Negligent blepharoplasty case study
Medical negligence lawyer, Oliver Thorne, specialises in dealing with eyelid surgery and negligent blepharoplasty claims. In this case study we look at a claim he has recently won, with our client receiving compensation for a negligent blepharoplasty procedure. For a free assessment of your case call us on freephone 0333 888 0437 or email us at [email protected]
Our client attended a consultation with a consultant plastic surgeon. She wanted the surgeon to perform an upper blepharoplasty. A blepharoplasty is surgery to repair ‘baggy’ eyelids and usually involves removal of excess skin, muscle and fat.
The cosmetic surgeon advised our client to undergo a lower blepharoplasty at the same time. This was not a procedure she had intended to have carried out, but he ‘sold’ it to her on the basis that it would need doing at some point in the future, so it may as well be done at the same time as the upper blepharoplasty. The claimant underwent both procedures eight days later.
Shortly after the surgery the client’s left eye was droopy and she was not happy with the appearance of her lower eyelids. She felt they were too low and gave her an abnormal appearance. She returned to the cosmetic surgeon who agreed that her upper eyelids were indeed drooping. To alleviate the problem he recommended massage and referred the client to an ophthalmologist for a further opinion.
The ophthalmologist examined our client and initially suggested that she should continue with her programme of daily massage. He also advised that if the appearance did not improve she would require a lateral canthopexy procedure to re-suspend her lower lids. Canthopexy involves the tightening of the ligament and/or muscle that supports the outer corner of the eyelid. At a second appointment the ophthalmologist felt that her eyelids were in a better position, but he still thought her lower lids were too low. He ultimately concluded that a canthal resuspension would give her a good improvement. He said however that the best result would probably be achieved by a mid-facelift, though this would be a much more extensive procedure.
Our client was understandably distressed by what had happened to her and consulted us about making a negligent blepharoplasty claim. We agreed to take on her case and pursue the blepharoplasty claim on a no win – no fee basis.
The claim was successful and we were able to secure the claimant a compensation award of £20,000 for the negligent blepharoplasty cosmetic surgery. The medical expert we instructed in the case was critical of the cosmetic surgeon for recommending that the claimant undergo a lower blepharoplasty in the first place. Having reviewed pre-operative photographs he was of the opinion that the surgery was not only performed negligently, but was also completely unnecessary.
If you have undergone cosmetic surgery that you feel is substandard or wish to make a negligent blepharoplasty claim then call our cosmetic surgery negligence helpline on 0333 888 0437 or drop an email with brief details of your case to us at [email protected]