Thread: Unhappy With Cosmetic Surgery Done Privately - Any scope for legal action??

Apologies if this is in the wrong section wasnt sure where to post this x
I am trying to get some advice for a friend of my moms.

My mom's friend has had confidence issues throughout her life and is a very nervy person. She had a long spell of personal problems and a few years ago inherited some money. She decided to use this money to have some cosmetic surgery in a bid to improve her appearance and increase her confidence.

She went to one of the larger private hospitals for a consultation to have her nose reshaped and bags removed under her eyes, she explained what she wanted to achieve, the surgeon agreed it was possible and she was happy with the price so she went ahead and had the surgery.

After the surgery she wasnt happy with the results - she also had what looked like a lump on her nose, at a follow up consultation she mentioned that she wasnt happy with the result of both procedures and showed the doctor the lump on her nose. It was established that a piece of bone had not been removed properly and they agreed to remove it for her, as well as altering some of the other srgery performed. However Im not sure why but my moms friend had to pay more money for this second lot of surgery

She had a further operation and again once the healing time / swelling etc had gone down, the end result still wasnt what she had wanted despite her consultations with the surgeon said it would be achieveable.

She booked another appointment with the surgeon and this time the surgeon was quite rude, my moms friend was told that she hadnt asked for the right procedure and basically the surgeon was unhelpful and a bit intimidating.
Understandably she didnt want to go back to this hospital or surgeon for corrective surgery.

I must stress she isnt disfigured or in pain but just very unhappy with her appearance and the fact that she was originally told what she wanted was achievable yet the end result is nothing like it.

She is considering going elsewhere for further surgical advice but wonders if she would be able to claim any of her money back or any compensation at all??

The original consultation and surgery happened just over three years ago, the follow up consultations and surgery occured within the last 3 years.

If anyone can offer some advice or point me in the right direction so I can try and help her, then that would be great

Thanks x

First thing she needs to do is request a copy of her medical records hekd at the hospital by submitting a written request to the medical records department under the Access To Medical Reports Act 1988. She also needs to submit a written complaint to the manager of the hospital and any/all medical professionals she has an issue with. Once she has the records and the written replies to the letters of complaint, she needs to take the whole lot to a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence claims - she may get a free initial appointment and they should be able to advise whether or not she has a case.

Finally, she needs to see her GP to get referred for some counselling to resolve her self confidence/image problems - these problems are usually on the inside, not the outside!

very good advice mree

Originally Posted by masjntt

Apologies if this is in the wrong section wasnt sure where to post this x
I am trying to get some advice for a friend of my moms.

My mom's friend has had confidence issues throughout her life and is a very nervy person. She had a long spell of personal problems and a few years ago inherited some money. She decided to use this money to have some cosmetic surgery in a bid to improve her appearance and increase her confidence.

She went to one of the larger private hospitals for a consultation to have her nose reshaped and bags removed under her eyes, she explained what she wanted to achieve, the surgeon agreed it was possible and she was happy with the price so she went ahead and had the surgery.

After the surgery she wasnt happy with the results - she also had what looked like a lump on her nose, at a follow up consultation she mentioned that she wasnt happy with the result of both procedures and showed the doctor the lump on her nose. It was established that a piece of bone had not been removed properly and they agreed to remove it for her, as well as altering some of the other srgery performed. However Im not sure why but my moms friend had to pay more money for this second lot of surgery

She had a further operation and again once the healing time / swelling etc had gone down, the end result still wasnt what she had wanted despite her consultations with the surgeon said it would be achieveable.

She booked another appointment with the surgeon and this time the surgeon was quite rude, my moms friend was told that she hadnt asked for the right procedure and basically the surgeon was unhelpful and a bit intimidating.
Understandably she didnt want to go back to this hospital or surgeon for corrective surgery.

I must stress she isnt disfigured or in pain but just very unhappy with her appearance and the fact that she was originally told what she wanted was achievable yet the end result is nothing like it.

She is considering going elsewhere for further surgical advice but wonders if she would be able to claim any of her money back or any compensation at all??

The original consultation and surgery happened just over three years ago, the follow up consultations and surgery occured within the last 3 years.

If anyone can offer some advice or point me in the right direction so I can try and help her, then that would be great

Thanks x

Masjntt, I don't mean to put you off but the following very detailed account of pursuing a private doctor for plastic surgery does not inspire a great deal of hope.

bddstory.co.uk

Your friend's case and this web site are similar in that the problem is the disappointing final result rather than outright negligence or an intent to cause harm.

Best wishes from 'My Turn'

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