Dermabrasion is the act of wearing away the top layer of skin with devices and methods such as wire brushes or salt crystals. This procedure is usually performed under a local anaesthetic and as it is quite invasive and should always be performed by a medical professional. Please note that dermabrasion is different to micro-dermabrasion which is a procedure that can be carried out by non-professionals and is often the type of treatment that is offered in local salons, for example.
Dermabrasion can leave the skin looking bright red, sensitive to sunlight and sometimes leave small scarring as essentially you are removing the top layer of skin. These are common and inherent risks with the surgery – as with all surgical intervention, they come with risks! This can be with the actual treatment or the anaesthesia that is used to perform the surgery. This can become a problem when looking to make a claim for compensation – if your injury is classed as an inherent risk rather than something that was caused by negligence you may not be able to claim at all.
Cosmetic injury claims are becoming more and more common as many people undergo the procedure, and many people unfortunately chose to do so cheaply. However, this doesn’t mean that you should have to put up with something that should not have happened – the main question to ask yourself is “would my injury have happened had it not been for *insert action*- ” the answer to these is usually the decisive factor in establishing whether you have a claim.
For example; if the procedure has been done too “roughly” and removed more than the top layer of skin it is likely that you will suffer an injury- after all your skin is there to protect you! It can be incredibly hard to allege something like this and therefore it would always be best to seek independent medical advice that could establish whether they feel your injury is a result of negligence.
Here at The Injury Lawyers, we have experience in running many different types of cosmetic surgery negligence claims, including dermabrasion. The main thing that we will usually request is photographs to illustrate the injury that has been caused- this enables us to assess whether we can proceed with a claim on a no win no fee basis. Also, we are unable to act on claims that would be classed as “small claims” as we are unable to recover our fees from the other side and therefore it is important that (as a rough guideline) your injury lasts around 4-6 weeks.
The best way to understand whether you can make a claim is really to give us a call or even better request that we give you a call to discuss your circumstances at length. Every claim is different and therefore it is best to get the advice tailored to your needs.