Plastic Surgeon - What To Do When A Procedure Goes Wrong

What should you do when you realize your plastic surgeon has made a big mistake? This is a question that no recovering patient wants to face, but it can happen. There are two main types of problems that occur following a cosmetic procedure: health-related and aesthetic. Most people are aware of the medical risks they are undertaking, but too often they ignore warning signs that may require treatment. Aesthetic dissatisfaction is the other possibility, and tackling this issue poses some difficulties.

The first thing you should do is assess the situation and determine the exact problem. If you believe that there may be an immediate health risk, it is always best to contact a doctor or visit the emergency room right away. An infection, bleeding, or other major complication can happen suddenly. If these issues are not addressed quickly, the problem will worsen. For most procedures, the signs of a complication are obvious and include fever, chills, nausea, blood in stool or vomit, excessive bleeding, and fluid leaking from incision sites.

Sometimes after surgery, patients can feel panicky once anesthesia and other medications begin to wear off. This can lead to some overreactions. Your plastic surgeon should have provided you with information regarding normal and abnormal healing examples. After most procedures, there will be some pain, discomfort, and bruising, even bleeding and fluid leaks. If something doesn't seem urgent but still makes you uneasy, call up the office during their working hours. They will provide you with further instructions.

When patients are well on their way to recovery, there may be a short period of shock and initial disappointment where you feel the plastic surgeon has done something wrong. This is completely normal and will pass in most cases. There are a few different reasons for this. The first is that a person must adjust to a completely new appearance, which can be alarming. Another reason for post-surgery shock is few people are prepared for the bruising and swelling. These can distort the true final results until they begin to subside with time. Before making a complaint, have patience and allow the body to fully heal.

So when is it time to make a complaint regarding the overall outcome of your procedure? The answer will vary depending on exactly what you have had done. Intensive body contouring procedures such as a tummy tuck or leg lift will have longer recovery times than liposuction, which means you won't see the finished product for many months. Rhinoplasty takes up to a full year for the majority of the swelling to settle, and even afterwards the formation of interior scar tissue can further alter its appearance. As a general rule, if you're still extremely dissatisfied with the outcome six months later and see little improvement, then it is time to seek some form of compensation. Revision surgery or an in-office "touch-up" is a possibility for some patients. Those who have suffered from more severe disfigurement may wish to secure a lawyer if they believe malpractice was a factor.