Facelift Surgery
Negligence Claims

Key advice when making a facelift negligence claim

• Surgeons a legal duty of care for the safety and well-being of their patients.
• If a surgeon's negligence caused you harm, you can pursue a compensation claim.
• You can make a claim within 3 years of your injury date.
• Compensation ranges from around £4,000 for a hardly noticeable scar to over £100,00 for serious disfigurement. Find out how much you can claim with our compensation calculator.
• Start a clinical negligence claim with complete peace of mind with no win, no fee.

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

Undergoing a facelift (rhytidectomy) should enhance your facial appearance, but when the procedure results in complications or adverse outcomes due to negligence, the physical and emotional toll can be substantial.

If you've suffered injuries or disfigurement from a facelift procedure due to a surgeon's negligence, miscommunication, or use of inappropriate techniques, we can help.

If your injuries were caused by the negligence of a doctor, surgeon, 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.

Cosmetic surgery claims are on the increase - you're not alone

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).

Facelift cosmetic surgery procedures carry risks. Patients are made aware of these risks before surgery, but a patient accepting these certain risks does not absolve medical practitioners from all blame if something goes wrong.

You could potentially claim clinical negligence compensation if you suffer injury or psychological harm as the result of facelift surgery or the supporting treatment and care.

There may be grounds to make a compensation claim if decisions made by the staff involved in your surgery and care amount to medical negligence.

If you need information on facelift procedures, visit: facelift (nhs.uk).

What if your injury was diagnosed months or years after treatment?

You may not be immediately aware of your injury. In some cases, months and even years can pass before symptoms appear.

The law allows you to make a medical negligence claim up to three years after the 'date of knowledge' (when you first learned of the injury).

It is recommended that you start a claim as soon as possible, as medical negligence cases can be complex. Starting your claim sooner will give your solicitor more time to gather medical evidence, assess the extent of your injury and to negotiate interim payments and your final compensation amount.

How much compensation can I claim for facelift negligence?

Compensation for facelift negligence is determined by:

• the severity of your injury,
• how your injury affects your everyday life and work,
• any financial impacts or losses resulting from your injury.

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 is compensation for quantifiable financial losses you've incurred as a result of your facelift injury. Compensation can include lost earnings, bonuses and overtime, and any additional expenses directly related to your injury.

These damages will also cover any medical or treatment bills, such as corrective surgery, pain medication and psychological support.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Average facelift injury general damages compensation table

The following facelift 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).

Facial scarring

Psychiatric harm

Am I eligible for compensation?

If you’ve suffered an injury or disfigurement from a facelift procedure, you may be eligible to claim compensation if it occurred within the last 3 years and was caused by negligence.

To have a valid claim, you must show that the surgeon or practitioner failed in their duty of care. The timeframe for making a claim is usually 3 years from when you became aware of the injury and that it was due to substandard treatment.

Can a private clinic be held liable for a cosmetic surgery injury?

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, all private cosmetic surgery clinics must be registered with the industry's Care Quality Commission. This Commission regulates clinics. They ensure clinic facilities meet their essential requirements of safety and quality.

Clinic inspections happen once a year. If failures in their essential requirements are found, fines can be imposed, or the clinic shut down.

If personal injury is caused by failures in areas relating to the above legislation, a private clinic can be held liable.

Facelift injury clinical negligence claims

Most facelift injury claims fall under clinical negligence. Click the icon below to learn more about how to make a claim.

Medical negligence Other accidents

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.