Last Updated 17th February 2026. Cosmetic surgery claims may be possible if the procedure was performed in a negligent manner. This means that the practitioner breached their duty of care, or failed to follow basic standards, leading to avoidable injuries, harm and financial losses. Some grounds for such claims include surgical errors, inadequate aftercare or a lack of informed consent about the risks. You will have to prove how the breach of duty by the practitioner caused the harm, by collecting evidence and taking the help of a medical negligence solicitor.
According to The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), around 25,000 cosmetic surgeries were performed in the UK in 2023. Cosmetic surgeries performed both in the UK and abroad are a popular choice for those who want to change something about their appearance.
Key Takeaways
- Cosmetic surgeons can be responsible for medical negligence
- If you can prove that medical negligence happened, you could claim compensation
- Compensation can be awarded for both pain and suffering as well as associated financial losses
- You could potentially claim for a surgery that went wrong while abroad
- The time limit for starting a claim is generally three years
- One of our expert No Win No Fee solicitors could help you claim
Read on to learn more about cosmetic surgery claims. Or, contact us today to get started by:
- Contacting us online
- Using the live chat feature
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
What Is Cosmetic Surgery And How Can It Go Wrong?
Cosmetic surgery involves procedures that are designed to alter physical appearance for aesthetic purposes. Through different medical techniques, cosmetic surgery can also enhance a person’s facial symmetry and proportions. Whether it be through a facelift, a breast augmentation or liposuction, cosmetic surgery aims to boost confidence, improve aesthetic appearance and enhance self-esteem.
However, cosmetic surgery can go wrong if a cosmetic surgeon falls below the standard of care, resulting in avoidable harm to patients. Ways in which cosmetic surgery can go wrong can include:
- Infections from unsterilised equipment
- Nerve damage to the surrounding tissue
- Tissue necrosis
- Disfigurement
- Permanent scarring
To learn more about the cosmetic surgery claims process, please get in touch with one of our friendly advisors today.
Common Types Of Cosmetic Surgery Claims
There are many different types of cosmetic surgery claims that may arise due to substandard medical care. As such, please see the common types of cosmetic surgery claims:
- Breast surgery claims, including breast augmentation, uplift and reductions. Resulting harm may include an implant rupture, asymmetry, and a loss of sensation.
- Liposuction claims, such as tummy tucks and fat removals. Common forms of harm may include scarring, infections and necrotic tissue.
- Rhinoplasty claims, giving rise to breathing issues and deformities.
- Facelift claims, resulting in harm such as facial paralysis and severe scarring.
- Eyelid surgery claims, potentially leading to vision impairment, asymmetry and scarring.
- Non-surgical procedure claims, including botox, filler and laser treatments. Resulting harm may include infections or asymmetry due to improper administration.
To discuss your personal experience with one of our advisors today, please contact our advisory team.
When Does Cosmetic Surgery Become Medical Negligence?
There are many ways that medical negligence can occur during cosmetic surgery, including:
- Lack of hygiene: Surgeons are required to follow hygiene protocols to prevent hospital infections from spreading. If your surgeon doesn’t follow these procedures, this could lead to an infection in your surgery site.
- Poor skills: A cosmetic surgeon should never take on a surgery that they do not have the skills to perform. If your surgeon knowingly performed a surgery that was beyond their capabilities, and this caused it to go wrong, you could potentially make a claim.
- Foreign objects: Sometimes, surgical items like pads, gauze, and even scalpel blades can be left inside a patient after surgery. This can cause a range of complications, from infections like sepsis to internal bleeding.
- Failure to obtain informed consent
- Failure to assess patient suitability
- No proper aftercare
- Incorrect product or implant
If you don’t see your case reflected in these examples, don’t worry; these are just a few of the ways that medical negligence could happen. Contact our team of advisors today for more information.
Injuries And Complications Caused By Cosmetic Surgery Negligence
Cosmetic surgery negligence can result in life-altering physical and mental harm to patients, including the following:
- Semi-permanent or permanent skin scarring, resulting in frustration and low self-esteem.
- Permanent skin discolouration
- Tissue necrosis, also known as tissue death.
- Asymmetry due to a surgery gone wrong, often requiring future corrective surgeries.
- Infections from unsanitised instruments, sometimes resulting in sepsis.
- Serious burns from lasers and chemical peels
- Permanent nerve damage and sensory loss, encompassing numbness, tingling
- Life-threatening complications from surgical negligence, including organ damage, a pulmonary embolism, or adverse reactions to anaesthesia.
- Psychological effects, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD
To discuss the complications you suffered due to cosmetic surgery negligence, please get in touch with one of our friendly advisors today.
Time Limits In Cosmetic Surgery Claims
There is a time limit to consider when making a medical negligence claim. This is set out by the Limitation Act 1980, which states that you have three years to start the claims process.
It’s important to remember that you don’t need to finish your claim in this time; you just need to start it.
In some cases, you may be able to claim while outside of this time limit. For example, you may have had breast augmentation surgery ten years ago and did not find out that your chronic pain was caused by sponges left in your breast until recently. In this case, you would have three years from the date that your symptoms were connected with medical negligence.
Contact our team today to learn more about the time limit for cosmetic surgery claims.
How To Prove A Medical Negligence Claim
When you make any kind of compensation claim, you need to be able to prove that negligence occurred. Some examples of evidence that you could use to prove cosmetic surgery claims include:
- Photographs of any visible harm, like scarring
- Medical records that show the actions your surgeon took or the complications you suffered
- The details of witnesses so their statements can be taken later
- Financial records that show any financial losses you experienced as a result of the harm you suffered
A benefit of working with a solicitor on your plastic surgery claim is that they can help you prove your claim with different kinds of evidence. Please contact us today to learn how one of our specialist solicitors could help you gather evidence.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim For Cosmetic Surgery Negligence?
So, how much compensation could you get for a cosmetic surgery claim? In medical negligence claims, there are two different heads of loss that you could pursue to form your final payout.
The first is general damages, which covers the pain and suffering you’ve been through, as well as loss of amenity. Loss of amenity means loss of enjoyment and covers the ways your quality of life has been affected.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can be helpful when general damages are calculated. This is because the JCG lists injuries, like scarring, alongside guideline compensation brackets.
Below, you can take a look at some of these guideline figures. Please note that these are only guidelines, not guarantees, and the top row entry has not been taken from the JCG.
| Injuries | Compensation Brackets |
|---|---|
| Multiple kinds of harm and monetary losses, like the cost of corrective surgery or lost earnings | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Very Severe Brain Damage | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Total Blindness | In the region of £327,940 |
| Severe PTSD | £73,050 to £122,850 |
| Very Severe Facial Scarring | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less Severe Facial Scarring | £21,920 to £59,090 |
| Bowels (d) | £54,420 to £85,100 |
| Chest Injuries (c) | £38,210 to £66,920 |
| Noticeable Laceration Scars or a Singular Disfiguring Scar to the Body | £9,560 to £27,740 |
| Digestive System - Damage Resulting From Traumatic Injury (c) | £8,060 to £15,370 |
Special Damages
Special damages, the second head of claim, covers the financial losses you experience as a result of the cosmetic surgery negligence. For example, this heading could help you cover the cost of:
- Lost earnings
- Childcare
- Future medical treatments
- Corrective surgeries
- Cosmetic aids
- Mobility aids
- Home adjustments
- Professional care
Learn more about making a cosmetic surgery negligence compensation claim by contacting our team. Or, read on to find out how our solicitors could help you.
Can I Claim Against A Private Hospital or Clinic?
It doesn’t matter whether your surgery was performed in a private hospital or under NHS care; if you can prove that medical negligence occurred, then you could claim compensation. Medical professionals under the NHS and within the private sector are all bound by a duty of care.
Keep reading to learn more about cosmetic surgery claims. Or, if you’d like to talk to one of our expert advisors, get in touch today.
Can I Claim If My Surgery Went Wrong While Abroad?
More and more people are turning to cosmetic tourism in order to get easier access to plastic surgery. This is often because surgeries abroad seem cheaper, or come with lower waiting times.
Regardless of where in the world you receive treatment, medical professionals owe a duty to care for their patients.
If you’ve been harmed by plastic surgery while abroad, get in touch with our team today to learn about your option
No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Compensation Claims
The cosmetic surgery claims process can seem complicated, and you might not know where to start. This is why we recommend working with a legal expert on your claim.
An expert solicitor could help you in a number of ways, including:
- Decoding legal jargon
- Ensuring your claim is filed on time
- Communicating with the other party
- Negotiating the settlement you deserve
- Going to court, if this is necessary
Plus, our solicitors can provide all of these services without asking you for an upfront or ongoing payment. This is because they work on a No Win No Fee by offering their clients a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
Under this type of contract, you only need to pay a success fee to your solicitor if you make a successful claim. This is taken directly from your compensation as a percentage and is capped by law, allowing you to keep the majority share of what you receive.
Get In Touch With Our Team
If you’re ready to connect with one of our expert medical negligence solicitors, contact a member of our team today by:
- Contacting us online
- Using the live chat feature
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
Frequently Asked Questions
To learn more about cosmetic surgery claims, please see some common questions and answers below. For further help and assistance, please contact our helpful advisory team.
Can You Claim Compensation For Failed Cosmetic Surgery?
Yes, you could claim compensation for failed cosmetic surgery if you could demonstrate that you suffered avoidable harm due to negligent care.
Can I Claim If I Was Not Warned About Surgical Risks?
Yes, you could claim if you were not warned about surgical risks and you subsequently suffered harm. Before treatment, healthcare professionals should obtain informed consent, making you aware of the material risks and potential alternatives. A failure to do this could amount in a breach of duty.
Can I Claim For Botched Cosmetic Procedures?
Yes, you could claim for botched cosmetic procedures as long as you can prove that you suffered physical or psychological harm. However, the procedure must have gone wrong due to negligence, rather than due to known risks.
Can Implant Manufacturers Be Responsible For Surgical Failures?
Yes, implant manufacturers could be responsible for surgical failures if the harm you suffered is linked to a defect in the device itself. This includes the design, manufacturing, or in warnings provided to healthcare professionals. Due to this, a product liability claim could be made against the manufacturer.
Can Compensation Cover Corrective Surgery?
Yes, compensation could cover corrective or revision surgery if you suffered harm due to a negligent original procedure. As such, remedial treatment could be covered under special damages compensation.
Can Cosmetic Surgery Negligence Cause Permanent Disfigurement?
Yes, cosmetic surgery negligence can cause permanent disfigurement due to poor surgical techniques, infected wounds and tissue damage.
To learn how you could make a claim for permanent disfigurement, please contact our helpful team today.
More Information
To learn more about making a medical negligence claim:
- Learn how to claim for a penicillin error
- Get help with making a claim for delayed broken arm surgery
- Find out how to claim for birth injuries as a mother
Or, for further resources:
- Make a complaint to the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Learn about cosmetic procedures from the NHS
- NHS information on getting cosmetic surgery abroad
Thank you for reading our guide to cosmetic surgery claims.