Beauty treatments injury
compensation claims

If a beauty treatment injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a beauty treatment injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by the negligence of a doctor, nurse, midwife or other medical professional, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist clinical negligence solicitor.

You are not alone

In 2022, the UK personal care industry market was worth £12.3 billion. The Botox market, in particular, has grown rapidly over the past few years (bbc.com)

The number of people undergoing non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the UK has increased so rapidly over the last decade, that the government has introduced a licensing scheme for the industry.

According to recent research, existing legislation does not cover many newer beauty and cosmetic treatments, and many providers of these treatments are unregulated. Unlicensed equipment is often imported into the UK and used without training (cieh.org).

Although relatively rare, non-surgical procedures still have the potential to cause injury or harm. Injuries can range from mild skin irritations, to more serious burns, allergic reactions, or infections, often resulting from improper technique, untrained personnel, or faulty equipment.

The rise in popularity of more complex treatments, such as chemical peels, laser procedures, and injectables, has also contributed to an increase in reported incidents.

If you decide to make a beauty treatment injury claim, your solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.

See also:

Cosmetic surgery injury claims

Am I entitled to make a beauty treatment negligence claim?

You have the right to claim compensation if the care you received did not meet the appropriate standard of care, and you were injured by this negligent treatment.

Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.

How long do I have to make a negligent beauty treatment claim?

You usually have 3 years to make a beauty treatments claim. The timelimit starts from the date you discovered you were injured by negligent care (the date of knowledge).

How much compensation can I claim for a beauty treatment injury?

The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

Special damages is compensation awarded to cover any financial losses and expenses you incur as a result of your beauty treatment injury or negligent medical treatment. These damages aim to put you back in the financial position you would have been in, had your injury not occurred.

Special damages will also cover your medical treatment expenses, that might include topical treatments, pain medication and allergic reaction medication.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Common beauty treatment claims

Popular beauty treatments include hair dye, skin waxes, eyelash tints, and tanning, and claims commonly relate to these treatments. Botox injury claims and dermabrasion negligence claims are also becoming more common as the procedures increase in popularity.

Compensation claims for negligent beauty treatments include:

• Hair or scalp damage after dyeing or through faulty equipment
• Bleaching or burns from waxing
• Burns caused by laser treatments
• Allergic reactions from chemicals such as PPD (para-phenylendiamine) contained in some hair dyes
• Eye injuries as a result of eyelash treatments
• Tanning injuries
• Chemical burns caused by defective beauty products

Making a claim against a hair or beauty salon

According to statistics from HABIA (Hair and Beauty Industry Authority), approximately a quarter of a million people are employed the hair and beauty industry, working in around 55,000 different establishments.

Included in the hair and beauty sector are hair salons, nail bars, beauty salons and spas. Most businesses are small, employing between 1 and 10 people, with 42% of the workforce being self-employed.

It is estimated that more than half those working in the industry are only qualified to Level 2 or below of applicable Health & Safety qualifications. The qualifications go up to Level 4 for most areas of hair and beauty treatment. Some staff are required to carry out treatments that they have no formal qualifications or training for.

The Sale of Goods and Services Act 1982 requires that when a consumer enters into a contract for goods and/or services, those goods and services must supplied or carried out with reasonable skill and care. If they are not and the consumer is injured as a result, they are likely to be entitled to make a compensation claim.

Anyone sustaining injury though a failure of the supplier of the goods, in this case the salon, to carry out the treatment with sufficient skill and care may be entitled to bring a claim.

It is advisable to make a complaint about the injury directly to the salon, and to ensure this claim is recorded in writing.

What evidence is required?

Physical evidence of the injuries sustained is key to bringing a claim, therefore photographs of the injuries should be presented where possible.

The claimant will need to document the time and date of the treatment and, where possible, the name of the individual who was responsible for administering the treatment.

In cases of allergic reactions, it should be demonstrated that salon staff failed to carry out a patch test prior to applying the product.

If the claimant has sought any medical attention, this too should be documented and reported, as well as any receipts for treatment that was paid for.

Claims may be made for out of pocket expenses, including loss of earnings, travel expenses and any prescription charges. It may also be possible to claim for the pain and suffering caused by the injury.

How did your injury happen?

Claiming compensation depends on the cause of your beauty treatments. Click the icons below for read more:

Work accidents Public places Medical negligence Other accidents

Citations

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.