Drastic rise in claims from cosmetic surgery

A million compensation paid to its clients since 2005, cosmetic surgery solicitors has recorded a significant rise in cosmetic surgery claims in the last twelve months.

Comparing the first six month of 2012 with the corresponding period in 2011, cosmetic surgery solicitors, who work on a no fee, win or lose basis, has recorded a 55% year on year rise in cosmetic surgery claims.



The rise in cosmetic surgery claims reported by cosmetic surgery solicitors corresponds with the growing popularity of cosmetic surgery procedures
in the UK as reported by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic
Surgeons (BAAPs). Association members undertook 43,069 procedures for
men and women in 2011, compared with 38,274 in 2010, a rise of 5.8%. To
illustrate the significant growth of the industry over the last decade,
10,700 cosmetic surgery procedures were carried out in the UK in 2003.


People in the UK are increasingly turning to the surgeon's knife to perk
themselves up with Britons spending around GBP 2.3bn a year on cosmetic
treatments. Breast augmentation is the most commonly performed procedure in the UK and has accounted for over 60% of enquiries received by cosmetic surgery solicitors.


Whilst PIP implants has hit the headlines in the UK, less than a fifth (16%) of all cosmetic surgery claims handled by cosmetic surgery solicitors in the first half of 2012 were related to the highly publicised breast implant scandal.


The French implants caused global concern after it was revealed they
contained industrial silicone rather than medical-grade fillers and they
may be more prone to rupture and leakage than other implants. While the
expert committee set up to examine the specific risks associated with
PIP implants concluded there was not enough evidence to recommend their early removal, it highlighted the need for tighter industry regulation.





Beyond breast implant surgery, cosmetic surgery solicitors has also seen a rise in cosmetic surgery claims across a range of
popular treatments. These include breast reduction claims,
(rhytidectomy) facelift claims, breast uplift claims, (rhinoplasty) nose
job surgery claims and (abdominoplasty) tummy tuck claims.



Commenting on the figures, Mike Saul, partner and Head of Cosmetic Negligence Claims for cosmetic surgery solicitors said: "The rise in claims handled by cosmetic surgery solicitors reflects the inadequate regulatory framework of the industry in this country. The PIP breast implant scandal has significantly raised awareness of the issues that needs to be urgently addressed.



"Whilst cosmetic surgery becomes an ever increasingly popular procedure of
choice within a largely unregulated industry, we expect to see a continual rise in cosmetic surgery claims in the next 12 months and beyond.


"Cosmetic surgery solicitors has an unrivalled reputation for handling cosmetic surgery claims and achieving the best possible outcome for our clients through what is often a very emotional experience for them to deal with.



"We recognise that the cost to patients of negligent surgery is not just physical and financial but also often psychological."




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