Philadelphia Plastic Surgery Lawyers
Plastic surgery is big business. Almost 16 million surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States last year, which was a 115 percent increase in overall procedures since the year 2000. Botulinum Toxin (Botox) was the leading nonsurgical procedure, with 6.7 million occurrences. For surgical procedures, breast augmentation was the most frequently done plastic surgery, followed by liposuction, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, and tummy tucks. Although many of these elective surgeries have a reputation (deserved or not) for being done out of vanity, plastic surgery can actually make a huge difference in the life of a scarred accident victim, a breast cancer survivor, or someone who was born with congenital deformities. Regardless of their motivations for seeking plastic surgery, all patients deserve to have a safe experience.
If you have been injured by a negligent plastic surgeon, or if such negligence has proven injurious or fatal to someone you love, the Philadelphia surgical error attorneys of Wapner Newman can review your case and advise you whether you have grounds to seek financial compensation. Serving communities throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, our Eastern PA cosmetic surgery negligence lawyers believe that harm due to a medical professional’s mistake or omission is unacceptable.
We invite you to discuss your unique situation by calling us at 1-800-LAW-6600 or filling out a free case evaluation form.
Often used as a catchall phrase by the nonmedical community, “plastic surgery” is a specialty that encompasses training in several separate areas of surgical expertise. Physicians certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are required to be trained in cosmetic surgery, congenital defect repair, trauma surgery, reconstructive surgery, hand surgery, and disorders. In comparison, physicians certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery are required to be trained in face surgery, breast surgery, tummy tucks, liposuction, and other cosmetic surgeries. Thus, the title “board certified plastic surgeon” indicates a certain level of training and skill, but any licensed physician can technically perform plastic surgery. Whether they should do so is another matter entirely and may be grounds for malpractice if their care results in patient injury. Treatment that doesn’t meet accepted medical standards and which harms the patient may be actionable negligence. Examples of long-term complications that can result from plastic surgery errors include scarring, disfigurement, chronic pain and psychological issues.
The law measures negligence by examining whether the plastic surgeons provided the level of skill, care, and treatment that a reasonable plastic surgeon would have provided under similar circumstances. Expectations include that they should fully evaluate a patient’s current health and medical history prior to surgery, have a thorough understanding of the patient’s aesthetic goals, fully inform the patient about the inherent dangers associated with the procedure, and monitor the patient closely. For example, bleeding is an inherent risk of tummy tuck surgery. A patient having this procedure must be continually monitored so that any abnormal bleeding can be addressed promptly in order to prevent a further loss of tissue. Left unchecked, bleeding can result in excessive scarring, nerve damage, and death.
Problems that may be indicative of plastic surgery malpractice include:
- Post-operative infections
- Negligent injection of drugs
- Complications from anesthesia
- Scarring
- Nerve damage
- Delayed diagnosis
- Wrong diagnosis
- Wrong site surgery
- Misjudgments or omissions in the plan of treatment.
Of course, every procedure has the possibility of unforeseen complications, but it is the responsibility of the surgeon to properly diagnose and appropriately treat every complication that is observed.
Contact Our Plastic Surgery Lawyers
There are far too many cosmetic surgery patients whose lives are negatively affected by doctor errors. In addition to the physical toll, medical mistakes can be expensive, and patients have gone bankrupt paying for additional operations in order to repair or improve the damage caused by a negligent procedure. If a medical mistake by a plastic surgeon has harmed you or someone in your family, you need an advocate on your side – someone who will protect your rights and who is determined to get you the compensation you deserve. We offer risk-free consultations and work on a contingency basis, which means that we do not require you to pay any fees until we have secured a recovery on your behalf. We encourage you to contact us today by calling 1-800-LAW-6600 or filling out a free case evaluation form.
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