Breast augmentation involves enlarging or altering the shape of the breasts. It is the most popular form of cosmetic surgery in the UK today, with over 8,000 women a year choosing to undergo the procedure. If you feel that your surgery hasn’t produced the results you were assured of, talk to us: 0845 144 1441.
If your medical professional has been negligent in the services they have provided for you it may be possible to recover compensation for your loss. In some cases this could include the cost of corrective surgery. That’s why it’s vital you contact us without delay for a free consultation.
A variety of surgical techniques are used and which one is chosen will depend on both the patient’s wishes and their physical assessment. The medical professional must take great care in deciding which technique to employ since some techniques will be inappropriate or unnecessarily risky if the patient has certain characteristics. For example, they will have to decide whether to place the implant under, partially under or over the muscle, as well as where to make the incision. Failing to exercise reasonable care in making these decisions may result in negative results which can be very serious.
All surgery comes with some risks, and since breast augmentation requires deep incisions and the placing of foreign objects in the body dangers such as infection or even necrosis (tissue death) are greater than in other forms of cosmetic surgery. Augmentation carries additional risks such as:
- Rupturing of the implant. It is estimated that up to 10% of implants rupture within 5 years. Saline implants pose no health risk if this occurs, however if a silicone implant ruptures it can be potentially dangerous.
- ‘Hardening’. This occurs when the scar capsule that forms around the implant contracts, constricting the implant and causing the breast to become uncomfortably firm.
- Permanent loss of sensation. It is estimated that over 15% of breast implant patients do not recover sensation in their breasts for many years, if at all.
- ‘Synmastia’. This occurs when implants are too large or heavy for the surrounding tissue to support. This results in the skin being pulled away from the chest wall. This will result in a loss of breast definition at best and potentially very serious injury at worst.
All of these risks are well known, but that does not mean that a patient who suffers one of these conditions cannot expect compensation for their loss. Medical professionals must counsel their patients on these risks to secure a full and informed consent. They must also take all due care to avoid these risks materialising. If they have failed to do so then the patient may be able to hold them liable for that failure.
