Michigan Plastic Surgery Malpractice Lawyer

A Michigan plastic surgery malpractice lawyer can help if you or someone you care about suffered harm from a cosmetic surgery procedure. Medical errors that occur in connection with elective surgeries often have catastrophic consequences.

Our medical malpractice lawyers represent plastic and cosmetic surgery patients who have been harmed during or after the procedure. While there are never any guarantees for a perfect outcome, the results are often well below the accepted standards and expectations.

Many patients feel that their surgery was “botched” and that the results are far below the representations that were made to them by the doctor. Other patients suffer serious complications during and after the surgery, like blood clots, compartment syndrome, and nerve damage.

• Can I Still Sue if I Signed a Consent Form before Surgery?
• Plastic Surgery Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
• What is the Compensation in a Plastic Surgery Lawsuit?
• Contact Our Experienced Michigan Medical Malpractice Firm

Most Common Cosmetic Surgery Treatments

Plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures are on the rise every year in the United States. There were 17.7 million cosmetic procedures and 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures in 2018. Over 15.9 million cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures were performed in the same year.

The most common surgical procedures include:

• Blepharoplasty (surgery of the eyelids)
• Facial scar revision
• Forehead lifts
• Breast enhancements and augmentation, including implants
• Liposuction and tummy tucks
• Hair replacement
• Laser surgery
• Mentoplasty (surgery of the chin)
• Otoplasty (surgery of the ears)
• Rhinoplasty (surgery of the nose)
• Rhytidectomy (surgery of the face)
• Eyelid surgery
• Lip augmentation
• Skin resurfacing
• Botox treatment
• Cool body sculpting
• Laser hair removal and treatment of veins
• Dermabrasion

Can I Still Sue if I Signed a Consent Form before Surgery?

You were likely required to sign an Informed Consent Form before your surgery. Many people wrongly believe that this prevents them from suing their plastic surgeon.

A patient never consents to medical negligence, but rather states an understanding that certain risks can occur in the absence of malpractice. Just because you may have signed a waiver or “understanding of risks” form before your surgery does not mean that you gave up all of your legal rights to sue a negligent surgeon.

Our plastic surgery malpractice lawyers have filed many cases even when the patient signed the required forms prior to their surgery. We will review your records, the operative reports, and the signed consent form to determine if you can go forward with your lawsuit.

Plastic Surgery Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

To pursue a medical malpractice claim for harm caused during a cosmetic surgery procedure, it must be proven that the surgeon failed to act as a reasonably prudent surgeon would do in the same or similar circumstances. This is essentially the definition of medical negligence and applies to lawsuits relating to elective procedures, both surgical and minimally invasive.

Simply being disappointed with the result does not necessarily provide the basis for suing a plastic surgeon. Rather, the injury or damage caused must be beyond what is reasonably expected or likely from the procedure. In many cases, the patient is disfigured due to the negligent performance of the procedure.

In addition to a poor appearing outcome, many patients suffer serious medical conditions either caused by the surgery itself or due to the lack of proper care or monitoring postoperatively. As many surgeries are performed in surgical centers and even in hospitals, the facility may also be liable for the injuries in addition to the surgeon.

What is the Compensation in a Plastic Surgery Lawsuit?

There are caps, or limits, on medical malpractice awards in Michigan so the amount of your settlement will depend on the nature of your injury and the damages suffered as a result. Every case is different and unique, which is why you need an experienced plastic surgery malpractice lawyer on your side. Experience pays when it comes to winning a great settlement.

In general, plastic surgery malpractice lawsuits seek compensation for pain and suffering, disfigurement, psychological harm, lost wages, and medical expenses.

In cases involving death, the surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against all potentially negligent parties. Recoverable damages include the pain and suffering of the patient from the time of surgery until death, as well as the loss of society and companionship of the family members. In addition, claims are made for loss of income and support, as well as medical expenses and funeral and burial expenses.

Plastic Surgery Malpractice Case Study

A 42-year-old woman had plastic surgery performed at a major hospital. She underwent an arm lift, or brachioplasty, and another procedure at the same time. She was admitted to the hospital overnight for observation and recovery.

During the course of the night, she complained of significant pain in her surgical arm. The nursing staff noted swelling and immediately contacted the plastic surgeon by phone for a consult. The surgeon did not order any testing or treatment at that time.

The severe pain continued throughout the night. The next morning, another surgeon was called in by the nursing staff. He diagnosed compartment syndrome and performed an urgent fasciotomy on the affected arm. The patient has permanent damage in her arm due to the delay in surgical intervention.

A lawsuit was filed against the plastic surgeon for failing to timely diagnose or treat the condition. The case was settled for $500,000 prior to trial.

Contact Our Experienced Michigan Medical Malpractice Firm

If you or someone that you care about was the victim of plastic surgery malpractice, call our top-rated team of attorneys now to discuss your case.

We do not charge any legal fees unless you receive a settlement and we pay all of the case costs. There are strict time deadlines for filing cases so it is important that you call us immediately to schedule a FREE consultation.