Chicago Cosmetic Surgery Malpractice Lawyer

Helping Victims of Botched Cosmetic Procedures Seek Compensation

A Chicago cosmetic surgery malpractice lawyer can hold nurses, surgeons, and other third parties accountable for negligent behavior during a surgical procedure, ensuring that you receive fair compensation for complications. Contact us today for a free consultation about your legal rights. 

Settlements Recovered by Our Law Firm

• $12,333,000 wrongful death lawsuit for failure to identify post-surgical complications
• $2,700,000 for negligent post-surgical monitoring
• $3,610,000 for a surgical error

Common Types of Cosmetic Procedures 

Plastic surgery has become increasingly popular. Between 1999 and 2018, the number of cosmetic procedures more than doubled. Some of the most common cosmetic or plastic surgery procedures include the following. 

• Breast augmentation, lift, or reduction
• Liposuction
• Facelift, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), and other facial procedures
• Rhinoplasty (nose job)
• Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
• Buttock augmentation (Brazilian Butt Lift)
• Injectable fillers and Botox

Common Cosmetic Surgery Injuries 

Medical mistakes occur when the cosmetic or plastic surgeon does not provide adequate medical care, resulting in serious injury or even death. Common cosmetic surgery malpractice injuries include:

• Infections at the surgical site 
• Excessive bleeding or hematoma
• Nerve injury
• Blood clots 
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Anesthesia errors
• Asymmetry
• Necrosis or tissue death
• Internal bleeding 
• Punctured internal organs
• Wrongful death

Filing a Cosmetic Surgery Malpractice Lawsuit in Illinois

A cosmetic surgery medical malpractice claim is predicated on the concept of negligence. In malpractice, this means that the liable party did not perform the treatment according to the standards of care. In other words, a properly trained medical surgeon would have made different decisions to avoid injury, such as making an incision in a different place to prevent nerve damage. 

For all medical malpractice cases, you must provide an affidavit of merit from a licensed medical professional (735 ILCS §5/2-622). In this document, another plastic or cosmetic surgeon will explain the established standard of care in a case like yours, then demonstrate how cosmetic surgery negligence caused your injuries. 

You will also need evidence to substantiate your medical malpractice case. This includes medical records, photos of your injuries, and testimony from other medical professionals explaining that your symptoms are not an expected outcome of cosmetic surgery.

Our medical malpractice attorneys will then negotiate with the surgeon’s insurance agency to reach a fair settlement. If we can’t reach a fair settlement, we will file a medical malpractice lawsuit on your behalf. 

Damages Awarded to Victims of Cosmetic Surgery Malpractice

The Illinois Supreme Court Case LeBron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital established that there is no settlement cap for medical malpractice. However, this does not necessarily mean that you will earn a multi-million dollar settlement. 

There is no predetermined personal injury settlement amount, as it depends on the facts of your case. Common factors that determine how much you may receive include the injury severity, the degree of liability, the strength of your evidence, your expected recovery, and the available insurance. We will always push for the maximum available settlement based on your injuries. 

You may receive both economic and non-economic damages. These include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Future medical needs
• Burial and funeral costs in the case of wrongful death
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Inconvenience

If your case goes to trial, and it can be proven that the surgeon acted recklessly, the jury may also award punitive damages, which are designed to punish the perpetrator so they will not reoffend. 

How an Experienced Attorney Can Help 

Our team helps patients explore their legal options and pursue compensation through a lawsuit or settlement. We can assist you with the following tasks.

Free Consultation: When you contact us, we’ll review the facts of your cosmetic or plastic surgery malpractice claim to determine whether you have a valid case.

Investigation: Using our experience, we’ll identify what type of case you have and who may be liable. This can include cosmetic surgeons, nurses, assistants, medical practices, and hospitals. Through our investigation, we can identify whether the doctor violated any local ordinances, such as failing to report communicable diseases (§7-20-020). 

Gathering Evidence: We will collect strong evidence, such as medical reports, expert testimony, photos of your injuries, and depositions from relevant parties. 

Negotiation: Our team will firmly negotiate with the relevant insurance company, using our evidence and similar cases as precedent. We always push for maximum compensation while preserving your privacy.

Trial Representation: While many cosmetic surgery negligence cases settle out of court, it’s sometimes necessary to file a lawsuit. In this instance, we will take your case to the Cook County Courthouse and share your story with a jury. 

You Have Limited Time to Take Legal Action Following Cosmetic Surgeon Malpractice

In Illinois, you have two years to file a medical malpractice suit (735 ILCS §5/13-212). To ensure we have adequate time to review your case and begin negotiations, contact us right away for a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you owe us nothing unless we win your case. 

Consult a Plastic Surgery Malpractice Lawyer Near You!

Over the past 25 years, our attorneys have won over $450 million in damages for our clients, including cosmetic surgery malpractice patients. We are nationally recognized as a Super Lawyers firm, representing our commitment to high-quality legal expertise. 

To schedule your free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Chicago, call us at (888) 424-5757 or use our online contact form. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I had a surgery and the doctor messed up and I found this law firm and they got me the compensation that I deserved.

Thanks a bunch

— Annabel Daniel

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All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.