Cosmetic surgery has become extremely popular, however, this does not mean that complications are unlikely to arise. Cosmetic procedures carry just as much risk as any other surgical procedure. In fact, many cosmetic procedures involve general anesthesia and just like in any other surgery, long-term complications can occur and recovery periods can be long.

The most common litigation claim is from patients who are not happy with the outcome of their cosmetic procedure. Some of the common complaints by patients include: lack of explanations of the risks, counseling on alternatives to surgery, unsightly scarring, outcome not matching expectations and/or unevenness of breasts or facial features.

Doctors need to manage a patient’s expectations on what cosmetic surgery can and cannot do, what the procedure entails and what post-operative complications may arise. By undergoing a thorough pre-operative consultation, disappointments and possible litigation may be avoided.

Research has shown that the cosmetic procedure that most often leads to litigation is rhinoplasty, otherwise known as a ‘nose job’. In the past 10 years, rhinoplasty has accounted for more than 20 per cent of the medical malpractice cases in the US involving cosmetic surgery. The second highest is breast reduction.