Plastic surgeons face up to liabilities

Published on Saturday 28 February 2009 18:47

BRITISH cosmetic surgeons have launched the world's first insurance scheme to cover botched operations amid growing concern over the number of procedures that end in legal disputes.

The industry is offering a 300 policy that pays out if operations on patients including breast implants, tummy tucks and facelifts go wrong as a result of mistakes or unforseen complications.

The number of cosmetic operations has trebled in the past few years with around 100,000 procedures carried out last year in the UK. Around 5% result in complications and many patients need corrective surgery which they may have to pay for themselves.

The insurance scheme is being offered to members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), is underwritten by Lloyds, and provides three years of cover for corrective surgery worth up to 4,000.

The scheme will cover complications such as scarring, infections or problems with implants.

Beautysure, the company behind the deal, insisted it was a "financially sound choice" for patients undergoing surgery who until now have had no guarantee they will not have to pay for corrective work if something goes wrong.

It also guarantees private hospitals will not have to fund the cost of further operations for those patients who are insured.

But patients' groups said surgeons should foot the bill when surgery goes wrong, and warned insurance should not be seen as an alternative to understanding the risks involved in surgery.

Patients paying for a cosmetic procedure, which range in price from around 4,000 for a nose reshaping and 5,000 for a facelift, breast implants, tummy tuck or liposuction, will also pay an extra 199 for a 12-month insurance package. Patients can extend the cover for a further two years by paying an extra 99.

If there is any evidence of a serious blunder, such as medical malpractice, the patient is still free to take legal action.

But the deal does not fund further surgery if the patient is simply unhappy with their new appearance.

Taimur Shoaib, a cosmetic surgeon at Glasgow Nuffield Hospital, is the first in Scotland to offer the insurance scheme and said patients were keen to take it up.

He said: "Our patients do not take lightly the decision to undergo surgery. They have thought about it for a long time, and I'm pleased the option of an additional safeguard is now available to them.

"It offers a great option to patients, particularly to women considering breast enlargement surgery, which is the most popular procedure in the UK.

"Although implants have advanced to a great extent over the years, there is still a small chance that some women, through no fault of anyone, can experience a complication.

"All surgical procedures carry a certain amount of risk – even in the best hands. It offers the patient ownership of the process and protection against the cost of corrective surgery."

Beautysure director Gary Monaghan said the scheme would offer added protection in the current economic climate.

He said: "It is clearly an oddity that one could insure an object such as a car or a washing machine but not a cosmetic surgery operation.

"It's essential that people be able to safeguard not only their health, but particularly in the current climate, their investment as well. It's a financially-sound choice."

But patients' groups voiced caution. Margaret Watt, of the Scotland Patients' Association, said: "This is just another way for insurance companies to make money out of patients.

"If something goes wrong with the surgery, then the surgeon should have a duty to carry out the corrective surgery without the patient having to pay for it. But I hope that this offer does not encourage more people to have cosmetic surgery."

A spokesman for the watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland urged patients to do their research and read the small print.

He said: "It's important to understand the risks before opting to have cosmetic surgery, and anyone considering this should satisfy themselves that the practitioner has the necessary skills. Insurance should not be seen as an alternative to really understanding the risks of surgery.

He added: "We wouldn't stop anyone taking out insurance if they wanted to – though it won't be much consolation if something does go wrong.

"But don't rush into buying a policy. Read the small print and make sure what you're being sold will actually deliver the benefits you're being told it will."

There have been a number of high-profile botched cosmetic procedures in recent years.

Denise Hendry, the wife of former Scotland football captain Colin Hendry, won more than 300,000 damages from Dr Gustaf Aniansson after he perforated her bowel and small intestine nine times during a liposuction procedure in 2002. The mother of four spent six weeks in a coma, is scarred for life and has had more than 20 further operations to try to correct the damage.

Last year patient Diane Newbould received 375,000 in compensation from Dr Jan Stanek, a leading Harley Street doctor whose services have been endorsed on TV makeover programmes, after suffering a massive stroke following a facelift and liposuction.

Mother-of-two Pauline Bainbridge, 50, from Blackpool, died of a heart attack two days after liposuction on her thighs in 2007.

An inquest in 2008 found the operation contributed to her death and her husband won 260,000 in compensation.

Former Dead or Alive singer Pete Burns is expected to receive a payout of up to 1m following claims over a botched lip enhancement that left him with swelling and blisters.

Actress Leslie Ash also suffered a "trout pout" after lip implants went wrong in 2002.