"TUMMY TUCK" (ABDOMINOPLASTY) SURGERY MISTAKES: MARYLAND MED. MAL. ATTORNEY

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com.  "Here to make a difference."
Tummy Tuck Surgery, also known as "Abdominoplasty", is supposed to remove excess fat and skin, and allegedly, in some cases, restore weakened or separated muscles creating an abdominal profile that is smoother and firmer.
Abdominoplasty is actually real surgery that should be performed according to the medically-recognized standards of cosmetic plastic surgery by a properly-qualified, experienced, and Board-certified abdominoplasty cosmetic plastic surgeon.  "Doc Hollywood" should be avoided for these surgeries.  Find "Dr. Right" to do it.
Abdominoplasty is "medical surgery", not "show business."
As with all surgical procedures, risks and complications can be inherent in abdominoplasty.  These risks during the procedure may be minor as well as life threatening.  High levels of medical care are necessary for success with the Abdominoplasty.  However, in some circumstances the high level of care which is required may fall below the standard of care that is required and expected, thus causing the patient to suffer from additional complications and distress.
There are numerous well-recognized complications in Abdominoplasty surgery, but surgical errors or mistakes may arise during and after the surgery which can constitute potential malpractice or negligence.  Such errors or mistakes include:

1. The doctor's failure to treat an infection after the surgery;
2. Delayed healing and accumulation of fluid;
3. Damage to surrounding organs during the surgery;
4. Skin or fat necrosis due to a delay in diagnosis and treatment;
5. Nerve damage from the surgery;
6. Scarring of the wounds (incisions);
7. Adverse reaction from anesthesia;
8. Excessive bleeding due to unintentional damage to blood vessels;
9. and more, including wrongful death.

[Medical malpractice attorney Charles Ware is based in the Maryland/D.C. area.  For questions or an initial courtesy consultation, contact him at (410) 720-6129 or (410 730-5016; or email him at charlesjeromeware@msn.com]

COSMETIC & PLASTIC SURGERY MALPRACTICE: MARYLAND & D.C. MED. MAL. ATTORNEY

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com.  "Here to make a difference."
[For informational purposes only; not intended as legal advice]
There are risks associated with every surgical procedure.  Surgical errors and complications can and do happen.  Competent surgical care can, however, alleviate many of these risks.
Plastic surgery is the broad medical term most commonly associated with cosmetic surgery or physical enhancement for aesthetic purposes.  However, the term actually includes many medical procedures that involve restructuring or reshaping body parts to return them to normal functioning.
Generally, plastic surgery does not always involve the use of plastic materials.  Instead, the term "plastic" means to shape or mold, as in when bodily structures are reshaped through surgical procedures.
A few common types of plastic surgery procedures include:

1. Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, which is commonly used to restore functioning to the face or other areas of the body after an accident or to correct birth defects.
2. Skin Grafts, which are frequently used to close wounds from burns or other injuries.
3. Cosmetic procedures, which include a whole variety of operations, including augmentation and reduction of body parts, fluid injections, and fat reduction.

 The types of injuries that can occur with plastic surgery include:

1. Injuries from mistakes or errors,
2. Reopening of incisions,
3. Leakages, and
4. Complications with original injuries.

To prove plastic surgery medical malpractice, the following is needed:

1. That the plastic surgeon owed a duty of care to the patient;
2. That the duty of care was breached by the surgeon;
3. That the patient was actually injured as a result of the negligent breach; and
4. That the breach of duty was the cause of the patient's injuries.

[Medical malpractice plaintiff attorney Charles Jerome Ware is Maryland/D.C. area-based.  For an initial courtesy consultation, or questions, call him at (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016, or email him at charlesjeromeware@msn.com]

FINDING THE "DR. RIGHT" COSMETIC SURGEON; AVOIDING "DOC HOLLYWOOD": MARYLAND MED. MAL. ATTORNEY

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com.  "Here to make a difference."
SOME STEPS FOR FINDING THE BEST PLASTIC SURGEON:

1. Cosmetic/plastic surgery recipients are "PATIENTS," not just customers.
2. Therefore, your surgeon should be a well-qualified cosmetic/plastic surgeon --- a tried and true "Dr. Right" surgeon --- not an overly-advertised, media-driven "Doc Hollywood" - type.
3. Your surgeon should be properly board-certified and experienced in the cosmetic surgery he or she is performing on you.  For example: a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a Member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, et al.
4. Your surgeon must have appropriate hospital privileges to perform the type of surgery you want or need, and not just perform his or her surgeries in their office.
5. Ask questions of your potential surgeon ("PS"):
   (a) Ask to see, for example, some before and after pictures of their previous surgeries (while avoiding HPAA violations, of course).
   (b) Insist upon before and after photos of your surgery.
   (c) Insist upon an explanation of your surgery that you understand clearly.
   (d) Discuss your potential benefits and potential complications of your surgery.
   (e) Leave no question unasked and unanswered by your potential surgeon himself or herself (do not rely on the surgeon's staff to answer your questions).
6. Make sure before your surgery that you have complete confidence in your surgeon based upon his or her evidence of excellence, experience and commitment to your surgery procedure as well as to the field of cosmetic surgery.
7. Make sure you are comfortable with having the particular surgery procedure.

[Medical malpractice attorney Charles Jerome Ware is a Maryland-based nationally respected trial attorney with a specialty in health-related trials.  For an initial courtesy consultation, call him at (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016, or email him at charlesjeromeware@msn.com]

FACELIFT (RHYTIDOPLASTY) MISTAKES: MARYLAND MED. MAL. ATTORNEY UPDATE

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com. 
[This information is not intended nor designed to be legal advice]
Cosmetic or plastic surgery is enormously popular in the United States.  However, the public should be reminded that cosmetic/plastic surgery is serious surgery, not just a cute hobby.  Recipients of cosmetic/plastic surgery are "patients," not just customers.
Cosmetic/plastic surgery is in fact risky surgery, subject to complications as well as medical mistakes.
Facelifts ("Rhytidoplasty") are in fact cosmetic/plastic surgery procedures, and are by definition therefore risky surgical procedures.

I. What is a Face Lift?

The technical name for a facelift is "rhytidectomy." In this surgical procedure, excess face and neck skin are removed and the tissues under the skin are tightened. Activities such as smoking, sunbathing, outdoor activities, and stress can alter the appearance of the face. Additionally, as we age deep creases may form between the nose and mouth, the jawline may grow slack and sag, and folds and fat deposits may appear around the neck.

II. Who is a Good Candidate for a Face Lift?

Candidates must be in good health, have no active diseases or serious, pre-existing medical conditions, and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery. Facelifts are most commonly performed on patients between 40 to 60 years old.
You may not be a candidate for surgery if you smoke, have recently quit smoking, or if you are exposed to second-hand smoke. Primary and secondary smoking decreases blood flow to the body's tissues. This can result in prolonged wound healing, skin loss, infection, increased scarring, and a number of other complications depending on the kind of procedure performed.

III. How is the Procedure Performed?

The type and size of facelift depends on location and extent of skin laxity. Sizes range from "mini" to "standard". Usually, an incision is made in the hair near the temple and continues to the front of the ear, around the ear lobe, behind the ear and into the hair. The muscles and sagging tissue are tightened and excess skin is removed. The remaining skin is repositioned to create a more youthful look. The incision is closed with sutures, or with metal clips on the scalp. A small incision may be made under the chin if a neck lift is needed.

IV. The Bad Facelift (Rhytidoplastic) Surgery

As the popularity of plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures has increased, so too has the incidence of complications, mistakes, and clear examples of medical malpractice. There are numerous reasons for this trend, some natural and others of a more concerning nature. For example, with more surgeries being performed it is expected that the number of total complications experienced will increase – this is only natural considering a fixed rate of incidents.
It is not entirely unexpected that rate of complications would increase as well, since having more people enter the field of plastic surgery means that, on average, the later entrants will not be as drawn to the practice out of a love for cosmetic procedures or particular skill in that area, but by the money that can be earned.
However, according to numerous news reports and regional studies, the number and rate of complications is rising out of proportion to the increase in procedures. Evidence is accumulating that due to a relative lack of regulation with respect to licensing of cosmetic surgeons coupled with the incentive for marginally qualified individuals to claim experience in order to cash in on a lucrative, booming business, many plastic surgeons are simple not qualified to offer services. With ads for plastic surgeons and all manner of cosmetic procedures filling television print media and the airwaves, the issue of receiving a face lift gone horribly bad is on the minds of many who are close to the industry.
Certainly, even someone undergoing an elective cosmetic procedure for the worst possible reasons has a right to be treated by someone who is competent in performing cosmetic operations. No one should suffer the physical and mental scars of being damaged under the knife of someone who should not be holding it. Understanding your rights if you are a victim of malpractice is critical.
[Charles Jerome Ware is a widely-respected medical malpractice trial lawyer with a national law firm based in the Maryland/D.C. area.  For an initial courtesy consultation, call him at (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016; or email Attorney Charles Ware at charlesjeromeware@msn.com]

COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY LEGAL RISKS: MARYLAND MED. MAL. ATTORNEY

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com.  "Here to make a difference."
You can see it on television as well as in the general public.  Cosmetic surgery is a popular growth industry as well as a public obsession.
Demand for the top cosmetic surgery procedures grew by more than 26% between 1999 and 2000, and by substantially more than that between 2000 and the present.
The public perception of cosmetic surgery appears to be that it is quick and easy.  It is not.  The fact is that most cosmetic surgery operations or "procedures" are extremely complex and require a high degree of anatomical, physiological and technical skill, precisioned surgical skill as well as keen aesthetic appreciation.
Let's be perfectly clear.  Cosmetic plastic surgery involves medicine and skill at very high levels, not "Doc Hollywood" business persons.  Recipients of cosmetic plastic surgery are "patients", not just customers or clients in a business transaction.
The continuous training and credentialing of cosmetic plastic surgeons is as important as training and credentialing in other fields of medical endeavors and surgery.
While no surgery, including cosmetic plastic surgery is without the risk of complications, choosing the right surgeon is crucial in the process.
Mistakes or errors by the surgeon and his support team can happen; however, when they do happen the patient should contact a medical malpractice attorney immediately.
[For an initial courtesy consultation, or questions, call medical malpractice attorney Charles Jerome Ware at his Maryland/D.C. area-based law offices: (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016, or email him at charlesjeromeware@msn.com]

BAD BREAST AUGMENTATION ("AUGMENTATION MAMMAPLASTY") MISTAKES: MARYLAND MED. MAL. ATTORNEY

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com.  "Here to make a difference."
Breast Augmentation, also known as "augmentation mammaplasty", is the surgical placement of breast implants to increase the size of breasts or to restore breast volume that has been lost after weight reduction or pregnancy.  Breast implants may also be used for breast reconstruction.
It is important to remember that breast augmentation is in fact serious surgery, and recipients of breast augmentation are indeed medical "patients."  In the current U.S. culture of body aesthetics where cosmetic plastic surgery is booming and rapidly increasing even more in popularity, one should be reminded that there are surgical risks and possible complications with the surgery.  And, mistakes can and do happen sometimes.
As with any other type of surgery, the competence and experience of the treating breast augmentation cosmetic plastic surgeon (and his or her team) is absolutely crucial for increased chances of surgery success.
The occurrence of breast implant mistakes and medical malpractice claims arising from breast implant surgery has risen dramatically in recent years.  Elective cosmetic plastic surgery is more common than ever, and breast augmentation ("augmentation mammaplasty") is one of the most popular medical procedures performed today.
Some common breast augmentation mistakes and complications include:

1. Choosing "Doc Hollywood" or a "cosmetic spa" instead of a properly-licensed, properly-certified, competent and experienced breast augmentation cosmetic plastic surgeon.  Ask questions.
2. Not being properly prepared physically and emotionally for the surgery.  Ask questions of the potential surgeon about the surgery and the preparation needed for it.
3. Infection from this type of surgery is always a risk.
4. The wrong breast implant size.
5. The wrong implant shape.
6. The wrong type of implant.
7. The wrong breast implant texture.
8. Again (see 1 and 2, above): The wrong cosmetic plastic surgeon.

[Medical malpractice attorney Charles Ware can be reached at (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016, for questions or initial consultation]

"BOTCHED" COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY?: MARYLAND MED. MAL. ATTORNEY CHARLES WARE

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com.  "Here to make a difference."
The first thing that anyone seeking cosmetic plastic surgery should realize is the fact that these procedures are in fact medical "surgery", which should be performed only by highly qualified and certified surgeons.  Cosmetic plastic surgery recipients are "patients", not just business clients or customers.  Caveat emptor!
Cosmetic plastic surgery can, and does from time to time, go wrong.  Mistakes can, and do from time to time, happen.
Even in the best of hands, any cosmetic plastic surgery has a small chance of a bad outcome.  But add an untrained or minimally trained surgeon to the mix and those odds leap to Las Vegas house odds against you.
In an effort to reduce the chances of a "botched" cosmetic surgery procedure, I recommend the followings tips to both my many celebrity and non-celebrity clients in an abundance of caution:
"CAVEAT EMPTOR" --- BUYER BEWARE

1. Make sure surgeon is Board Certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery.
2. Consult with at least 2 or 3 different certified plastic surgeons
3. Research your surgeon. 
4. Ask about your plastic surgeon on the with knowledgeable sources.
5. Search your plastic surgeon's last name on the in multiple forums.
6. Google your plastic surgeon's name.
7. View your surgeon's before/after photos, particularly befores similar to your own.
8. Bring photos of what you'd like to look like.
9. Make sure the surgery center is accredited.
10. Insure that your surgeon agrees to take before and after photos of you and your surgery.

[Attorney Charles Ware is a nationally-respected Maryland/D.C.-based medical malpractice attorney.  You may contact him at (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016, or email him at charlesjeromeware@msn.com for a free initial consultation or questions]