According to data from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, there has been a major boom in cosmetic surgery over the last few years. In 2022, around thirty thousand procedures were undertaken. In 93% of those cases, it was a woman under the knife. The most popular procedure was the breast augmentation, closely followed by the breast reduction.
If you’ve undergone cosmetic breast surgery and you’re unhappy with the results, then there are a number of steps you might take to put the situation right.
Identify Signs of Surgical Complications
To begin with, you’ll want to know exactly what it is that you’re looking for. If you can see extensive visible scarring, or asymmetry, or you’ve suffered an infection, then it might be that surgical complications are to blame. The earlier you can detect these problems, the easier it will be to take corrective action.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
If you think that you need medical attention, seek it immediately. A health professional might assess your condition, and determine whether further action is warranted. You might seek a second opinion from a person other than the one who performed the operation.
Document Your Experience Thoroughly
It might be that you need evidence later on of the treatment you’ve received. Keeping a detailed log of your symptoms, alongside correspondence from your healthcare provider, is essential. Written records should be supplemented with photographs of the affected areas. Take more photos than you think you might need – you can always delete the ones you don’t use later on.
Understand Your Legal Rights
As a person undergoing medical treatment in the UK, you enjoy a number of special rights and protections. But if you aren’t aware of what these rights are, then you might not be able to effectively advocate for yourself when you’re receiving treatment. The most important right of all, naturally, is the right to seek compensation in the event of medical negligence.
Consult a Specialist Medical Negligence Solicitor
When you suspect that the quality of your breast operation amounts to medical negligence, it’s important to involve medical negligence solicitors with special experience in cosmetic surgery.
These professionals will evaluate the merits of your case, and pursue damages on your behalf. In many cases, they will proceed on a no-win, no-fee basis – which means that you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you’re not going to be charged if you don’t successfully extract compensation.
