When Cosmetic Surgery Turns Deadly

Millions of people have turned to cosmetic surgery as a way to change aspects of their bodies that they find unappealing. For example, two of the most common cosmetic surgeries are rhinoplasty, where the doctor reshapes the patient's nose, and breast enlargement surgery. Every surgery carries risks, and life-threatening complications can arise. Doctors who make errors during cosmetic surgery may be guilty of medical malpractice.

Cosmetic surgery is often confused with plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is a more general term, describing surgeries that change the form of a patient's body. Plastic surgery can be used to correct disfigurements after a serious injury, or to correct serious birth defects. Cosmetic surgery uses plastic surgery techniques to change a person's appearance for cosmetic reasons, rather than medical reasons. For example, someone who is unhappy about having a large nose may have it reduced.

The chance to reshape a part of your body that you do not find attractive is an appealing one. Unfortunately many people do not realize the risks and potential complications inherent to surgery. Since cosmetic surgery is not medically necessary, it is rarely covered by insurance and most patients pay out-of-pocket. As a result, unscrupulous surgeons may play down the risks of a surgery in order to make more money.

Any surgical procedure that involves breaking the skin and reshaping part of a patient's body always puts that patient at risk of an infection. Unless the surgical site is sealed correctly and proper precautions are taken to prevent infection, an infected surgical site can turn deadly. It can take months to recover fully from a surgery, and the results are not always guaranteed to turn out exactly as the patient wanted.

A plastic surgeon whose negligent work endangers the life of a patient may be guilty of medical malpractice. If you or someone you love has been the victim of medical malpractice, you can bring the negligent surgeon to justice. Visit the website of the New Jersey malpractice lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A. to learn more about malpractice and victims' rights.