How can a facelift go wrong?

Some discomfort, bruising, swelling and changes in skin sensation are expected after a facelift procedure. These symptoms should usually improve as you heal. However, if they become severe, continue for longer than expected or were not explained to you before surgery, this may suggest that the outcome needs further medical review.

You should seek advice from an independent medical professional if you are concerned about your recovery. This can help confirm whether your symptoms are part of the expected healing process or whether further treatment is needed. It may also help support a facelift surgery compensation claim if your injuries were caused by substandard care.

Problems linked to negligent facelift surgery may include:

• Permanent nerve damage or numbness affecting the sensory or motor nerves of the face, where this was not properly explained as a risk before surgery
• Facial asymmetry caused by poor surgical planning or technique
• Pixie ear deformity, where the ears appear pulled, stretched or uneven
• Atypical scarring in front of or behind the ears, especially if the location or extent of scarring was not discussed beforehand
• Over-tightened skin that creates an unnatural appearance or restricts facial movement
• Poor handling of infection, including delayed diagnosis or unsuitable treatment
• Inadequate treatment of necrosis, where skin is damaged, lost or discoloured due to infection or reduced blood flow

Not every complication is evidence of negligence. However, if your result was caused by avoidable mistakes, poor technique or inadequate aftercare, you may have grounds to claim.

The duty of care for surgeons and clinics

Surgeons and clinics carrying out rhytidectomy procedures have a legal duty of care to protect the wellbeing of their patients. This means they must take reasonable steps to keep patients safe, reduce avoidable risks and prevent unnecessary harm throughout the full surgical journey.

This duty applies before, during and after surgery. Before the procedure, your surgeon should explain the potential risks, expected recovery, realistic results and any suitable alternatives. They should also assess whether you are medically and psychologically suitable for surgery, taking your previous medical history into account.

A breach of duty may occur if a surgeon or clinic fails to meet the expected standard of care. This could include:

• Failing to assess your suitability for surgery
• Overlooking your medical history
• Promising exaggerated or unrealistic results
• Using an incorrect or unsuitable surgical method
• Providing unclear or incomplete aftercare instructions
• Failing to monitor your healing after the procedure
• Missing signs of infection, poor healing or tissue damage
• Delaying treatment when complications arise
• Failing to escalate concerns for further medical attention or adjusted aftercare

Clinicians are also responsible for explaining the recovery process and any likely complications. This allows patients to give informed consent before agreeing to a surgical procedure. If risks, scarring, likely outcomes or aftercare needs are not clearly explained, the patient may not have had enough information to make a fully informed decision.

Not every poor result is caused by negligent treatment, as all surgery carries some level of risk. However, if your surgeon or clinic failed to meet their duty of care and you suffered physical, emotional or psychological harm as a result, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

Why choose us for help with your negligent facelift surgery claim?

If you have experienced complications because of negligent medical care during a facelift, you may be able to claim compensation. Not every poor result is negligence, but if your surgeon failed to meet their duty of care before, during or after surgery, it is worth seeking legal advice.

At Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors, we specialise in cosmetic surgery claims and can help you understand whether your facelift complications may have been caused by substandard treatment, poor surgical technique, inadequate aftercare or a failure to properly explain the risks.

We work on a no win no fee basis, meaning you will not pay our legal fees unless your claim is successful. Our solicitors have recovered more than £10 million for clients and achieve an approximate 95% success rate in claims pursued after obtaining medical evidence.

Our cosmetic negligence claims team is led by Michael Saul, one of the UK’s most experienced solicitors in this field. We will guide you through the claims process clearly and aim to make it as straightforward as possible.

To learn more, visit our case studies page or read our report: Cosmetic Surgery: Knowing Your Rights if Something Goes Wrong. If you believe your facelift went wrong because of negligence, contact Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors today to find out whether you may be entitled to pursue a facelift surgery compensation claim.

How do I know if I have a valid facelift claim?

The first step you should take if you are worried that your surgery has gone wrong is to consult a medical professional for a thorough assessment of your condition. They can provide a medical opinion on whether your symptoms are indicative of negligent care.

Keep meticulous records of your consultations, pre-surgery discussions and the recovery process. Photographic evidence can be particularly helpful. This documentation will serve as evidence should you decide to proceed with a legal claim.

Once you have a medical opinion and have gathered all relevant documentation, you should consult a legal advisor who specialises in clinical negligence claims related to cosmetic surgery. They can offer an informed perspective on the strength of your case and guide you through the legal process.

To be eligible to make a medical negligence claim, you will need to be able to provide that:

• Your injury happened
• Your injury was caused by your surgeon's negligence
• Your injury has caused you to suffer, physically, emotionally and/or financially

If you meet these criteria, it is likely you have a valid cosmetic facelift injury compensation claim.

FAQs about facelift surgery claims

How much compensation can I get from a facelift claim?

The amount of money you could receive following a successful facelift compensation claim will depend on your unique situation.

Compensation for cosmetic surgery negligence is split into two different types:

• General damages are calculated based on your pain, suffering and how your injuries have affected your life.
• Special damages are calculated based on any medical and support costs, and for lost wages due to not being able to work.

To get an estimate of how much you may be able to claim, speak to our solicitors today and we will assess your situation.

What evidence is needed to support facelift compensation claims?

When making a cosmetic surgery negligence claim, you will be required to provide evidence to support your argument. This may be in the form of:

• Medical reports
• Photos of your injuries
• Statements from medical experts
• Statements from witnesses to your suffering
• Proof of loss of earnings and inability to work

When you make a claim with us, our solicitors will guide you through the process of collecting evidence and can help you to do so, as well as recommend what evidence will help you.

What are the time limits for making facelift negligence claims?

In most cases, claims for cosmetic surgery negligence must be made within three years of either the operation or the date that the symptoms of the botched surgery became noticeable. This time limit specifies when the claim must be issued rather than resolved by. 

Cosmetic surgery negligence claims can take anywhere from six months to three years, or longer if the dispute takes more time to resolve. It will be difficult to assess how long your claim will take as it depends on many factors. However, we will do our best to give you an accurate estimate using our experience and we will maintain transparency throughout to ensure you are up-to-date on any and all developments.

How do I make a facelift surgery claim?

To make a facelift compensation claim, you should first speak to our expert cosmetic surgery solicitors team by calling us or filling out our contact form. We will hold a free initial consultation during which we will discuss your situation, assess whether you are eligible to claim compensation and estimate your chances of success.

From there, we will gather evidence to build a case and approach the party at fault to demand your compensation. If they agree to settle, we will work with them to get you the amount of compensation you deserve. If they choose to dispute the claim, we will represent you in court proceedings in order to win your case.

Do I need to go to court for facelift surgery compensation?

The majority of clinical negligence cases, including facelift claims, are settled before court intervention is necessary. We always do our best to resolve cases in the mediation stage, but we will not cut corners. If you stand to gain from court proceedings, we will discuss this with you and advise you on the best course of action.

Should your claim go to court, your solicitor will represent your best interests and seek the facelift compensation you deserve, presenting your evidence as argument.