Plastic Surgery Lawsuits: Surgeon Malpractice And Negligence

Not all plastic surgeries are successful. In some cases, the outcome may be less than desired but not necessarily disfiguring. While these procedures are also extremely disappointing, hoping to be better looking than the final results doesn't constitute a reason to sue.

However, in cases where the surgeon leaves you disfigured, in chronic pain or permanently disabled because of negligence, you shouldn't have to pay him to repair his flawed work. In fact, he should pay you. That's where plastic surgery lawsuits enter the picture.

Plastic Surgery Lawsuit Grounds

Simply being disappointed isn't a justifiable reason to sue. You were disappointed with your looks prior to the surgery or you wouldn't have opted to have it. However, if the surgeon didn't follow medical protocol for the surgery, this is grounds for a plastic surgery lawsuit and you need to contact a competently qualified malpractice attorney.

Proving The Surgeons Negligence

You must be able to prove your surgeon failed to follow reasonable medical practices. If he omitted some procedures or took unnecessary risks during the operation that a good plastic surgeon never would take, you have grounds for a lawsuit.

Patient History: Failing to take into consideration previous medical history for instance can cause you to become chronically disabled. That would be an omission on the surgeon's part.

Unauthorized Procedures: Trying an untested procedure that leaves you disfigured is another reason for plastic surgery lawsuits.

Botched Operations: Furthermore, if a doctor clearly botched the surgery and the results were unacceptable by any measure, it's time to find a good plastic surgery malpractice lawyer.

In order for you to win the lawsuit, you must show that you are worse off than you would be had you not undergone the surgery. Maybe you have sky-high medical bills to correct the error. Perhaps you missed work due to the disabling nature of the plastic surgeon's mistake. Both your lost wages and the medical bills are due to the surgeon's error and you should receive compensation.

Pain And Suffering Considerations

How much money would you accept if the person offered it with the stipulation that in order to receive the money, you'd suffer a disability, disfigurement or suffer in constant pain? If you're like most people, there wouldn't be enough money in the world to accept these conditions.

Suppose you didn't have physical pain but your employer harassed you for the missed work time, or you quit going out in public for fear you'd receive 'those looks' or face hearing others gasp at the blunders of the plastic surgeon.

That's where pain and suffering awards play a role. Both emotional pain and physical pain are part of plastic surgery lawsuits.

Even though you'll probably never receive enough money to commensurate your pain and suffering, because there's no way to do that, you'll receive compensation in an amount based on your situation.

Statute of Limitations (Act Fast)

If you think that you're the victim of a botched plastic surgery procedure, contact a medical malpractice attorney that specializes in plastic surgery lawsuits. It's important to do this before your statute of limitations ends.

You may find yourself faced with towering medical bills caused by the procedure and your insurance company will not pay for them. Plastic surgery is normally considered an elective surgery and any side-effect or condition caused by an elective surgery will not be paid by most insurance companies.

That is why seeking quick compensation is absolutely essential to your personal well-being. Both physically and financially speaking. So don't waste time.

Plastic Surgery Horror Stories: Cosmetic Nightmares

You don't have to come out looking like Jocelyn Wildenstein, the infamous surgery addicted "cat woman" to have a bad reaction to plastic surgery. Anyone over the age of 50 may remember comedian Totie Fields who had her leg amputated due to complications from plastic surgery.

Plastic surgery, even Botox can have serious side effects, disappointing results and in the end, can even turn you into a hideously artificial-looking creation. While other procedures can put your life in jeopardy.

When you think of plastic surgery, you think of movie stars. After all, physical appearance is part of their livelihood. However, not every star succumbs to the knife. Look at world-renowned singer and actress Barbara Streisand. Her nose is less than petite and she has a non-conventional look. However, because of her presence, it became an exotic look and quite attractive.

Whether or not Raquel Welch has had plastic surgery is anyone's guess, but she insists she hasn't. Instead, she uses diet, supplements and exercise to keep herself younger looking. Even if she's fudging the truth a bit, it's good advice and can prevent you from becoming a plastic surgery horror story victim.

Anchorwoman Mary Nissenson Surgery Horror Story

The effects of plastic surgery may not show or be visible with others. Mary Nissenson was a successful anchorwoman and newly wed. However, she was 42, wanted to start a family, and didn't want anyone to ask her if the baby was her grandchild.

She opted for simple plastic surgery, a brow lift. Even though she hired a reputable surgeon for this relatively simple procedure, asked all the right questions and did all her homework to make sure she wasn't taking any unnecessary risks, something went horribly wrong.

After she awoke from the surgery, she found herself in incredible pain. She had incredible sensitivity to light and sound. In her words, "A piece of candy being unwrapped would set off a near seizure." After two weeks, she was supposed to be off painkillers but couldn't survive without them. She literally couldn't leave her darkened room due to the pain.

When she asked the doctor for more painkillers, he scolded her. Finally, after two months, doctors isolated the reason. The surgery set off a reaction in her system called reflex sympathetic dystrophy, RSD. It's rare so some plastic surgeons don't mention the possibility or even recognize it.

The damage was permanent. She began a regimen of morphine, 12 pills a day and approximately 30 other pills throughout the day. If her pain were excruciatingly bad, she'd take intramuscular injections. Her insurance company didn't pay for any of it since it was the result of an elective surgery. Mary is now on permanent disability. Her marriage ended, her career ended and she lost her home and assets.

Donda West Plastic Surgery Nightmare

A more recent plastic surgery horror story is the sorrowful death of Kanye West’s mother, Donda West, following a tummy tuck and breast reduction operation. An operation that one surgeon refused to preform on the 58-year-old West, due to possible heart complications.

On November 10th, 2007, the former professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, and the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University, Donda West, died. A life that ended much too soon, a result of complications from cosmetic surgery.

Additional Surgery Complications
Other cases of medical malpractice by plastic surgeons include disfiguring facelifts, botched breast augmentation and incredible scarring. One woman's plastic surgery horror story involved breast implants put too close to each other. Because of this, it created the image of a single breast with two nipples.

The problem with these plastic surgery horror stories is that doctors actually charge to repair the damage THEY caused. In many cases, it takes multiple surgeries to correct the error of one misguided scalpel.

Choose A Safe Alternative
So before you schedule your first or next plastic surgery procedure, consider the negative life-altering possibilities that come with cosmetic surgery. Instead, seek out safe alternatives to undergoing the knife. Regardless of the situation, there is always an alternative option to consider.

Butt Augmentation Dangers And Risks - Implant Side Effects

Butt implants or buttock augmentation, along with butt injections are used to enhance a persons posterior. The injections are preformed by injecting the buttocks with fat from other areas of the body. Often the thighs or abdomen of the patient undergoes liposuction and the fat that is removed is used to shape the buttocks.

The use of fat from their own bodies has a two-fold benefit. It is being taken from an area where there is excess fat, which helps to shape the body, and since it is from their own body, rejection is not a problem.

The procedure takes about two and a half to four hours, depending on the type of procedure being performed. These procedures are generally pretty expensive, and the cost ranges from approximately $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the surgeon performing the butt augmentation surgery.

As with any plastic surgery procedure there are always going to be risks and dangers to consider before undergoing the operation. This has prompted many people to seek alternatives before opting for surgery. However, the recent surge in popularity has led many people to unlicensed "doctors" that can cause a whole host of problems when performing butt implants and buttock injections.

Dangers Associated With Butt Implants & Injections
Buttock implants are done under general anesthesia and this is one risk in itself since the recovery time is longer than when a procedure is performed using local anesthesia. Overdose is another possible danger.

The skill of the practitioner is another vital aspect of the surgery. Moving fat from one part of the body to another must be done with care or fat necrosis can occur leading to infection.

Silicone Dangers
Butt implants that use silicone injections are another danger. The silicone used is unstable and can move within the body. If it goes into the bloodstream or the lungs, this can result in death.

Permanent disfigurement is another risk. Commercial grade silicone is often used, and this type has not been approved by the FDA. The body will sometimes treat the silicone as a foreign material and this may cause an adverse reaction.

Risk of Abscesses
Some people develop abscesses and become quite ill. Doctors report seeing this happening more in the U.S. than they used to - it was previously more commonly seen in people from Central and South America.

More and more "medical spas" are being used to perform butt enhancement procedures and many patients are developing severe complications, as the procedures are not always being performed by licensed plastic surgeons. In one instance, a customer at a spa received butt injections with fat from her stomach and developed abscesses resulting in emergency surgery.

Other Butt Augmentation Risks And Complications

• The placement of butt implants can result in the material used bursting and surgery will need to be performed to remove the implants.

• Buttock implants are a painful operation and often require strong pain medications for several weeks. Which could lead to drug addiction.

• Swelling may last for a month or longer and this can interfere with sitting or lying down. This is a typical side effect of butt augmentation.

• Excessive bleeding is another risk factor and could require additional surgery to stop the bleeding.

• The possibility of nerves being damaged during the procedure is present. This particular complication may be irreversible in some cases.

• The overlying skin can become stretched and scarring can occur on a temporary basis or it may be permanent.

• Fluid can collect around the butt implant and will need to be drained. This can occur more than once and it can leak through the site of the incision.

Buttock augmentation surgery can result in many medical problems and even death. For example, Solange Magnano, Miss Argentina 1994, died from a botched buttock lift that resulted in a pulmonary embolism.

Modern Science Vs. Natural Alternatives
Plastic surgery is often highly regarded as a "miracle of modern science", however, with the possibility of such great danger to ones health, the mere idea of undergoing plastic surgery should be a last resort to personal improvement.

Modern day technology is so highly advanced that its easy to overlook the most basic forms of self-improvement. This is why we suggest for plastic surgery seekers to research "natural alternatives" before undergoing the knife. Alternatives have proven to be much safer and often more effective than surgery.

Facelift Risks And Dangers - Surgery Side Effects

A facelift or rhytidoplasty, includes several different types of procedures that are intended to make the person receiving the operation appear more youthful.



Included are: The standard face lift, neck lift, along with the more targeted procedures listed below.

• SOOF (sub-orbicularis oculi fat), which relocates fat under the eyes.
• The S lift, which includes pulling the ears up and back.
• Temporal lift, which raises the eyebrows.
• Mid-face lift, also known as an eye lift.
• Deep plane lift - removes grooves in the area from the nose to the mouth.

Dangers and Risks Associated with Facelift Surgery

Each of the procedures can be done separately or a combination may be used to achieve the results desired. There are numerous risks and dangers associated with this type of surgery, which includes complications from certain medications that are being taken regularly. The plastic surgeon should provide a list of the medications that are not to be taken for two weeks prior to the surgery. Medications such as anti-depressants, aspirin and serotonin supplements can result in excessive bleeding.



Facelift Recovery Time

The recovery time for a facelift will vary from a month to three or even four months. During this time, missing work for as much as three weeks is not uncommon, as the face can remain swollen for an extended period of time.



Discomfort is another side-effect of a facelift and during the first three days after the surgery, turning the head may cause pain and it can also interfere with proper healing.



Risk of Hematoma

Other risks associated with a facelift are hematoma. This is one of the most common experienced and is a hemorrhage that causes the blood to collect outside the blood vessels. It is more common in men than women.



Potential Nerve Damage

Nerve injury as well as numbness can be experienced by those who have a facelift. A numb feeling around the corners of the mouth or the eyebrows. This may go away within a few weeks or it can be permanent.



Blood Clot Danger

Blood clots can develop in the lungs or in veins. This is different from a hematoma and although some bleeding is considered normal, excessive bleeding is one of the more serious dangers that requires immediate medical attention.



Risk of Infection

Other risks include infection, which can develop on the face. The majority of infections can be treated with antibiotics. However, prompt treatment should be sought if the face swells, feels sensitive and is red.



Additional Cautions

Since smoking inhibits the healing process, nicotine products should not be used for at least six weeks before a facelift. This will also lessen the risks of complications from the surgery. Some plastic surgeons will not perform a facelift on a person who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day, because the delayed healing can cause necrosis, also known as skin death.



Vitamin E should not be taken for several weeks before having a facelift. This vitamin can increase the risk of bleeding.



The candidate for this surgery should also make certain their blood pressure is normal and controlled since this is another risk factor for bleeding.



Making an Informed Decision

Although the facelift is quite popular among men and women in the entertainment, art and performance fields, there are very serious dangers associated with this type of plastic surgery.



Making yourself fully aware of the potential dangers is an absolute necessity before proceeding with the operation. And after weighing the risks you decide to still opt for the procedure, the plastic surgeon chosen should be researched carefully.

Nose Job Risks And Dangers - Rhinoplasty Side Effects

For most people, surgery tends to be something that is done because there is an emergency that requires it. However, there are also elective surgeries that people will go through and these procedures will have different risks and dangers associated with them. One type of surgery is Rhinoplasty or a "nose job" as it is commonly referred to may seem like a simple procedure, but there are numerous risks and concerns that you will find.

Risks Associated With Facial Surgery
All areas of the face have a series of risks that are associated with them. This goes beyond the localized problems that can occur when you have Rhinoplasty surgery done.

These risks include, but are not limited to:

• Bleeding
• Hematoma
• Infection
• Numbness
• Scarring
• Severe pain

Risks Associated With a Rhinoplasty Surgery
In addition to the potential risks that are associated with general facial surgery, there are going to be additional dangers that are sometimes associated with Rhinoplasty surgery as well.

These dangers include, but are not limited to:

• Bursting blood vessels
• Nerve damage
• Nosebleeds
• Swelling

As with any medical procedure, the individual's current state of health and body chemistry will play a significant role in the surgery. By understanding your body, you are going to have a better understanding of what you might encounter with a nose job procedure.

Post Surgery Discomfort And Recovery
After the surgery is completed, you are going to experience significant swelling on your face which may make everyday activities uncomfortable and cause you some irritation. This can last up to six months, but most people find that they are able to reduce the swelling to a manageable level in just a couple of weeks.

Initial Bruising And Caution
Bruising after your nose job procedure is going to be a bit more common and depending on how easily you bruise, you might find that you have more or less bruising than someone else who has undergone this same surgery. Of course, you should see that this clears up after ten days. If you have bruising that remains severe and lasts longer, be sure that you consult with your physician as there could be other medical concerns attached to it.

Individual Pain Tolerance
Another other area that many people find they have concern is from the pain that is associated with the surgery. Unfortunately, no two patients are alike when it comes to how they handle the pain. While many find that they are able to handle the pain with traditional over the counter medications, some will require a prescription for pain that is more severe.

Keep in mind that your doctor will likely have a list of drugs that are okay to take after the surgery, as many options can be unsafe and lead to bleeding.

Making The Right Decision
Remember, there are going to be a number of risks and dangers that are associated with getting a nose job. Before you meet with a doctor to schedule a Rhinoplasty, it is important that you weigh each of these items and determine if this procedure is the right choice for you.

Make sure you do plenty of research online by thoroughly reading official medical sites and blogs, also try visiting user based community forums where you can talk with individuals who have undergone this same type of surgery.

Lip Injection Risks And Dangers - Augmentation Side Effects

Lip injections, often called lip augmentation, involves using collagen or a synthetic ingredient that is injected into the upper lip, lower lip or both lips. The purpose of the injections is to create fuller looking lips, or the extra "pout" that is so popular among women today.

Risks Associated With Lip Injections
One thing many people do not consider when thinking about lip injections is where the ingredients are obtained that are used for the injections. The typical collagen used for lip augmentation comes from animal sources, or sometimes even cadavers.

Although the greatest degree of care is taken to make the collagen as disease-free and sterile as possible, there are no guarantees, so risks may be present.

Average Cost And Procedure Length
The cost of lip injections are not inexpensive, costing from $2,000 and up on average. The procedure may take from 30 minutes to two hours. They are generally performed in a cosmetic surgeon's office or clinic.

There are a certain number of additional risks and dangers involved with lip injections, aside from the material that is used.

Potential Lip Injection Side Effects And Dangers

Bleeding - This can result from the lip injections, and the risks are even greater if the person receiving the lip augmentation has diabetes. Other health factors that can cause a greater chance of bleeding are heart and lung disease and problems with blood clots.

Allergic Reactions - The cosmetic surgeon should perform a sensitivity test before lip injections are done. This can alert him or her to the possibility of an allergic reaction. Scarring, redness or itching can be the result of an allergic reaction.

Abnormal Shape - The risks of the lips becoming misshapen, leaving a person with an unnatural look are another complication. A blowfish look or permanent numbness in the lips can result.

Complications - Lip injections can harden and create tiny pockets in the lips. The use of PMMA or Polymethylmethacrylate as a soft tissue filler has been known to cause these pockets. If surgery is required to remove the pocket, this is considered quite serious.

Infection - The risks associated with infection is another danger associated with fillers. This procedure does have a history of causing infection.

Misplaced - The material that is injected may move to another part of the face or the body. If this happens, surgery will be required to remove it. Often this is the result of injecting too much of the material being used into the lips. It can also happen if the wrong type of product is used. Sometimes lip implants will sink to the lowest point it can find.

Choosing A Professional Cosmetic Practitioner
Another possible danger associated with lip injections is the cosmetic surgeon chosen. There was a time when horror stories of unqualified cosmetic surgeons were surfacing, trying to make a quick buck while jeopardizing the safety of their unknowing patients.

The amount of money made from these type of procedures is one of the reasons why this became such a popular profession to exploit.

Not all doctors have the necessary training required to perform these cosmetic procedures. If you are seriously considering lip injections or implants, the utmost care should go into choosing a qualified cosmetic surgeon, and credentials should be thoroughly checked.

Botox Risks And Dangers - Botulinum Toxin Side Effects

Before considering whether Botox is worth the benefit of more youthful looking skin, take a moment and familiarize yourself with the potential risks and dangers that should not be overlooked.

The obsession with looking young is more prominent today than ever. People are living longer and the desire to retain the smooth, wrinkle-free skin of their youth is almost an obsession for many.

Botox parties have become a fad and this has led to warnings from the Food and Drug Administration about possible risks associated with administering Botox in a setting that is not equipped to handle an emergency, should the need arise.

What Is Botox (Botulinum Toxin)?
Botox or "botulinum toxin A" is one of seven types of - A through G - proteins that are produced by the pellet-shaped bacterium known as Clostridium botulinum.

When Botox is injected into the muscles of the area around the brow, it essentially paralyzes them. This prevents the brow from wrinkling thereby making frown lines disappear temporarily.

The neurotoxins found in Botox attach themselves to nerve endings, blocking the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, which triggers muscle contractions.

By blocking the signals that are normally received telling the muscles to contract, Botox effectively stops wrinkles from forming.

One thing that many people do not realize and one that is associated with the dangers of using Botox is this botulinum toxin is closely related to botulism. A type of food poisoning that is caused by eating something containing a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum.

The main cause of death from botulism is paralysis of the respiratory muscles - essentially, death from not being able to breathe.

Botox For Medical Conditions
The use of Botox for reasons other than cosmetic purposes ranges wide, even assisting in sweat reduction. More specifically, a condition known as Hyperhydrosis, which is a medical issue that causes profuse sweating.

The current FDA approval for the use of Botox as a treatment for this disorder is limited to underarm sweating. Botox is injected into the armpit and works by blocking the nerves that trigger sweating.

Botox has also been prescribed to those who have migraines or severe tension headaches. However, it is usually only prescribed when oral medications have not been successful. Research is currently ongoing concerning the effectiveness and possible dangers associated with this treatment.

Blepharospasm or "eyelid spasms", cervical dystonia or "contraction of neck muscles" and Hemifacial spasms or "facial spasms" are some of the other medical conditions that have been treated with Botox.

Also keep in mind, these treatments are only used for easing the various symptoms rather than repairing the actual source of the disorders. Therefore, the treatment must be repeated every few months to maintain any benefits.

The risks of side effects linked to the treatment of medical conditions include:

• Soreness in the armpit and bleeding at the injection site when used to treat profuse sweating.
• 11% reported neck pain
• 12% reported upper respiratory infections.
• 19% reported difficulty swallowing.

Dangers Associated With Botox Injections
The incidence of side effects caused by the use of Botox for cosmetic purposes includes the following risks that have been documented by:

• Droopy eyelids
• Muscle weakness
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Facial pain
• High blood pressure
• Tooth problems

Approximately 1% of those who have Botox injections around the lips suffer from uncontrollable drooling. This side effect may last three or four months before disappearing.

Pre-existing medical conditions can increase the risk of side effects and dangers associated with injections of Botox. Negative effects that are more serious include double vision, chest pain and difficulty speaking.

Breast Implant Risks And Dangers - Augmentation Complications

While the reasons for having breast implants installed can vary from woman to woman, the risks and dangers are going to remain the same.

It is essential for the individual who is looking to have this type of surgery to consider all the different risk factors associated with it, and to take a moment to ensure that there is a level of understanding in this area.

Breast Augmentation Infections
Infection is perhaps one of the more important dangers that you need to consider when it comes to breast implants.

Because of the location of the breasts, the female who has undergone surgery is prone to infections that can reach the heart and become potentially fatal.

Generally, the infection that is associated with this surgery is one that is treatable with antibiotics; however, additional surgeries may be required to remove the new implant, and a minimum of six months will need to pass before another surgery can potentially occur.

This of course, will cause the woman's breasts to be uneven and additional surgeries will likely be required, procedures that can hold the same risk of infection.

Capsular Contracture Danger
Women with breast implants also find that there is another concern that they are going to have. When the implant is placed over the muscle tissue in the chest, a woman has the chance of having a capsular contracture. This is a painful condition that causes the new implants to become firm.

Women who have this problem will typically find that they need to have their surgery redone to correct the scar tissue and this could result in additional problems.

Ruptured Breast Implant Risk
Ruptures tend to be another concern that women end up facing when they have breast implants. These of course have risks and dangers associated with them as well.

Here is a listing of some of the most common problems and concerns that occur when a breast implant ruptures.

• Breasts can deflate and cause an uneven look.

• Silicone breasts, when ruptured, can cause an inflammatory response that will cause capsular contracture.

• Painful and tender breasts

• Infection

Breast Implants and Cancer
Breast cancer is still going to remain a concern when a woman gets breast implants, and while some women may find that they have used these implants as part of a reconstructive process, there is still going to be a need for regular checkups.

The problem is that when a woman goes for her mammography, the actual style and location of the breast implant can prevent an accurate picture of the breast tissue. This can result in a test that only gathers a look at 75 - 90% of the actual tissue. Therefore, an increased need for self examination that is diligent when you have this type of surgery done, to avoid any dangers that could occur from undiagnosed breast cancer.

Side Effects And Making An Educated Decision
Even with all these concerns, many women still proceed to get their breast implants done. While some will not have any of these symptoms, a more common symptom found is nipple numbness.

With this, women find that the nipple remains numb at all times and this cannot be undone. Generally, this happens in about 15% of patients and there is no way to guarantee if you will be affected or not.

These are, of course, just some of the risks and dangers that you might encounter when you get breast implants.

It is vitally important that you understand the seriousness of these potential dangers and make an educated decision before you completely commit to having breast augmentation surgery.

Education is always the most important consideration to make when you are contemplating breast implants or any other plastic surgery procedure.