Lasers can be used for a variety of medical and cosmetic procedures. These treatments involve using a high intensity beam to heat cells until they separate, giving the same effect as an incision.
Our experienced cosmetic negligence lawyers are here for you if your treatment didn’t go as planned. We could help you claim compensation which can pay for corrective procedures and if needed, psychological help.
Laser treatment is commonly used to improve the appearance of:
Birthmarks and moles
Veins (such as varicose veins and rosacea treatment)
Skin (including pigment issues, lines and acne scars)
Tattoos
Excess hair
These procedures can be done quickly and are often performed without the need for anaesthetic. Despite these benefits, things can go wrong leaving you with painful and sometimes permanent issues such as scarring and infections.
Because laser beauty treatments are largely unregulated, there often aren’t the professional standards you might expect. When unregulated, laser treatments can be legally performed anywhere, by anyone.
Most of our laser treatment claims are funded on a No Win No Fee* basis, which means you won’t lose any money, no matter what the outcome of your case is.
Our cosmetic negligence solicitors are based across the country and know what it takes to get the best outcome for you. We’ll always listen to your needs and secure compensation which meets your needs.
For a free initial consultation about making a claim, call us today on 0800 121 6567 or contact us online and we'll get back to you.
The first stage of claiming for negligent cosmetic treatments using lasers, is a free initial consultation where we’ll talk about the laser procedure and how we might be able to help. After this, we’ll discuss different ways of funding your case including No Win No Fee agreements*.
We’ll collect a variety of evidence to support your case including advice from beauty industry experts, who can inform us about how your procedure should have been conducted and what corrective treatment might be needed. We’ll use all the evidence to calculate how much compensation we think you’ll need to cover any corrections and other expenses (such as travel costs).
Our team will present their findings to the relevant organisation responsible for your care who’ll be asked to explain what happened and whether they believe they were at fault. If they accept responsibility, we’ll try to negotiate a compensation package that best suits your needs.
Laser treatment claims can be particularly difficult because of the lack of regulation in this area but we have the knowledge and contacts needed to be successful with your case. We’ll work hard to find out what guidelines needed to be followed by the person providing your treatment, working alongside beauty campaigners to make sure the same doesn’t happen again.
If blame isn’t accepted or a settlement can’t be agreed, we’ll start court proceedings. It’s worth noting that even if this does happen, most claims are still settled out of court. If your claim does go to court, we’ll stand by you throughout proceedings making sure you’re comfortable with what’s happening.
By making a cosmetic laser treatment claim, we might be able to secure compensation that can pay for:
Reversal procedures (including surgery if needed)
Psychological help
Travel expenses
Continuation of treatment by another practitioner
Prescription costs (antibiotics for infections and anti-inflammatory medication)
Loss of income
We know that injuries resulting from your negligent treatment can leave you with physical and emotional side effects. As you might have been left with burns and scars, you may be upset that your treatment has had a negative cosmetic impact. We’re here to help you get advice on how this could be corrected, putting you in touch with leading cosmetic experts who can suggest the best course of action. If you need help with the emotional aspects of your treatment, we can put you into with mental health experts who might be able to assist.
The amount of compensation you receive in your laser treatment claims depends on the severity of your injuries and whether any negative cosmetic consequences can be fully reversed. We’ll always work hard to make sure your settlement covers all of your needs, making your situation a little easier.
If you would like to discuss making a compensation claim, contact our cosmetic negligence lawyers on 0800 121 6567 for a free consultation.
We accept cosmetic laser treatment negligence cases which are funded by no win no fee agreements. Often known as Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA), this type of funding allows you to make a medical negligence claim without having to worry about legal costs while your claim is on-going. You also won’t need to pay anything if you lose meaning that you’ll never end up worse off.
Your claim could also be funded by Legal Expenses Insurance (LEI). This can be part of your household or car insurance and can help cover legal costs.
Please visit our No Win No Fee page for more information on how it works.
You’ll normally have three years to make a claim, either from the date of the laser treatment or from the point where it was discovered that the laser treatment was responsible for your injuries. However there are some exceptions to this rule, including in foreign countries.
Many people go overseas for cosmetic treatments because they’re often much cheaper than in the UK. If you went abroad for laser treatment and it went wrong, we can help you make a claim. As laws in different countries vary, it’s best to get in touch with us as soon as possible to find out how long you have to make a claim.
If you have any concerns about the time limits for claiming compensation, we’ll be able to talk through your options in a free initial consultation.
We have a specialist team of cosmetic negligence solicitors who know exactly what it takes to be successful in the most complex of cases. Our team will take the time to get to know you so we understand the impact your treatment has had and to ensure that we get the best outcome for you. We’ll always explain what’s happening to you clearly, answering any questions you might have along the way.
Our solicitors have been praised by Chambers & Partners, the independent legal guide. Mandy Luckman has been described as “someone who pushes the boundaries” by market commentators.
I am delighted with my outcome - I am quite sure I could never have achieved this on my own."
Joan, client
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Different Types Of Laser Treatment?
Laser treatment can be used for a variety of medical procedures and often as an alternative to a surgical operation. The high intensity beam can perform a number of helpful functions but each procedure has its risks and benefits.
Birthmark removal – Laser treatment can be used to breakdown the pigmentation which gives your mole its colour. You may feel some discomfort if you have sensitive skin as well as some bruising and whitening. Skin can also become scarred.
Laser vein removal – Red facial veins can be made far less visible when sensitive lasers are used for a process called photothermolysis. The laser should be administered in small bursts, only interacting with abnormal veins. This procedure is generally painless but can cause swelling and light bruising. It’s likely that you’ll need four or five treatments.
Laser hair removal – When a laser is focussed at the base of the hair follicle, hair growth can be stopped. This method can be used on any part of the body including your bikini area, legs, face and underarms. The pigment of your skin can be affected by the laser, resulting in either dark or white patches. Sometimes these complications can be permanent.
Laser skin resurfacing – A beam of thermal energy can encourage healthy new skin to grow, creating a more even complexion. This laser works on the deep layers of your skin and can also be used to reduce acne scarring, soften fine lines and remove dark pigmentation. Due to the heat of the laser, blisters, burns and scars can occur.
Thread vein removal – Often know as spider or broken veins, thread veins are small blood vessels close to the skin’s surface which can develop into large blood cells. If treatment is too invasive, burns or ulcers can occur on the skin.
Mole removal – Small moles respond well to laser treatment which used thermal energy to break down the cells. It’s recommended that after treatment you wear a high factor sun screen to protect the skin. Infections, blistering and scarring can occur.
Rosacea treatment – This condition involves facial redness, small visible blood vessels and uneven complexions. Laser therapy can treat the visible blood vessels but can result in infection, redness, itching, bruising, swelling and pain. In rare circumstances it can adversely affect skin pigmentation and cause minor scarring.
Varicose vein removal – Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) can be used to treat varicose veins. This treatment involves an injection which targets the vein and then laser energy is used to seal the faulty vein so blood can’t flow through it. Minor pain and discomfort can result alongside itching, swelling, bruising and a general feeling of tightness and numbness in the legs for a couple of weeks.
Tattoo removal – Ink particles can be broken down using a laser to remove a tattoo. You’re likely to need several sessions and some colours react better to the laser than others. This procedure can leave you with blisters, burns and scars.
To find out more about making a laser treatment claim, contact us free today on 0800 121 6567.
What Are The Regulations?
Laser treatments are relatively safe but things sometimes go wrong, often down to the fact that many procedures are unregulated. There has been a rise in the number of businesses offering laser treatments, ranging from cosmetic clinics to beauty salons.
Intense pulse light (IPL) and laser treatments are no longer regulated by the Care Quality Commission but the use of the device is covered by the Health and Safety at Work (H&SW) rules. Despite this anyone can perform your treatment, regardless of experience or training.
Due to the lack of regulation, these procedures can be performed anywhere, though some local authorities require a licence. In London Boroughs and in Nottingham, laser and IPL practitioners require a special treatment licence which can be secured by applying to the local authority. Tighter regulations also exist in Wales and Northern Ireland where all users need to register with the equivalent body of the CQC.
If you’ve received treatment that was performed in an unsafe manner, you might be able to make a claim. To find out more about making a claim contact us on 0800 121 6567.
What Constitutes Negligence?
Laser treatments are often sought for cosmetic reasons. However, when things go wrong, you can sometimes be left with results that are worse than the blemish you were attempting to improve. Despite lasers being used for a variety of reasons, common problems can include:
Infections
Scarring
Burns/blisters
Skin pigment issues
These issues are more likely to arise when guidelines aren’t followed. We might be able to help you if your practitioner didn’t:
Use a safe laser device
Follow local authority regulations
Perform a skin test prior to treatment
Check your medical history to see if you were suitable for treatment
Provide protective goggles during treatment
Use the correct laser settings or timings
Have the correct training
Carry out your treatment in a sterile environment
Advise you about aftercare
We know that negligent laser treatment can leave you lacking confidence about your appearance and may mean you need expensive corrective procedures. By making a claim with us we can get you compensation that can pay for specialist cosmetic reversal treatment and psychological help.
To find out more about making a claim, contact us today on 0800 121 6567 to set up a free initial consultation.
All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.
*To make a No Win No Fee claim, you need to enter into an agreement that's linked to a suitable insurance policy. We'll explain this in more detail before we start your claim.
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