Laser Hair Removal Compensation – How To Claim For Burns & Scarring

Laser hair removal is generally a safe cosmetic procedure. However, if things go wrong, you could end up with skin irritations, laser hair removal burns, and other injuries. Importantly, if you’ve suffered burns, scarring, or other injuries due to negligence, you may be eligible to make a laser hair removal claim for compensation. This guide explains when you might be eligible to claim, the process of making a claim, and we’ll also provide some compensation estimates as well.

Our team of specialist advisors can help if you decide to take action. Firstly, they’ll review your case with you to see if it’s suitable. During your call, free legal advice about your options will be provided. Where there is a reasonable chance of winning your claim, it could be passed to one of our personal injury solicitors. To reduce your financial risk, they’ll work on a No Win No Fee basis if your laser hair removal claim is taken on. That means they won’t ask to be paid upfront and you won’t have to pay them if your claim is unsuccessful.

Would you like to talk to us about your claim right away? If so, please call us on 0800 6524 881. Otherwise, read on to find out how laser hair removal compensation claims work.

What Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is where lasers are used to direct light into the hair follicles. The light is then absorbed by melanin (the pigment found in hair). As a result of the heat of the laser, the hair follicle is damaged which means hair growth is delayed.

While the process isn’t usually permanent, you may need several treatments to start seeing the benefits. After that, top-up treatments might be required as well.

How Can Laser Hair Removal Treatments Go Wrong?

Some of the risks associated with laser hair removal include:

• Skin irritation. This is usually temporary and tends to subside within a few hours.
• Pigment changes. The treated skin may become lighter or darker, and this change can be either temporary or permanent.

Other potential issues from laser hair removal include burns, scars, blistering, or scarring. Additionally, the treatment may cause greying of the hair or even excessive hair growth in areas near the treated site.

Problems during laser hair removal treatments can arise for various reasons. It may be due to the procedure being performed by an unqualified or inexperienced technician, or because unsanitised instruments were used. The use of unclean instruments can lead to infections, which may result in permanent scarring.

Negligence That Could Lead To Botched Laser Hair Removal

Since 2010, laser hair removal treatments in the UK have been deregulated. Previously, practitioners had to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). As a result, non-healthcare professionals can now perform laser hair removal, with the responsibility on them to ensure their procedures are safe. However, some local authorities may still perform checks to ensure standards are met.

Even without national regulation, any beauty salon or practitioner performing laser hair removal owes you a duty of care to keep you safe during and after treatment. This means they must:

• Inform you of the risks associated with laser hair removal prior to treatment.
• Use the correct equipment and procedures during the treatment.
• Provide the treatment in a hygienic environment.
• Offer sound advice on aftercare procedures.

If they are negligent and botch the treatment by failing to carry out the steps above and you suffer as a result, you could have grounds to claim laser hair removal compensation.

Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For Laser Hair Removal Gone Wrong?

If a personal injury solicitor is to take on your claim for laser hair removal gone wrong, they will check whether:

• The practitioner who treated you acted negligently; and
• You suffered injuries directly as a result of that negligence (this is known legally as causation).

Both negligence and causation must be proven if you’re to be compensated. This process can be complex, which is why we’d suggest taking on legal representation. Our team of solicitors have helped many clients make successful cosmetic surgery claims.

If you’d like to find out if your claim could be handled by one of our specialists, please get in touch today.

Evidence To Support A Laser Hair Removal Claim

If you decide to take legal action following a negligent laser hair removal procedure, you’ll need to provide evidence. This evidence should demonstrate the injuries you sustained, the negligence that caused them, and who is responsible. The types of information that could help support your claim include:

• Medical evidence. It’s important to visit a doctor if you suffer injuries from laser hair removal. They will properly diagnose your injuries and arrange for the necessary treatment. Later, you can request a copy of your medical records to show what injuries were sustained and the treatment you received.
• Witness details. If somebody else accompanied you during your consultation or treatment, you should provide their contact details (with permission) to your solicitor. They may be asked to provide a statement about what they observed or what was discussed.
• Statements from other clients. If others have experienced similar issues at the same salon, their statements can help establish a pattern of negligence.
• Photographs. After a negligent laser hair removal treatment, take photographs of any visible burns or scars. These images can complement your medical records in proving the extent of your injuries.
• Complaint letters. If you lodged a complaint with the salon after your injury, their response can be used as evidence. This may help identify what went wrong and whether the salon has admitted liability.
• Correspondence or adverts. If you have kept any emails or text messages regarding your treatment, they could help to prove whether proper advice was given prior to treatment. Similarly, leaflets about your treatment might prove useful as well.
• A diary. Keeping a diary can help document the impact of your injuries such as physical pain, emotional distress, and changes to your daily life.
• Financial costs. Record any costs you’ve incurred, such as medical expenses, travel costs, and loss of income.

Once you’ve gathered your evidence or would like advice on doing so, feel free to contact us. We’ll review everything to help determine if you have a valid claim

How Much Compensation For Laser Hair Removal Burns Could I Claim?

Compensation for laser hair removal burns is generally split into two damages:

• General damages. For your pain and suffering, including physical and psychological harm from your burns.
• Special damages. For any financial losses or expenses linked to your laser hair burns, such as lost earnings or medical costs.

Therefore, the amount you might receive will depend on several factors, including the severity of your burns, the psychological effects, and the prognosis for your recovery. Some of the specific elements that could influence your compensation include:

• The physical discomfort caused by your burns.
• Any emotional or mental distress, such as anxiety, depression, or embarrassment resulting from your injuries.
• If your burns affect your ability to enjoy activities or participate in family and social events.
• Any loss of income if you had to take time off work to recover.
• Costs incurred for trips to medical appointments.
• Expenses for treatments such as skin grafts, physiotherapy, or counselling.

To show how much might be paid as general damages, please see the section below.

Compensation Amounts For Laser Hair Removal Burns

As every laser hair removal claim is unique it is not possible without knowing the full details to provide an exact settlement amount for your claim. However, we can provide compensation amounts for laser hair removal burns and scars below.

• Very severe facial scarring causing a severe psychological reaction could see a compensation settlement of between £36,340 up to £118,790.
• Compensation for less severe facial scarring causing a significant psychological impact could payout around £21,920 up to £59,090.
• Significant facial scars where cosmetic surgery has reduced the impact might see compensation of between £11,120 up to £36,720.
• Compensation for a number of laceration scars or a single disfiguring scar to other areas of the body such as arms, legs, hands, back, chest, might see a settlement of £9,560 to £27,740.
• Less significant facial scars where the scars may be camouflaged or not so bad as to affect the claimant’s appearance markedly, £4,820 and £16,770.
• Compensation for a number of superficial scars or a single noticeable scar to arms, legs, hands, with minor cosmetic deficiency, might expect a settlement of £2,890 to £9,560.
• Compensation for trivial scars to the face from laser hair removal, £2,080 and £4,310.

The amounts listed are based on the guidelines released by the Judicial College. Their figures are used by legal professionals when calculating compensation payouts and settling claims.

To help establish how serious your injuries are, a medical assessment is usually needed. This will be conducted by an independent specialist and can usually be arranged locally for you. They’ll examine your injuries from the laser hair removal treatment and discuss how you were affected during your meeting. Once the meeting has ended, they’ll send a report to all parties linked to the claim.

Time Limits For Claiming Laser Hair Removal Compensation

You may already know that there is usually a time limit when making personal injury claims. Generally, for laser hair removal claims, you’ll have 3-years to take action from the date you were injured, although a later “date of knowledge” or another exception could apply in some situations.

There is a fair bit of work to do when claiming compensation, so it’s best to begin as soon as possible. That will make it easier for you to recall what happened and give your solicitor plenty of time to collect evidence.

If liability for your injuries is resolved early enough, your claim could be settled in a matter of a few months. If there is any contest over who was to blame or the extent of your injuries, the claim could take longer while extra evidence and reports are gathered.

Do I Need A Solicitor To File A Laser Hair Removal Claim?

While you’re not required to use a solicitor for a laser hair removal compensation claim, doing so can increase your chances of achieving a successful outcome. Claims for negligent beauty treatments can be challenging, especially when it comes to proving both negligence and causation. However, a solicitor on our team with experience in cosmetic treatment claims can help you by:

• Gathering and presenting the evidence required (such as medical records, witness statements, and photographic evidence).
• Handling communications with the defendant and their insurance company.
• Ensuring that you are compensated fairly.

What’s more, the solicitors on our team handle all laser hair removal burn claims on a No Win No Fee basis. Therefore, you won’t pay any fees upfront, and you’ll only be required to pay a success fee if your claim is won.

If you’re unsure whether to proceed with a claim or if you’d like to find out more about your options, please get in touch today.

Starting The Laser Hair Removal Claims Process

Hopefully, this guide has shown you when you could be compensated for a negligent laser hair removal treatment. If you would like to start a claim with us, please call our advice centre on 0800 6524 881.

If your claim is taken on, a solicitor from our team will be appointed to it. They’ll keep you informed about how it’s progressing throughout the claims process and will do all they can to try and ensure you’re paid the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Remember, all laser hair removal claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis so you’ll only pay for your solicitor’s work if you’re compensated.