Medical malpractice in cosmetic surgery

Entering an operating room to face a cosmetic surgery operation is common in many people. An intervention of this type allows the physical beautification of the patient through the correction of imperfections, which gives him a more positive image of himself, better self-esteem and, ultimately, a better quality of life.

However, this can lead to totally opposite results if the patient does not resort to the appropriate professional or if the professional performs a bad practice during the intervention. Medical negligence in cosmetic surgery is rare but can affect the patient both aesthetically and health.

First of all you should know that facing a cosmetic surgery operation requires a series of prior agreements between the patient and the professional who will carry out the intervention. This prior agreement becomes a kind of contract that both must sign. In this contract, the surgeon undertakes to achieve the agreed result and specifies the details of the operation. For its part, the patient will assume the possible risks and complications that may arise during the process.

When talking about medical negligence in cosmetic surgery, three different types can be distinguished : unconscious medical negligence, conscious medical negligence and professional medical negligence. Below we detail what each one is about.

• Unconscious medical malpractice. It has to do with the surgeon’s lack of foresight. In this case, an unwanted result may be derived from something that the doctor should have taken into account.
• Conscious medical malpractice. This type of negligence occurs when the doctor risks having a bad result even knowing the chances of this happening.
• Professional medical malpractice. It occurs when the professional goes against the rules of his profession.

The relationship between the patient and the doctor

Before facing a cosmetic surgery operation, the patient must have full confidence in the doctor who is going to perform the intervention. The first contact between the two is usually an interview. In this conversation the professional will listen carefully to the patient to know their needs, their expectations and the psychological aspects that may lead them to want to face the operation.

On many occasions patients see the surgeon as a true magician capable of solving any aesthetic problem. However, a good professional avoids being idealized and enthuses the patient with promises and unreal results. A good doctor will show the patient the limits of the operation, the actual results that can be obtained and the possible risks and complications that may exist.

After the first contact between them, the patient must have resolved all their doubts. That is why it is important that you ask the doctor any kind of question or question that comes to mind, however simple it may seem. The most frequent issues have to do with the risks and complications, with the types of anesthesia, the preoperative period, the duration of the intervention and the recovery process. All these details and conversations will be reflected later in the contract we were talking about previously and that both parties must sign.

In more complex operations, such as those that have to do with sex changes or with aesthetic changes that greatly alter the appearance and can influence the patient’s personality as well, it is common for the doctor to establish a relationship with his relatives. The objective is to know if they support you in the intervention and if they will give you enough help during the process.

Tips for choosing the right professional

In recent years, some news has been published that reports doctors who have acted incorrectly, false professionals and intrusion into aesthetic medicine. Luckily, this scourge is increasingly controlled and today in our country we have reputable cosmetic surgery professionals.

If you have decided to face a cosmetic surgery operation you should know a series of tips that will help you choose the right professional. To choose a trusted professional that meets the requirements and does not compromise your physical appearance and your health during the intervention.

• Research and make sure the doctor is a professional. For this you can check their credentials, that the clinic is legalized and has the appropriate sanitary measures. If the professional is registered or part of a collective or professional college, the better. You can get more information about him.
• Do not be fooled by results that seem like magic or offers with an excessively low price. Always compare and do not be guided only by the price.
• In the pre-intervention interviews, talk directly with the professional. Do not be convinced by a commercial whose sole purpose is to sell and who does not have the appropriate knowledge to advise or solve your doubts.
• Read the pre-operation contract well. Do not sign anything if you believe that the consequences and risks are excessive and the guarantee that the process goes well is not total.
• Ask for references to people you know or customers who have passed through your hands. You should also make sure that the doctor is specialized in the type of treatment or intervention you want to face.