One of the questions we are most frequently asked is, ‘How much is my cosmetic surgery claim worth?’
If you would like to know how much your cosmetic surgery claim is worth, then call our Legal Helpline on 0333 888 0437 for a free case assessment
We have recovered many hundreds of thousands of pounds for victims of negligent cosmetic surgery. Our track record of success includes awards of over £800,000 for women who have suffered as a result of negligent breast augmentation, breast implant failure and mastopexy.
We have also obtained £200,000 for clients who have been unhappy with their ‘nose job’, known medically as a rhinoplasty procedure.
It is difficult to generalise on the value of a cosmetic surgery claim, as the amount of compensation varies from case to case. The final compensation award will depend on a variety of factors, including the claimant’s age and gender, residual scarring, the need for future medical treatment and the psychological impact. It is therefore important that each claim is independently assessed by an experienced cosmetic surgery lawyer to determine how much it is worth.
We can call upon expert surgeons and doctors to assist us in establishing the value of a claim. Medical issues such as whether a full recovery is likely to be made or whether additional surgery will be required to put the problem right are important factors when valuing a case.
The consequences of substandard cosmetic surgery can be far-reaching and can range from minor scarring to permanent disfigurement or lifelong functional problems. It is therefore important that you consult a specialist lawyer to ensure you receive the correct level of compensation.
When answering the question, ‘How much is my cosmetic surgery claim worth?’, we look at four key areas:
- ‘General damages’ (this is the compensation awarded for the physical and psychological injuries);
- Past financial losses (this includes the cost of any revision surgery that has already taken place, as well as lost earnings and other expenditure);
- Future financial losses (this includes the cost of any future treatment or future lost earnings); and
- Interest on the losses you have suffered.
The starting point when considering how much a cosmetic surgery claim is worth is the amount of ‘general damages’ that can be claimed for the ‘pain and suffering’ of the injury.
Here are some broad guidelines that will give you an indication of what this element of your claim might be worth:
Facial disfigurement (relevant to claims involving face lifts, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty and thread vein removal)
| Trivial scarring | Where the effect is minor only. |
£1,500 – £3,090 |
| Less significant scarring | Where there may be but one scar which can be camouflaged or, though there is a number of very small scars, the overall effect is to mar but not markedly to affect the appearance and the reaction is no more that that of an ordinarily sensitive young person. | £3,460 – £12,050. |
| Significant scarring | Where the worst effects have been or will be reduced by plastic surgery leaving some cosmetic disability and where the psychological reaction is not great or has diminished to relatively minor proportions. Includes cases where the scarring is visible at conversational distance. |
£7,990 – £26,380 |
| Less Severe Scarring | Where the disfigurement is still substantial and where there is a significant psychological reaction. |
£15,750 – £42,460 |
| Very Severe Scarring | In relatively young claimants (typically teens to early 30s) where the cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and the psychological reaction severe. |
£26,120 – £85,340 |
Scarring to other parts of the body (relevant to claims involving liposuction, tummy tucks and breast augmentation)
| Single noticeable scar | To leg(s) or arm(s) or hand(s) with some minor cosmetic deficit. |
£2,080 – £6,870 |
| Noticeable lacerations or single disfiguring scar
|
To leg(s) or arm(s) or hand(s) or back or chest. |
£6,870 – £19,930 |
Minor injuries (relevant to claims involving Botox or dermal filler where there has been complete recovery)
| Complete recovery within seven days. |
Up to £600 |
|
| Complete recovery within twenty-eight days. |
£600 – £1,200 |
|
| Complete recovery within three months. |
£1,200 – £2,150 |
Psychiatric and psychological damage (relevant to claims where a diagnosed psychiatric injury has resulted)
| Less severe | The level of compensation will take into consideration the length of the period of disability and the extent to which daily activities and sleep were affected. |
£1,350 – £5,130 |
| Moderate | Marked problems with ability to cope with life, education and work; the effect on relationships with family; the extent that treatment would be successful; where there is future vulnerability but there has been marked improvement and the prognosis will be good.
|
£5,130 – £16,720 |
| Moderately severe | As above but with a less optimistic prognosis.
|
£16,720 – £48,080 |
| Severe | As above but where the prognosis is poor.
|
£48,080 – £101,470 |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Where there is a specific diagnosis of a reactive psychiatric disorder from permanent effects, to a virtually full recovery within one to two years. |
£3,460 – £88,270 |
In addition to these figures you will also be entitled to claim compensation for your financial losses such as lost earnings, medical care, prescription costs and the costs of travelling to and from any medical appointments.
If you require further surgery, you may be able to claim for this as well.