Could I Make A Tummy Tuck Negligence Claim?

By Jade McCoy. Last Updated 25th June 2024. In this guide, we’ll explain how tummy tuck negligence and abdominoplasty negligence claims work. When receiving cosmetic surgery such as a tummy tuck, the aim of it is usually to make you feel better about yourself and your appearance. Such a procedure could help to boost your confidence and reduce anxiety and stress when engaging in social activities. However, what do you do in cases where a tummy tuck has gone wrong?

Unfortunately, a botched tummy tuck will do the complete opposite and make people feel worse mentally and physically than they did before. If your tummy tuck goes wrong because of medical negligence, you may wish to make a claim against the hospital or clinic where the procedure was carried out.

We are able to advise and guide you on the best action to take and to help you launch your tummy tuck claim. Please read on for further information on what to do following a tummy tuck that’s gone wrong. Alternatively, you can call 0800 073 8804 for free legal advice or to start your claim. Or fill out our online contact form.

Select A Section:

• What Is A Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?
• Top Tips On Claiming For A Tummy Tuck Gone Wrong
• Can You Claim For Severe Scarring Caused By Tummy Tuck Negligence?
• I Suffered An Infection Because Of A Tummy Tuck Gone Wrong, Can I Claim?
• What Are The Most Common Problems Caused By A Botched Tummy Tuck?
• How Much Could I Claim For A Tummy Tuck Negligence?
• Tummy Tuck Gone Wrong – Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

What Is A Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?

If a tummy tuck has gone wrong, we want to help you.

A tummy tuck procedure will be undertaken to remove surplus skin and fat around the abdomen area. By doing this, the result will be a flatter, firmer-looking stomach.

People who want to have this kind of surgery are usually those that are looking to remove sagging, loose skin, often caused by a significant amount of weight loss.

According to the NHS there are 2 main methods of tummy tuck surgery:

• A partial abdominoplasty – This is where a cut is made across the lower stomach, separating the skin from the abdominal wall below the belly button to remove excess fat and skin. The remaining skin will then be pulled together and stitched into place.
• A full abdominoplasty – A large incision is made from hip to hip above the public area and a second incision is made to free the belly button from the skin around it. The skin is then separate from the abdominal wall, the muscles are realigned with excess fat and skin removed. A new hole is then made for the belly button and is stitched back into place with the remaining skin being pulled together and stitched into place.

All medical professionals owe a duty of care to provide the correct standard of care to their patients.

To be able to claim for a botched tummy tuck, you would need to prove:

1. A medical professional owed you a duty of care.
2. This duty was breached.
3. You suffer unnecessary harm.

If you want to inquire about making a tummy tuck compensation claim, please contact us.

Top Tips On Claiming For A Tummy Tuck Gone Wrong

If you suffered medical negligence and have decided to make a claim, here are our top tips on claiming for a tummy tuck procedure that has gone wrong:

• Get legal advice: You are not legally required to use a solicitor, however, it may be the most effective way to get the most out of your claim. A tummy tuck procedure is a form of cosmetic surgery that aims to make you look and feel better. Since a botched tummy tuck can lead to cosmetic deformations and may also cause psychological damage, it is taken seriously. Tummy tuck complications may result in other health challenges both at present and in the future and so specialists may better help you take steps to get the compensation you deserve. Our solicitors are specialists in medical negligence and have many years of experience in cosmetic surgery claims. Call us using the number at the top of the page. 
• Claim within 3 years: The legal time limit for making a claim is 3 years. This time limit means that you must make a claim within 3 years of the date the incident happened. However, the three-year time limit could also begin from the date of knowledge which is the date you became aware that negligence caused or contributed to the harm you sustained.
• Keep records of costs: A tummy tuck gone wrong is such a serious situation that it’s easy for the costs to rack up. Examples of such costs can be costs of medication to control infection, cost of corrective surgeries and other costs. If there are no receipts to prove these costs, you may not be able to include them in your claim.

You can get more tips from our guide on doctor GP negligence claims.

Can You Claim For Severe Scarring Caused By Tummy Tuck Negligence?

Some scarring is to be expected to a certain extent when undergoing a tummy tuck NHS procedure. However, the scarring could be more severe due to negligence.

For example, you may have developed an infection due to receiving poor aftercare for your wound. As a result, you may have experienced a longer recovery time and further harm in the form of severe scarring due to the infection.

It would be helpful for you to gather any evidence that shows your scarring to be more severe than it should have been, such as tummy tuck complications photos that you could take as visual proof.

During your free consultation, we can gather all the facts to get your claim well underway.

I Suffered An Infection Because Of A Tummy Tuck Gone Wrong, Can I Claim?

Getting an infection following surgery is always a possibility. However, if you have had an infection due to poor hygiene procedures and practices at the clinic or hospital where you had the procedure, then you could make a claim.

Not only can you launch a claim for your suffering due to the infection, but also for any medical expenses such as prescription fees and any loss of earnings that may have occurred if you have been unable to work as a direct result of the infection. Call us today, and we can advise you on the best action to take.

If you’re wondering what the most common complications are that might lead to a tummy tuck gone wrong and abdominoplasty negligence claims, then our next section will help; simply read on for more information. 

What Are The Most Common Problems Caused By A Botched Tummy Tuck?

When making a medical negligence claim for a botched tummy tuck, you must be able to prove that you suffered unnecessary harm due to the medical professional performing the procedure breaching their duty of care.

Following a tummy tuck, some side effects are expected. The NHS states that some of the side effects that could be experienced include

• Difficulty standing up straight.
• Pain and bruising.
• Numbness in the tummy lasting from a few months to years and scars among these.

Your surgeon should have discussed these and relevant aftercare with you prior to the operation.

Operations, such as a tummy tuck, may have risks of death. If your tummy tuck has gone wrong, some examples of issues you might have experienced include:

• Unnecessary scarring.
• Fluid collecting around the wound on the abdomen (seroma).
• Persistent pain where you had the operation.
• Nerve damage.
• Infections if the surgical equipment used was properly sterilised before the plastic surgery

Call our advisors to discuss your potential medical negligence claim. If your claim seems valid, you could be put in touch with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

How Much Could I Claim For A Tummy Tuck Negligence?

Following a tummy tuck gone wrong, you might be eligible for compensation. However, tummy tucks gone wrong can only be claimed for if negligence caused unnecessary suffering. For example, if inadequate aftercare resulted in an avoidable permanent scar injury.

To calculate a claim, solicitors can look at the compensation brackets in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document used by legal professionals to help them assign value to pain and suffering.

Our table below contains injuries from the latest update of the JCG. We’ve provided it as guidance to help you learn more about how compensation could be awarded. As we stated already, each claim is different; therefore, our table cannot illustrate exactly how much you will receive.

If you need any help using our compensation calculator, or if you would like a free claim valuation considering the aspects unique to your case, call our advisors.

Tummy Tuck Gone Wrong – Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

As discussed, in some cases you could claim after a tummy tuck has gone wrong. However, you would need to prove that a medical professional failed to provide the correct standard of care and caused you to sustain avoidable harm as a result. This is medical negligence.

If you are eligible to make a medical negligence claim for a tummy tuck gone wrong or botched surgery, you may be interested in hiring legal representation to help you.

Our solicitors can offer their services to you on a No Win No Fee basis. As such, they could offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement which is a type of No Win No Fee service. This generally means that you would not have to make a payment upfront, nor make any ongoing payments for their services.

After a successful claim, your solicitor can take a success fee, which is a legally capped percentage of your compensation. You will not be required to pay this fee if your claim is unsuccessful.

To learn more about claims for botched tummy tucks and whether one of our solicitors could represent your case on this basis, please get in touch on the number above. An advisor can also discuss your eligibility to seek compensation.

Contact Our Team

If you have any queries regarding botched tummy tuck cosmetic surgery claims or believe you may be entitled to compensation, please do not hesitate to call us on 0800 073 8804.

Your call will be answered by a member of our friendly and professional team who will be able to assist you in any way that they can.

They’ll explain the next steps in the claiming process and begin launching your botched tummy tuck claim to secure the payout you deserve.

You can speak to an adviser about tummy tuck negligence claims and abdominoplasty negligence claims by contacting Legal Expert today. You can reach us using the contact details included within this guide.