from obtaining a deserving compensation for your suffering and trauma and to cover for financial expenses incurred as a result of the negligent treatment you received, making a claim more importantly helps you obtain justice while also understanding even more clearly what went wrong.

Since most of these cosmetic surgeries are carried out in private clinics, you may not get the attention or answers you need when you make complaints after a failed surgery. However, with a claim, you can be sure to get satisfying answers as well as being compensated adequately.

Also, after successful claims, it is expected that the surgeon and his team makes appropriate improvements to prevent a recurrence of the mistake.

How Do I Make Liposuction Surgery Compensation Claims?

To make liposuction claims, you have to prove that your surgeon provided you with substandard treatment and that is the reason why you are suffering.

Cosmetic surgery claims are a little more dicier to prove than other medical negligence claims especially as most cosmetic surgeries are elective. Also, that a surgery did not turn out the way you want is not really enough grounds for a claim. There should be a clear case of negligence for you to make a claim.

You can however make claims if the surgery didn’t turn out as you hoped if the surgeon had made promises and failed to fulfill them (you will need to show proof of such agreement).

It therefore has to be proven that the surgeon breached his duty of care to you and this has to be done under the four parts of negligence (duty, deviation, direct cause and damages).

You have to demonstrate that;

• Your cosmetic surgeon owed you a duty of care
• Your surgeon breached that duty of care
• Your surgeon’s negligence is the direct cause of the complications you are suffering
• You have suffered further damages as a result of the injuries you sustained; this could be psychological as well as financial

Your lawyer will make known to you certain documents you will need to provide in order to prove your claim and these should include;

• Your detailed statements of all that happened
• Medical records, test results and scans
• Evidence of financial losses incurred
• Photographs

Another cosmetic surgeon will most likely be needed to examine you and the injury sustain and give a second opinion if truly your surgeon was negligent. This will help us know if another surgeon would have taken the same actions as your surgeon under the same circumstances.

We will help you make available these documents and speed up the claims process so that you can put behind the unfortunate situation as soon as possible.

A medical negligence claims process typically takes the following form;

• You speak to your cosmetic surgery negligence claims lawyer for legal advice and assessment of your claim
• You proceed to fund Your Claim
• Gathering of relevant documents needed to prove your claim
• Your lawyer will help you establish your surgeon’s liability
• Negotiations between both parties
• Payment of compensation fee

How Much For Liposuction Surgery Compensation?

The amount you can receive as compensation for your liposuction surgery negligence claims is not fixed but varies because no two medical negligence claims are exactly the same.

Each claim is unique in its own way and has its own specifics.

Some factors that can play a role towards determining your settlement payout include the following;

• Type of injury
• Location of injury
• Severity of the injury
• Damage caused by the injury
• Financial losses incurred 
• Future prognosis
• Costs of having further correctional surgeries
• Rehabilitation costs 

Settlement payouts you may receive for negligent liposuction procedure could fall anywhere from a few thousands to hundreds of thousands depending on the above-named factors.

Liposuction Surgery Negligence Compensation Amounts

No Win No Fee Liposuction Surgery Compensation Claims

At Medical Negligence Direct, we will undertake your liposuction surgery compensation claims under our No Win No Fee policy also known as Conditional Fee Agreement. This means that you can pursue your claims without any financial implications to you. You will not be required to pay us any legal fees before, during or after the entire claims process even if your claim is not successful.

However, if your claim is successful, we will take out 25% of your compensation award as a success fee.

Time Limit For Making Medical Negligence Claims

The Limitation Act of 1980 allows you only a three-year window for you to make your medical negligence claim. This three-year time limit begins to count from the date of your surgeon’s negligence or the date when you first noticed it.

The few exceptions to this rule include;

• Where the victim of medical negligence is not up to 18years of age, the individual is allowed until his or her 21st birthday to make a claim. The Limitation Act only comes into play when the individual is legally an adult.
• Again, where the individual is physically or mentally not capable of making claims then the three-year limitation period can be relaxed until the individual is able to do so.

For these two categories, there is no need to keep waiting as a loved one can make claims on their behalf. Such a person is called a litigation friend. We can give you more insight as to how you can make claims on behalf of your loved one.

Our Expertise In Liposuction Surgery Compensation Claims

Our cosmetic surgery negligence experts have many years of experience in representing clients who have suffered from negligent liposuction surgery. We have a strong record of securing deserving compensation amounts for many clients over the years and will certainly do our best to ensure that you get justice and compensation for your suffering. We are known to settle claims as fast as possible so that our clients can move on with their lives.

How Long Does It Take For Liposuction To Settle?

After your liposuction, it is expected that partial recovery happens within 2 weeks. More than 90% of the swelling should revolve within a month. The surgeon will recommend the type or support you need to apply to help bring down the swelling. The surgeon may also prescribe antibiotics to lower the risk of postoperative infections.

For about a month, you will have to avoid activities that will stretch that area of the body. You may also have to stay away from work for about two weeks. After about 8 weeks, you should have started resuming your normal daily activities.

How Painful Is Liposuction Recovery?

A few days after your surgery, it is normal for you to feel moderate pain and soreness. For this, you will be prescribed medications to manage the discomfort and pain. During this period, you will have to limit your activities to help the site heal quickly.

Why Is My Stomach Bigger After Liposuction?

Researchers in Brazil have found out that within months of an abdominal liposuction, there is a possibility of the visceral fact that surrounds abdominal organs to increase in size which will make the stomach bigger.

However, with regular exercises, you can prevent deep belly fat formation.

How Can I Flatten My Stomach After Liposuction?

The few ways you can adopt to help flatten your stomach and maintain liposuction results are;

• Drink lots of water
• Engage in a regular exercise regimen
• Do not engage in sedentary lifestyle
• Eat healthily
• Minimize stress

Will Liposuction Flatten My Stomach?

The fat which can be removed by liposuction is the subcutaneous fat which is right under your skin. You can know the thickness of subcutaneous fat you have by pinching the skin of your stomach with your thumb and a finger. If it is a big, wide fold of skin, this means that you have a lot of subcutaneous fat and liposuction can help you flatten your stomach.

Visceral fat on the other hand surrounds your internal organs and is located inside the abdominal cavity below the abdominal muscles and this fat cannot be removed by liposuction. If you have a lot of visceral fat, you will only be able to flatten your stomach by losing weight.