Should a Patient with Botched Surgical Results, Be Required to Pay for a Revision Surgeon?

Each individual plastic surgeon has his/her protocol in their office.  Common protocols include not charging for a second procedure.  Many offices and plastic surgeons require a facility fee.  Less often full price is charged.

When it comes to the need for a revision procedure, which is a little bit different than “botched surgery”, repeat procedures are common.  A certain percentage of patients who have a rhinoplasty or facelift surgery for instance, require touch-up or revision procedure.  This can be in the range of 10 to 15% of patients sometimes.  Due to the fact that this is not too uncommon, this possibility should be discussed prior to the procedure. 

In the instance of a “botched” surgical procedure, a good trusted second party is needed to assist with defining the real true problems.  A trustworthy second opinion would help to define whether there truly is a permanent complication or whether there is simply something else such as not getting the results that one desires, or a wound or swelling that should get better with time, etc.  Going back to the primary surgeon, getting his/her opinion followed by a second opinion will best assess whether there is a true problem that needs fixing.

Commonly good ethical physicians will provide assistance for correcting surgical related complications at minimal or no charge.  But there is no requirement to do so.  Your best answer is to try to do the best you can with the primary physician/surgeon to see if he/she will provide correction of a true surgical complication at a reduced fee. 
 

I hate the word "botched". if you are unhappy and your surgeon does not agree with you, get a second opinion. if the second surgeon feels a revision is in order then either pay him/her or return to the original surgeon and ask him/her to do the procedure or pay for revision if its something he/she does not do.  If he feels the result is potentially a malpractice lawsuit, he will gladly pay for the revision. if he thinks the result is subpar but not meeting the standard of malpractice he will probably offer to do the revision at a cost predetermined by the contract you signed originally. remember he actually wants you happy. 

I personally have never been sued (15 years of practice) but  I will do revisions based on contract when I believe it is possible to do better. Rarely, i will offer to do a revision and the pt will go elswhere, at their expense. the rare times an attorney has contacted me I have reviewed the case and determined that no malpractice was performed and told them to do what they see fit. again I have never been sued or paid a setlement.  Why? because an unhappy pt with a bad result is not malpractice. however, it is bad for business so i recommend you return to the surgeon and work something out. usually the best option for all parties involved.  

I hope this helps. also stop using the word botched. it makes you sound unrealistic and may keep good surgeons from considering you for revisional surgery.