Cosmetic Surgery – What to Do if You Have a Post-Procedure Issue

No matter what you think about cosmetic surgery as a whole, it remains a popular choice for those who want to make a change to their appearance. Cosmetic procedures range from injectables such as fillers and Botox to invasive surgical procedures including breast augmentation and Brazilian butt lift (BBL). Even though the changes and enhancements made to the look of a person can increase their self-confidence and self-esteem, there are still some risks involved with having cosmetic surgery. What are your options when it comes to a post-procedure issue? Our investigation starts with the latest from Cosmetic Town News:

Cosmetic Surgery – Reporting the Post-Procedure Issue

The first step in dealing with a post-surgery issue is to contact your surgeon to discuss the matter. The problem might not actually be a real issue as much as a natural part of the recovery process (swelling and bruising), slow healing, or the final result is simply not what you pictured the results would look like once the recovery period was over.

If you still feel like you need to address the issue, you should be able to file a complaint. You can contact the office of your doctor or the hospital where the procedure was performed to learn more about the process of proceeding with a complaint. Once the legal complaint has been submitted, it will move to the investigation stage where the complaint is examined to see if any action needs to take place. Some of the people or organizations that examine medical complaints include practice managers, state medical boards, hospitals, and government officials. While you might not get the decision that you desire, you will have acted and made your concerns public.

There might not even be a need to have the issue presented to anyone beyond your doctor as the medical professional can likely answer your questions and even take action to make changes to the treated area.

Cosmetic Surgery – Can You Get a Refund Due to a Post-Procedure Issue?

There might come a point in the complaint process where you feel like you are due a refund thanks to the post-procedure issue you have been experiencing. While you might feel like you deserve to get a refund, the doctor or hospital might not have the same opinion. They might simply refer you to the terms and conditions of any paperwork you signed in advance of the treatment.

There are possible risks and complications with any surgical procedure and these possibilities should be discussed with you in advance of having the treatment. In other words, the possibility of a refund might not be available in some circumstances. Each surgeon and hospital will have different rules and regulations when it comes to refunds. Some doctors and hospitals might allow it, some might credit your account, they might offer to perform a revision procedure or a different treatment, and there are others who might state in the pre-procedure paperwork that no refunds are allowed under any circumstances. It is often up to a patient to ask questions in advance and inquire about what type of financial arrangements or compensation they might be entitled to in case there is some kind of medical issue that occurs once the procedure has been performed. You might be able to receive some form of compensation if you can prove that the medical professional acted in a negligent manner or that an error on the part of the doctor led to the current issue.

Cosmetic Surgery – How to Avoid a Post-Procedure Issue

While there is no way to 100% guarantee that some sort of complication will not occur after a medical procedure, you can take some steps to help lower the chance of an issue happening after the treatment is performed.

For example, you can research the doctor you have in mind to learn more about their medical credentials and board-certifications. Taking the steps to research the background of the person will give you peace of mind entering the process. You can also read reviews and view results from actual patients to get a better idea of the type of results provided by the doctor along with a clearer picture of how they interact with patients.

It is also important to enter the process with realistic expectations about the extent of the results that can be gained along with the type of results that will be visible. In addition, results vary per person so the results gained by one person will not necessarily be the exact same results that you enjoy after the procedure.

Finally, you have a right to informed consent in advance of a procedure which includes being aware of the terms and conditions of the treatment in advance of undergoing the cosmetic surgery treatment. Being armed with the necessary knowledge about the medical procedure and your rights as a patient can help you make an educated final decision about undergoing any type of cosmetic surgery.

- MA