Cosmetic surgery procedures have become increasingly popular in the UK with 1 in 3 Brits saying that they have had or would consider having facial cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is when an individual chooses to have an operation or procedure in order to change their physical appearance. Generally, cosmetic surgery is not performed for medical reasons however it does come with risks and therefore it is essential that proper planning and preparation is carried out ahead of the surgery. In this article we will be discussing a pre-operative and post-operative checklist when undergoing cosmetic surgery. 

Before you have cosmetic surgery 

If you are thinking about having any type of cosmetic surgery, it is extremely important to do your research and find out about the surgery. Every cosmetic procedure comes with an element of risk, whether you are having a surgical procedure, such as breast augmentation, or a non-surgical procedure, such as Botox. If cosmetic surgery is not carried out correctly, it can lead to serious complications. There are things that you can do in order to help make the right decision and reduce the risk of the surgery. 

According to the NHS, you should: 

• Be clear about why you want to change the way you look.
• Speak to a professional about the procedure that you want to have done.
• Research the procedure before you have it done.
• Understand the costs involved, the costs will depend on the procedure you want to have and whether or not there is any aftercare or future procedures involved.
• Choose a qualified practitioner who is reliable and safe. It is important that your surgeon is trained and has experience in the surgery that you are having and they have the right insurance in case anything does go wrong.
• Ask your surgeon questions and make sure you find out as much information as you can before having your cosmetic surgery, you should know everything about the procedure and any potential risks. 
• Take time to decide if you definitely want to have the procedure. You should be offered a cooling off period by your surgeon so that you have time to decide if you want to go ahead with the procedure. 

If you decide to go ahead with your cosmetic procedure, before the surgery you should: 

• Tell your doctor about any medications that you take or that you plan to take during your recovery 
• Stop smoking in advance of your surgery 
• Make sure you follow any instructions regarding food and drink, some cosmetic surgeries will require no eating or drinking on the day of your procedure 

After you have cosmetic surgery 

After you have had cosmetic surgery, you will likely be moved to a recovery area until the surgeon decides that you are ready to be sent home. It is important that you follow any instructions that your surgeon has given you, if you have any questions about these, it is important to speak to your surgeon so that you are receiving the best possible care and that you will heal correctly. 

You should also be scheduled for a follow up appointment after your cosmetic surgery, and it is important that you attend these appointments so that your doctor is able to monitor the healing process, they will also be able to remove any stitches if necessary and address any concerns that you may have regarding your healing process.

What if your cosmetic surgery goes wrong?

If you have undergone cosmetic surgery and it has not gone as planned, there are some important steps that you should take at the earliest opportunity, these include: 

• Obtaining copies of your medical records – you have a legal right to obtain your medical records from either private hospitals or the NHS. Medical records may be very lengthy but if your surgery has gone wrong due to medical negligence, and you are looking to claim, these will help to assess the strength of a cosmetic surgery claim. 
• Make a complaint – making a complaint is important and in some cases the hospital/ surgeons will acknowledge their error and the response to your complaint will enable you to see how your case is being handled by the medical professionals. The complaint could also be used as evidence if you should decide to make a cosmetic surgery claim. 
• Get advice from a solicitor that deals with cosmetic surgery claims – it is important to seek advice from an expert who will be able to guide you through the cosmetic surgery claim and help you get the compensation that you deserve for the negligent care that you received. 

The results of cosmetic surgery going wrong can be devastating for patients, and if it is due to medical negligence, taking the above steps will help you should you decide to take legal action against your surgeon, or the hospital where you received the cosmetic surgery. 

Cosmetic surgery claims 

Cosmetic surgery can offer transformative results for individuals, however there are also risks involved and potential complications. Cosmetic surgery claims occur when patients experience adverse outcomes due to negligence. Cosmetic surgery claims can include:

• Lack of information from the surgeon 
• Failure to inform the patient of the risks associated with the surgery
• Infections and allergies 
• Severe scarring caused by the surgery
• Implant faults, including leakage 

Any patients who have suffered any harm as a result of medical negligence in relation to cosmetic surgery could be entitled to claim for compensation for aspects such as physical damage and loss of income. 

It is extremely important that patients undergoing cosmetic surgery are fully aware of the risks that are involved, and if you were not made aware and experienced an injury related to your cosmetic surgery, you may be able to make a cosmetic surgery claim. 

At Patient Claim Line, we work on a no win no fee basis, so if you believe you have received negligent care at any stage of your cosmetic surgery, we can help. Get in touch today and one of our medical negligence experts will help to guide you through your claims process and get you the compensation that you deserve.