Cosmetic treatments can have a serious impact when something goes wrong. A treatment intended to improve confidence can instead cause pain, burns, scarring, skin changes, infection, psychological distress or long-term worry.
If you have been injured or left with lasting problems after a cosmetic treatment, you may be able to bring a claim.
Havard Law Solicitors helps people understand their options after cosmetic procedures and beauty treatments, including claims involving laser treatment, IPL, Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels, cosmetic surgery and other non-surgical treatments.
What is a cosmetic treatment claim?
A cosmetic treatment claim is a legal claim brought where a cosmetic procedure, beauty treatment or aesthetic treatment has caused injury or harm because something was done negligently.
Claims may involve treatment carried out at beauty salons, cosmetic clinics, medi-spas, private clinics or surgical settings.
A claim may be possible where the treatment was carried out carelessly, unsuitable treatment was recommended, risks were not properly explained, equipment was used incorrectly, the practitioner failed to respond to concerns, or aftercare was inadequate.
Cosmetic treatment claims can involve both physical and psychological harm. This may include burns, blistering, scarring, skin discolouration, depigmentation, infection, allergic reaction, pain, anxiety, loss of confidence or distress.
Not every poor result will lead to a claim. The key question is usually whether the clinic, practitioner or provider failed to take reasonable care and whether that failure caused avoidable harm.
When might you need help?
You may need legal advice if you have suffered injury or distress after a cosmetic treatment and believe something was not handled properly.
Common examples include laser hair removal burns, IPL injuries, chemical burns, scarring after skin treatments, complications after Botox or dermal fillers, poorly performed cosmetic surgery, unsuitable treatment for your skin type, failure to carry out appropriate checks, lack of informed consent, or a clinic ignoring your complaint.
You may also need help if you were given a consent form but were not properly told about the risks, if treatment continued after you raised concerns, or if the clinic has since refused to engage with you.
Cosmetic injury claims can be sensitive. People may feel embarrassed, upset or reluctant to talk about what happened. Havard Law Solicitors will handle your enquiry carefully and explain your options in clear, practical terms.
Common types of cosmetic treatment claims
Cosmetic treatment claims can arise from a wide range of procedures.
Laser and IPL treatments can cause burns, blistering, pigmentation changes and permanent skin damage if the treatment is unsuitable, the settings are too high, the practitioner fails to respond to pain or warning signs, or proper checks are not carried out.
Botox and dermal filler claims may involve bruising, asymmetry, nerve injury, vascular complications, tissue damage, infection or concerns around whether the treatment was properly prescribed or administered.
Chemical peels and skin treatments can cause injury where the product strength is unsuitable, the treatment is applied incorrectly, the skin is not properly assessed, or the risks are not explained.
Cosmetic surgery claims may involve negligent surgery, poor aftercare, infection, scarring, avoidable complications or failure to explain realistic outcomes and risks before the procedure.
Claims may also arise where treatment was carried out by someone without suitable training, where records are incomplete, or where a clinic fails to respond properly after something goes wrong.
What can compensation cover?
Compensation is intended to reflect the impact the treatment has had on you.
A claim may include compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. This means the physical and emotional effect of the injury and the way it has affected your daily life, confidence, work, sleep, relationships or wellbeing.
A claim may also include financial losses. These can include the cost of corrective treatment, dermatology appointments, medication, counselling, travel expenses, loss of earnings, care provided by family members, wasted treatment costs and other expenses caused by the injury.
Where scarring, depigmentation or psychological harm is significant, expert medical evidence may be needed to assess the longer-term impact and any treatment options.
The value of the claim will depend on the seriousness of the injury, whether the effects are temporary or permanent, the impact on daily life and the financial losses that can be proven.
How Havard Law Solicitors can help
Havard Law Solicitors can listen to what happened and give you a clear view on whether a claim may be possible.
We can help gather evidence, review treatment records, consider what was discussed before the procedure, assess whether proper consent was obtained, contact the clinic or practitioner, and arrange expert evidence where needed.
Cosmetic injury claims often require specialist evidence. This may include evidence from a dermatologist, cosmetic surgery expert, psychological expert or another appropriate medical professional.
We can also deal with the clinic, insurer or their representatives on your behalf. If the clinic ignores correspondence or refuses to engage, we can advise on the next steps, including whether court proceedings may be appropriate.
We will give you honest advice and will not encourage you to pursue a claim if the evidence does not support it.
Case study: IPL treatment causing skin injury
Havard Law Solicitors acted for a client who suffered injury following a course of Intense Pulsed Light treatment at a beauty clinic.
During one of the sessions, the client experienced intense heat and a prickling sensation. She raised concerns with the therapist during the treatment but was reassured that the sensations were normal and that the treatment should continue.
After the treatment, the client’s condition worsened and she developed severe blistering. She also experienced psychological distress following the incident.
The case involved several difficulties. The clinic did not respond to early correspondence, including formal notification of the claim. The clinic later entered voluntary liquidation, which added complexity when considering how the claim should be progressed.
There were also practical issues with evidence. Some staff were no longer available and the treatment records were limited. This made it especially important to gather and review the evidence that was available.
Court proceedings were issued and, after the clinic failed to respond, default judgment was obtained. The defendant later sought to challenge the position, which required further work to protect the client’s claim.
Expert evidence was obtained. The evidence supported the case that the treatment had not been carried out to an appropriate standard. Issues included whether proper consent had been obtained, whether the client had been advised of the risks, whether the treatment was suitable for her skin type, and whether the treatment had been applied correctly.
Despite the difficulties, the claim continued to be advanced and settlement was pursued on the client’s behalf.
This case shows why cosmetic treatment claims need careful preparation, particularly where a clinic does not engage, records are limited or the provider later enters liquidation.
Evidence that can help your cosmetic treatment claim
The evidence needed will depend on the treatment and injury involved.
Helpful evidence can include photographs of the injury, before and after photographs, treatment records, consent forms, consultation notes, patch test records, messages with the clinic, complaint correspondence, payment receipts, booking confirmations, aftercare instructions, medical records, GP records, dermatology letters, counselling records and evidence of financial losses.
If the clinic has closed or is not responding, it is still worth asking for advice. There may be records, insurance details, payment evidence or other documents that can help assess the position.
It is also useful to keep a timeline of what happened, including when the treatment took place, what you were told before the procedure, when symptoms started, what you reported to the clinic and how the injury has affected you.
Complaints and regulatory issues
Depending on the treatment and provider, there may be complaint or regulatory steps to consider.
This may include complaining directly to the clinic, raising concerns with a professional regulator, contacting Trading Standards, or considering whether the Care Quality Commission or another body is relevant.
The right route will depend on the type of treatment, who carried it out and the setting in which it took place.
A regulatory complaint is separate from a compensation claim. Havard Law Solicitors can explain whether a complaint may help and how it may interact with your claim.
Speak to our cosmetic treatment claims team
If you think you may have a claim following a cosmetic treatment, it is sensible to get advice as early as possible. Evidence can become harder to obtain over time, especially treatment records, photographs, staff details and clinic correspondence.
To speak to Havard Law Solicitors, call 0151 556 1234 or email info@havardlaw.co.uk with a short summary of what treatment you had, when it took place, who carried it out, what went wrong and how you have been affected.
A member of the team can review the information and explain the next steps in clear, practical terms.
A claim may be possible if laser or IPL treatment caused burns, blistering, scarring, pigmentation changes or other skin damage because the treatment was carried out negligently.
Relevant issues may include the treatment settings, skin type assessment, patch testing, operator training, consent, equipment use, aftercare and whether the practitioner responded properly when you raised concerns.
Photographs, treatment records, consent forms, complaint correspondence and medical evidence can all be important.
Havard Law Solicitors can review what happened and explain whether a claim may be possible.
A claim may be possible if you were not properly warned about the risks of a cosmetic treatment and you suffered harm as a result.
Before treatment, you should usually be given enough information to make an informed decision. This may include the nature of the treatment, the expected outcome, common risks, serious risks, alternatives and what aftercare may be needed.
Signing a consent form does not always mean that consent was properly obtained. The circumstances of the consultation and what was explained will still matter.
Havard Law Solicitors can review the records and advise whether lack of informed consent may form part of the claim.
Every case is different.
The value of a cosmetic treatment claim will depend on the type of injury, the seriousness of the harm, whether the effects are temporary or permanent, the impact on your confidence and daily life, and any financial losses.
Relevant factors may include scarring, pigmentation changes, corrective treatment, psychological distress, treatment costs, lost earnings and whether further medical care is needed.
Havard Law Solicitors can give you a realistic assessment once the evidence has been reviewed.
Many cosmetic treatment claims resolve without a final court hearing.
Court proceedings may be needed if the clinic does not engage, liability is disputed, records are incomplete, or a fair settlement cannot be reached.
Starting court proceedings does not always mean there will be a trial. Many claims still settle before that stage.
Havard Law Solicitors can explain the process and support you at each stage.
If the clinic has closed down, the claim may be more complicated, but it does not always mean there are no options.
It may be necessary to investigate whether the clinic had insurance, whether another legal entity was involved, how you paid for the treatment and whether any records are still available.
The practical options will depend on the facts. Some claims may be difficult if there is no insurer, no trading business and limited records.
Havard Law Solicitors can review the position and explain what may still be possible.
A clinic ignoring your complaint does not automatically prevent you from bringing a claim.
It may be possible to send formal correspondence, request treatment records, ask for insurance details and take further steps if the clinic continues not to engage.
However, it is important to keep records of all contact. This may include emails, letters, messages, call notes, complaint forms and any response received.
Havard Law Solicitors can deal with the clinic or its representatives on your behalf and advise on the next steps.
It can help to have medical evidence, but you do not need to have seen a doctor before contacting Havard Law Solicitors.
If you have not already done so, it may be sensible to seek medical advice about your symptoms, especially if you have burns, blistering, infection, pain, scarring or ongoing skin problems.
As part of a claim, independent medical evidence may be needed. This could include evidence from a dermatologist, cosmetic surgery expert, psychological expert or another appropriate medical professional.
Havard Law Solicitors can explain what evidence may be needed.
In many personal injury claims, the usual time limit is three years from the date of the treatment or the date you first knew that the treatment may have caused injury.
Different rules can apply in some cases, including claims involving children or people who lack mental capacity to manage their own legal affairs.
Because time limits can be strict, it is sensible to seek advice as early as possible.
Early advice can also help preserve evidence, including photographs, treatment records, consent forms and clinic correspondence.
Compensation can cover the injury itself and the wider impact on your life.
This may include pain, suffering, scarring, blistering, skin discolouration, depigmentation, infection, allergic reaction, psychological distress, anxiety, loss of confidence and the effect on daily life.
A claim may also include financial losses such as corrective treatment costs, dermatology appointments, counselling, travel expenses, medication, loss of earnings, wasted treatment costs and other expenses caused by what happened.
The value of the claim will depend on the evidence, the seriousness of the injury and whether the effects are temporary or permanent.
You may have a claim if you suffered injury or harm because a cosmetic treatment was carried out negligently.
This may involve the wrong settings being used, unsuitable treatment being recommended, risks not being explained, a lack of proper consent, poor technique, failure to respond to concerns during treatment or inadequate aftercare.
The fact that you are unhappy with the result does not automatically mean there is a claim. The issue is whether the provider failed to take reasonable care and whether that failure caused avoidable harm.
Havard Law Solicitors can review what happened and give you an honest view.
