Cosmetic Surgery – Rhinoplasty

Cosmetic surgery has become increasingly popular and one of the most popular procedures in the United States is rhinoplasty, otherwise known as a ‘nose job’. ‘Rhino’ is Greek for nose and ‘plasty’ means to mold or shape, i.e. re-shaping of the nose. Rhinoplasty is not only performed for cosmetic reasons; many people simply have difficult breathing and this can be alleviated with this procedure. Even though rhinoplasty is so popular it does not mean that there is no risk, as with any surgery, there is risk involved and recovery can sometimes be difficult.

Medical statistics show that rhinoplasty has the highest level of medical malpractice litigation. In fact, in the last 10 years, rhinoplasty has accounted for more than 20 per cent of all medical malpractice cases involving cosmetic surgery. The main complaints by patients are: unfulfilled expectations, unsatisfactory results, breathing difficulties, unsightly scarring, and asymmetry.

The fact is that many of these complaints and thus litigations could be avoided, if both doctors and patients take more time prior to the surgery to discuss possible side effects as well as the patients’ expectations. Doctors need to manage the patient’s expectations accordingly, because most litigation occurs when there is a gap between the unrealistic expectations of the patient and the final outcome. However, it is important to keep in mind that not all patients who are simply unhappy with their nose job have a valid case against their doctor.