Plastic surgeons perform almost a million reconstructive surgeries each year. These types of surgeries often are performed for reasons other than to make someone look younger or to change someone’s appearance. Reconstructive surgery is often performed on individuals who have been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident. If someone’s face or body has been disfigured in a collision, a plastic surgeon can perform reconstructive surgery and attempt to restore the person’s face or body to what it looked like prior to the auto accident.
Facial surgery is probably the most risky of any plastic surgery operations because the results are the most visible to other people and involves the eye, nose, and mouth, which all have to function correctly in order for us to be able to fully and properly utilize our senses. When people are involved in a serious auto accident, one of the areas of the body that often endures serious damage is the face. Airbags can cause lacerations, or a vehicle occupant’s face can strike the windshield or dashboard in the event the airbag malfunctions. People ejected from their vehicle in a crash often experience severe facial disfigurement from impact with the road surface.
Motorists do not want excessive scarring to their face, so they will go beyond normal surgery to repair the damage. Motor vehicle accident victims may undergo reconstructive surgery to return the facial features to as near as normal as possible. The selection of a skilled plastic surgeon to perform this type of surgery is paramount to success, so a person needs to do his or her homework before moving forward.
Picking Your Doctor
Every surgery is risky and can result in complications, but a professional, accredited, qualified doctor will go to extraordinary lengths to minimize the risks to his or her patients. Car accident victims considering plastic surgery should conduct research into their surgeon’s track record of surgeries. Patients can contact their state medical board to confirm their surgeon has no record of discipline and the proper credentials.
The selection of a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon can give you the best chance of having a positive experience. He or she should be a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. They also should have hospital affiliations and work only in accredited ambulatory centers with board certified anesthesiologists. Patients also might seek out a referral from someone that has had a similar successful surgery.
When Things Go Wrong
When undergoing plastic reconstructive surgery, there is a risk of experiencing complications. There are a number of reasons why complications can arise in a surgery procedure, such as:
- Surgeon is using outdated techniques
- Surgeon is poorly trained or lacks experience
- Poor assessment of the underlying problem
When your surgeon botches your reconstructive surgery due to any of the above reasons, he can be liable for medical malpractice. Not only can a bad surgery cause you embarrassment and mental anguish; the procedure also can seriously damage integral parts of your facial structure that could be critical to the use of your sensory organs.
Bad reconstructive surgery can result in damaged nerves, impaired muscles, excessive bleeding, and internal bleeding. Sub-standard plastic surgery can not only cause permanent disfigurement and scarring but also death. Most patients who undergo a bad surgical experience end up having to go to yet another surgeon to have the mistake repaired.
Who Will Pay?
If you are undergoing reconstructive surgery due to a Mississippi car accident, then the insurance company should cover the cost of the surgery. However, coverage disputes can arise due to the gray area that exists between the definition of cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. Your surgeon will have to be in touch with the insurance company to explain the medical reasons for the surgery and give them details of the case.
If you or someone close to you has suffered disfiguring injuries in a motor vehicle collision, our experienced Mississippi car accident lawyers represent our clients in pursuing compensation to obtain the best medical care and rehabilitative therapy. If you or your loved one is injured in a Mississippi motor vehicle accident, you are invited to contact the experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys at Barrett Law to learn how we can help. Our auto collision lawyers have been representing accident victims throughout Mississippi for over 75 years. We offer personalized legal representation and zealous advocacy. We provide a free initial case evaluation so call us today at (800) 707-9577. No Recovery No Fee!