Liposuction negligence
compensation claims

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

Liposuction negligence refers to injuries sustained during fat-removal procedures, like contour irregularities or infections. Symptoms may be managed with antibiotics or corrective surgery.

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by liposculpture liposuction 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 compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist clinical negligence solicitor.

You are not alone

Liposuction is a type of cosmetic surgery used to remove unwanted fat to improve appearance. The operation is also known as liposculpture or suction-assisted lipectomy.

By permanently removing fat cells it can alter shape, and is most often carried out on the buttocks, hips, thighs, tummy and upper arms.

The procedure is growing in popularity, with the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reporting that liposuction procedures increased by 12% in 2019 up to 2,286. It was the fifth most popular procedure among women and the sixth most popular among men.

If you decide to make a liposuction negligence claim, your medical negligence 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 deserve.

Am I eligible for liposuction negligence compensation?

You can claim liposuction negligence compensation if a medical professional's substandard treatment caused you harm.

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 start a liposuction negligence claim?

You usually have 3 years to make a liposuction negligence claim, from the date you learned you were harmed by the substandard care (the date of knowledge).

Get an impartial opinion

To get impartial advice on whether you have a claim, speak to an injury claim expert on 0800 376 1001.

A brief phone consultation will tell you exactly where you stand. There is no obligation to start a claim.

How much compensation can I claim for a liposuction 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 and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying compensation for lost earnings, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as corrective surgery, pain medication and psychological support.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How long do I have to start a claim?

If your injury is apparent immediately after medical treatment, you will have 3 years to start a claim.

It may be that the negligent procedure happened more than 3 years ago, but your injury was only diagnosed recently, within the last 3 years. If so, you may still be able to make a claim.

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 is liposuction performed?

Liposuction is usually carried out under a general anaesthetic and the procedure may take between 1 and 3 hours. Where liposuction is used on very small areas it may be done so with local anaesthetic.

The surgeon starts by preparing the area from where the fat is to be removed, usually by injecting the area with a mixture of anaesthetic and salt solution to liquefy the fat. A medication called epinephrine is included to reduce blood loss, bruising and swelling.

High frequency vibrations, a weak laser pulse or a high-pressure water jet may be used to further break up the fat cells.

A small cut is made in the skin of the area to be treated into which the surgeon inserts a microcannula (a small suction tube). By a series of movements back and forth the tube is used to loosen the liquefied fat and suck it into a large surgical vacuum machine.

Following this, the surgeon drains any excess fluid and blood using small drainage tubes. This may have to be repeated after the procedure.

What can go wrong?

Although liposuction is generally regarded as a safe treatment, there remain several risks which the surgeon must take action to prevent. Failure to do so may cause the following conditions:

• Infection: All invasive surgery carries the risk of infection if proper measures are not taken minimise the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). These include antiseptic cleaning of the area to be cut, administration of antibiotics before the operation, and careful post-operative care of the wound and any wound drains. Prior to discharge a patient should be issued with instructions on how to care for the wound and who to contact should they have any concerns.
• Scarring and other skin damage: The microcannula may cause damage to tissue beneath the skin, causing a ?spotted' appearance. If the patient poses a particular scar risk or has been improperly treated the cut in the skin may also scar. Scars should heal within a year after the surgery. There may be bleeding under the skin (haematoma)
• Bumpy skin: Some patients may experience a bumpy appearance to their skin or "contour irregularities'. This may be due to the nature of the patient's skin, or through failures during the procedure. A patient may observe changes in skin colour or numbness in the treated area, which may last for months - especially where the treatment area was prepared using high-frequency vibrations.
• Puncturing an internal organ: Damage to internal organs may occur, especially where the liposuction is performed on the abdominal area. Such damage, caused by a surgeon's lack of professional skill, may require further surgery to repair to prevent serious illness.
• Thromboembolism: If action is not taken to reduce the risk, it is possible to allow fatty matter to enter the bloodstream, causing a blood clot. Although very rare, this is a life threatening condition.
• Burns: Failing to exercise due care during the operation may cause the microcannula to burn tissue, especially where older equipment is used.
• Blood toxicity: If too much solution is injected during the procedure anaesthetic solution may enter the blood stream. This may cause blood poisoning if countermeasures are not taken.
• Fluid imbalance: The operation relies upon the use of significant amounts of fluid. If the balance of fluid within the is not carefully regulated the heart, lungs and kidneys could be damaged.
• Some liposuction patients find that the surgery does not produce the results they had been assured of by their medical professional. They may have lumpy and uneven results, or the appearance is not what they were promised.

See also:

Cosmetic surgery negligence compensation claims

Clinical negligence claims

Liposuction negligence injuries are usually categorised as clinical negligence. Click on the icon below for more information.

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Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Legal Services. 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.