If a dermabrasion injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Dermabrasion, a cosmetic procedure for rejuvenating skin appearance, can sometimes lead to injuries due to improper technique, equipment malfunction, or lack of post-procedure care. Injuries tend to be skin damage, leading to scarring or infections.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a dermabrasion 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.
What is dermabrasion?
Dermabrasion is a medical procedure where the upper layer of a person's skin is removed using equipment which abrades the skin, such as a rotating wire brush or a rough-edged diamond wheel.
The procedure is invasive and is normally performed under local anaesthetic by a qualified medical practitioner.
Dermabrasion is used to remove, or reduce the appearance of, skin imperfections including acne scars, sun damage, tattoos, age spots and uneven skin tone resulting from scars or birthmarks.
Dermabrasion should not be confused with microdermabrasion, a much less aggressive procedure which is often performed at beauty salons by staff who are not medically trained.
A patient's skin will usually be red and somewhat raw in appearance following dermabrasion. Depending on the depth to which the skin has been removed, it can take anywhere from around 7 to 30 days for the skin to heal.
It can, however, take several months before the redness of treated skin fades.
Cosmetic surgery claims are on the increase - you're not alone
Dermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure offered by clinics across the UK.
Despite a small decrease in 2023, there has been a 17% annual increase on average in cosmetic procedures since 2012, with non-surgical procedures accounting for more than 75% of the market (hee.nhs.uk).
It is anticipated that the market will grow by over 4% per annum between 2023 and 2029.
Any cosmetic treatment, including dermabrasion, carries risks. Negative outcomes can occur despite the professionalism and training of the medical staff carrying out a procedure.
If something goes wrong as a result of professional negligence, it is likely that a medical negligence claim can be made.
If you decide to make a cosmetic surgery 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.
If you are looking for guidance on cosmetic procedures, see: cosmetic surgery (nhs.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for a dermabrasion injury?
Compensation for negligent dermabrasion will vary depending on:
- how serious the injury is,
- how your injury impacts both your daily life and your ability to work,
- any expenses or financial setbacks caused by your injury.
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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.
Special damages will be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.
These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your dermabrasion injury such as topical treatments, pain medication and antibiotics.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average dermabrasion injury compensation payouts
The following dermabrasion injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Dermatitis
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term dermatitis | Affecting hands or other parts of the body (other than your face and scalp), where symptoms resolve with treatment, or short term aggravation of an existing condition | £1,890 to £4,380 |
| Longer-term dermatitis | Affecting hands or other parts of the body (other than your face and scalp), where symptoms take several months or years to resolve with treatment | £9,590 to £12,660 |
| Dermatitis lasting years or indefinitely | Symptoms that last indefinitely, and that affect your daily life and ability to work | £15,250 to £21,300 |
Facial scarring
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A hardly noticeable scar (or scars) | £1,890 to £3,920 |
| Moderate | A single scar that can be camouflaged with makeup, or multiple small scars that don't markedly affect your appearance | £4,380 to £15,250 |
| Significant | Significant scarring where the worst affects are reduced by cosmetic surgery, and/or with causing a psychological impact | £10,110 to £33,380 |
| Serious | Substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £19,930 to £53,720 |
| Severe | A younger person (under 30) with substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £33,040 to £107,990 |
Inherent risks and negligence
Like all surgical procedures, dermabrasion is not risk-free.
There are a number of inherent risks to the procedure, which include scarring, infection and sensitivity of the treated skin to sunlight. It is extremely difficult for a person to claim compensation for an injury or ailment which is an inherent risk of the treatment rather than having been caused by negligence.
A patient who has sustained injury because of a doctor's negligence will, however, usually be able to make a claim for compensation.
A doctor owes a duty of care to his or her patients. That means that a doctor is required to meet certain professional standards of care and competence when treating a patient. A doctor is negligent if he or she fails to meet the required professional standards.
A doctor may be negligent if, for example, he or she removes too much of a patient's skin when performing dermabrasion.
See also:
Medical negligence compensation claims
How can I tell if my injury was caused by negligence?
It can be very difficult for people who are not medically qualified to assess whether an injury or ailment has been caused by negligence or is simply a normal, inherent risk of dermabrasion.
An opinion from an independent medical specialist is the best way of establishing whether or not an injury or infection has been caused by negligence.
It is a good idea for anyone who feels that they may have suffered injury because of negligently performed dermabrasion to take high quality photographs of the injured or affected area. Photographic evidence can assist a medical specialist (who may not see the injury until later) to assess the cause of the injury.
Dermabrasion clinical negligence claims
Dermabrasion injury claims are usually made on the grounds of clinical negligence. Click the icon below to find out more about the process.
Can I make a no win, no fee dermabrasion injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim dermabrasion injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to a medical negligence specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
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Call 0800 376 1001
or arrange a callbackAuthor:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher
About the author
Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.