Plastic Surgery Mistakes

People seek out a cosmetic surgeon for a variety of reasons. Perhaps an accident has left them scarred, and they wish to repair their appearance. Perhaps they do not like a certain area of their body and want to have it fixed. Perhaps they simply wish to make a change in the way they look. Regardless of the reason they choose plastic surgery, all patients have the same expectation: to come out of their procedure looking and feeling better than before.

All medical procedures carry some amount of risk. No doctor can guarantee certain results, or that no complications will occur. However, you have the right to expect that your plastic surgeon will provide you with the highest standard of care. Where a plastic surgeon fails to maintain that standard of care, and that negligent act results in injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and expense. You have the right to expect that your plastic surgeon will provide you with the highest standard of care.

Florida Plastic Surgery Malpractice Attorneys

The personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys at Levine & Glassman, P.A., in Weston, FL, are experienced and knowledgeable about all kinds of malpractice law, including plastic surgery malpractice. We will take the time to listen to your concerns and give your case the attention it deserves. If you have been injured by a plastic surgeon’s negligence, you have a limited time to file your claim. You should call (954) 332-6100 or fill out our online case evaluation form immediately to schedule your free consultation.

Plastic Surgery Information Center

• What is medical malpractice?
• What kinds of plastic surgeries are most common in Florida, and what kind of complications might occur from these surgeries?
• What should I do if I have been the victim of botched plastic surgery in Florida?
• Where can I find more information on plastic surgery mistakes in Florida?
• How can the plastic surgery malpractice attorneys at Levine and Glassman, P.A., help me?

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Plastic Surgery and Medical Malpractice Claims in Florida

Medical malpractice basically means that the doctor unintentionally or intentionally did something that no other reasonable and prudent doctor would have done under the same circumstances and some serious injury resulted. The injury may be monetary (such as having to pay for further surgeries or treatment), physical, or both.

It’s important to recognize that no doctor, even a plastic surgeon, can guarantee specific results. Negligent plastic surgery does not include surgery that did not turn out as well as you expected. However, negligent plastic surgery may include surgery that left you disfigured or permanently injured.

It’s also important to note that In order to have a successful medical malpractice claim, the doctor’s actions must be the proximate cause of your injuries. That means that what the doctor did or did not do directly caused your injury, and nothing else happened in the meantime that may have caused or contributed to your injuries. For example, if you suffered complications because you did not follow the doctor’s instructions after your procedure, then your failure to follow instructions might preclude or lessen any compensation you are entitled to, whether the procedure was performed negligently or not.

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Common Surgeries and Complications

The most common types of cosmetic surgery are listed below. Unfortunately, the numer of incidents in which medical malpractice occurs is stagering. Often, the same doctors make the same serious mistakes over and over again.

As with other types of surgery, complications can include drug reactions, reaction to anesthesia, bleeding, or even death during the surgery. These complications may or may not be the result of medical malpractice. Your medical malpractice attorney can advise you of whether or not you might have a viable malpractice claim.

• Rhinoplasty: changing the shape, size or position of the nose. Possible complications include infection, disfigurement, loss of sense of smell, problems breathing, or loss of all or part of the nose.

• Abdominoplasty: tummy tuck. Negligent medical care could lead to infection, blood clots, scarring and disfigurement, or severe bleeding.

• Liposuction: removal of fatty tissue. It is possible to experience blood clots, fluid retention, nerve damage, or damage to vital organs during or after liposuction.

• Breast Enhancement or Reduction: changing the size, position or shape of the breasts. Complications include scarring, disfigurement, infection, rupturing of implants, blood poisoning, and loss of part or all of the breast or nipple.

• Rhytidectomy: “face lift”, removal of wrinkles. Malpractice could lead to nerve injury, necrosis (death of tissue), cysts, earlobe or hairline deformity, or severe bruising.

With all of these complications, further surgeries might be necessary to repair the damage. These surgeries might be more invasive, dangerous, painful and/or expensive than the original surgery. In some cases, the disfigurement is permanent.

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What to Do After a Plastic Surgery Mistake Has Occurred

Being the victim of any type of medical malpractice is a frightening experience. There are several important steps to take to protect your health and your rights:

1. Document the Event

   Medical malpractice can be a very emotionally jarring experience You might feel like you will never forget your medical malpractice experience. In reality, these kind of cases can take years to come to trial. Documenting the events as they happen will help you prove your case down the road.

   Write down the days and times you visited the plastic surgeon, the name and location of the doctor’s office, the doctor’s name, and what procedure or care they provided. Be sure and note where you had the procedure done (hospital, out-patient clinic, etc) and who else was present during the procedure. Keep copies of any instructions or consent forms the doctor, hospital or other staff provided you. Note anything that you can remember was said to you during the visits, and the name and dosages of any drugs you were prescribed.

   Take pictures of any injuries or disfigurement you have sustained, both when they injuries are fresh and as they heal. These pictures should be in color and as close up as possible. Note on the back of the picture what the injury was, where it was located, how long it took to heal, and what kind of pain you experienced.

   It might also be a good idea to keep a detailed journal about how your life has changed as a result of your injuries or disfigurement. Note what kind of things you can no longer do or experience due to your injuries, or how your self-image or self-esteem has been affected. Write down any expenses or loss of wages you have experienced. Write about any further medical care you have received as a result of the injuries.

2. Seek appropriate medical care, if necessary

   Your health is obviously the most important concern. If you are seriously injured, you should seek medical attention immediately. You may also consider further surgeries or procedures to try to correct any disfigurement you may have suffered.

   Be sure to keep copies of any bills, insurance correspondence, or medical paperwork you receive. Keep a record of the medical care you receive to treat your injuries, where you receive it, why you receive it, whether it is successful and how much it costs. This includes any further surgeries you have to try to repair your appearance. You may be able to receive compensation for the treatment you were forced to receive as a result of your injuries.

3. Contact an experienced attorney

   You should speak with an experienced malpractice attorney immediately about your injuries. Be completely open and honest with your attorney about why you sought plastic surgery, what happened during and after the procedure, and whether you have been following all of the doctor’s instructions. Your attorney can help you decide whether or not you have a viable malpractice case, as well as inform you of what steps to take next.

4. Report Your Doctor to the Licensing Board

   You may wish to talk to your attorney about filing a complaint with the Florida Board of Health. This is the entity that licenses and oversees doctors in the State of Florida. This board has a formal process for investigating and disciplining negligent doctors, separate from the civil or criminal justice system. A link to the Board’s webpage is available in resources section below.

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Plastic Surgery Resources:

Recovery After Plastic Surgery - What to expect during the recovery process from normal plastic surgery

Cosmetic Surgery Addiction - How to tell if you or a loved one is addicted to plastic surgery, and what responsibility your doctor has to stop you from getting unnecessary surgery

Florida Board of Medicine - Information about the board and filing a complaint online

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How Our Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You After Plastic Surgery Malpractice Occurs

If you have been severely injured due to a plastic surgeon’s negligence, the attorneys at Levine & Glassman, P.C., in Weston, Florida, are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our Florida Malpractice Attorneys are experienced, knowledgeable, and will give your case the level of attention it requires. We will listen to your concerns, apprise you of your options, and walk you through every step of the legal process.

We represent clients from all over Southeast Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties and the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Palm Beach. If you have been injured due to botched plastic surgery, give us a call today at (954) 332-6100 or fill out our online case evaluation form. We are ready to schedule your free consultation.