In the past, liposuction was a cosmetic procedure for the rich and famous. However, it is now more accessible and affordable for many more people. While liposuction is usually successful and patients are happy with the outcome, mistakes can sometimes occur. If you’ve suffered a botched liposuction operation, you may be eligible to claim compensation for any suffering you’ve endured. This guide to liposuction negligence claims will explain when you might be eligible to seek damages and how much compensation could be claimed.

Our team of specially-trained advisors are on hand to answer any questions you might have about liposuction negligence claims. They will offer free legal advice and explain your options during a no-obligation initial consultation. If it looks like you could be compensated, and a medical negligence solicitor on our team decides to take on your case, they’ll represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. As a result, the only time you’ll pay legal fees is if you receive a compensation payout.

To speak to a specialist today please call 0800 6524 881. Alternatively, please read on to learn more about when liposuction negligence claims might be possible.

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or body contouring is a procedure to suck excess fat out of the body. The most common sites for liposuction include the tummy (abdomen), thighs, buttocks, hips, arms and neck. Liposuction can also be used to perform breast reduction surgery as well.

After the fat has been removed, the skin will mould itself to the contours of the treated area. As an invasive surgery, liposuction is regulated in the UK and must be carried out by hospitals and clinics registered with the Care Quality Commission(CQC).

The NHS does not perform liposuction for cosmetic reasons. However, it may elect to carry out surgery to treat lymphoedema and lipoedema.

What Are The Risks Associated With Liposuction?

As with all forms of cosmetic surgery, liposuction carries a number of known risks. Some of the main complications associated with liposuction include:

• Bumpy skin. Following liposuction, your skin can look wavy, withered or lumpy if the fat is removed unevenly.
• Fat embolism. This can lead to a medical emergency if a loose piece of fat enters the blood vessels and gets trapped in the lungs or brain.
• Nerve damage. In some cases, temporary or permanent nerve damage can lead to numbness or loss of sensation.
• Internal punctures. Although quite rare, it is possible that internal organ damage can occur when the cannula used to suck out excess fat penetrates too far.
• Heart and kidney problems. Fluids are sucked out and injected into the body during liposuction. The alteration of fluid levels in the body has the potential to put a strain on the heart, kidneys and lungs.
• Fluid accumulation. If a seroma (a small pocket of fluid) forms beneath the skin, it may need to be removed with a needle.
• Infections. Good aftercare is needed following liposuction to try and prevent skin infections at the site of the treatment.
• Anaesthetic reactions. The anaesthetic used to numb the pain caused by liposuction can cause heart or nervous system problems although this is quite rare.
• Excessive bleeding. While bleeding should be minimal during liposuction, heavy bleeding can sometimes occur and be problematic.

Am I Eligible To Make A Liposuction Negligence Claim?

Medical negligence solicitors will typically only accept liposuction negligence compensation claims where there’s a realistic chance of success. Therefore, at the start of the claims process, they’ll look at whether:

• A medical professional (the surgeon usually) provided a standard of care that fell below what you could reasonably expect (medical negligence); and
• As a result, you were injured or made ill (causation).

Cosmetic surgery claims can be quite complex cases to prove. In all cases, an independent medical expert will be asked to assess what happened and to see if they agree with the way the defendant acted. If they believe that defendant was negligent during your liposuction procedure, your solicitor may agree to move on and try to secure compensation for your suffering.

What About The Waiver I Signed?

You shouldn’t be put off from claiming compensation for a botched liposuction operation just because you signed a consent form or waiver. These are simply devices that are designed to confirm that you were aware of what the procedure entails and any associated risks.

Waivers do not stop you from claiming compensation if you’ve suffered as a result of negligence by a medical professional. Therefore, please feel free to contact us and have a copy of the waiver to hand so it can be reviewed for free.

Negligence Leading To Liposuction Compensation Claims

So, as we’ve shown above, you can only really win a liposuction negligence claim if you can prove that the surgeon did something wrong (and that has caused you to suffer). The types of negligence that could allow you to claim compensation for a negligent liposuction procedure include:

• Failure to explain the risks of liposuction to the patient.
• If the patient’s medical history was not considered prior to treatment.
• Where other solutions other than liposuction were not discussed.
• If the surgeon used the wrong equipment or procedures during the operation.
• Where infections occurred due to poor hygiene practices.
• Where promises were made about outcomes that couldn’t possibly be achieved.

Generally, claims won’t be made directly against the cosmetic surgeon unless they were deliberately negligent. Instead, liposuction negligence claims will usually be made against the company that operates the clinic or hospital where you were treated.

How Much Compensation For Liposuction Gone Wrong?

Any type of cosmetic or medical negligence claim is designed to try and put you back in the position you were in (as far as possible) before you were injured. You could therefore claim for any suffering you have endured (general damages) as well as any out-of-pocket expense (special damages).

If your liposuction compensation claim is successful, you could be compensated for:

• Physical pain and suffering.
• Embarrassment, distress, anxiety and other forms of mental harm.
• Loss of earnings if your injuries meant you couldn’t work.
• Any impact on hobbies, family life or social activities.
• Care costs (to cover the time somebody else spent looking after you).
• Travel expenses.
• Medical costs including private remedial plastic surgery in some cases.
• Future reductions in income for longer-term injuries.
• The cost of home modifications if your liposuction treatment has caused a permanent disability.

We can’t understate the importance of including all aspects of your suffering before you file a liposuction claim as you can only do so once. Our team of solicitors will always take the time to get a full understanding of how you’ve suffered to try and secure the best possible compensation payment for you.

Liposuction Compensation Calculator

During a liposuction negligence claim, you will need to be assessed by an independent expert. They will look at your injuries and find out from you how you’ve been affected by them. They’ll then write a report to outline your prognosis.

Until this report has been received, it’s not possible to state what settlement for liposuction negligence you might be awarded. However, we’ve included our compensation calculator for several relevant injuries below:

Evidence To Support A Liposuction Negligence Claim

During a liposuction negligence claim, your solicitor will liaise with the defendant’s insurers to try and convince them about how you’ve suffered and why their client was to blame. The types of evidence they could supply to do this include:

• Copies of any correspondence including waivers, booking confirmations or complaint responses.
• Medical records from your GP or a hospital to confirm how you’ve suffered.
• Before and after photographs to show the injuries you’ve sustained.
• Witness statements from friends or family members to confirm how you’ve suffered following treatment.
• Financial records to prove any costs or expenses incurred as a result of the negligent liposuction treatment.

Importantly, your solicitor will manage all aspects of the claim on your behalf. Therefore, you won’t have to face any awkward or complicated questions from the defendant’s legal team.

Time Limits For Claiming Liposuction Compensation

Legally, there is a 3-year time limit for all medical negligence claims in the UK. In most cases, this will start from the date you realised something had gone wrong (which might be a few days or weeks after your liposuction operation).

In our experience, it is easier to obtain evidence to support your claim if you make an early start but a solicitor could still help so long as you don’t leave things to the very last minute.

How long a liposuction claim takes will depend on whether you’ve already recovered from your injuries. If you have, the claim could be settled in around 9 months or so. Where the extent of your suffering requires more investigation, claims will typically take longer.

Starting The Liposuction Negligence Claims Process

The easiest way to find out if you could be compensated for liposuction negligence is to call us on 0800 6524 881. A specialist will review your claim, explain your options and let you know if you are eligible to claim

Our team of medical negligence solicitors provide No Win No Fee liposuction negligence claims for any case they agree to work on. As such, you’ll only pay legal fees if you receive a compensation settlement.

Please connect with one of our live chat advisors if you’d like more information on the liposuction negligence claims process.