Choosing a cosmetic procedure is a deeply personal decision. For some, it’s about restoring confidence after childbirth. For others, it’s about managing the effects of weight loss, ageing or illness. Whatever your reason, you’re entitled to safe, professional care, and to clear, honest information before, during and after the treatment.
Choosing a cosmetic procedure is a deeply personal decision. For some, it’s about restoring confidence after childbirth. For others, it’s about managing the effects of weight loss, ageing or illness. Whatever your reason, you’re entitled to safe, professional care, and to clear, honest information before, during and after the treatment.
But across Ireland, people are being harmed by unregulated clinics, underqualified practitioners and rushed procedures. Some are left with scarring that should never have happened. Others are left in pain, physically and emotionally, with nowhere to turn. Many only learn afterwards that the person who treated them was not properly trained or registered at all.
Here in Clare, we’ve worked with clients from Shannon, Ennis and surrounding areas who were misled, ignored or mistreated in clinics they thought they could trust. In many cases, the physical harm was worsened by the feeling of being silenced, blamed or brushed aside.
At Crimmins Howard, we don’t accept that. We’re a local firm that believes in fairness, accountability and doing right by people. With over 30 years of legal experience, we support those who’ve been let down, with clear answers, practical advice and strong representation.
If you’ve been harmed during a cosmetic procedure, or if something didn’t feel right and you’re still looking for answers, contact us today. We’ll talk it through, explain your rights and help you take the next step.
Not every disappointing result after cosmetic surgery is grounds for a legal claim. In Irish law, negligence refers to a breach of duty that results in harm meaning the surgeon or clinic failed to meet the standard of care expected of them, and that failure directly caused your injury.
Cosmetic procedures, even though elective, must still be carried out to the same professional standards as any other medical treatment. That includes everything from initial consultations and informed consent to post-operative monitoring. If something went wrong because a professional didn’t act as a competent peer would have, you may be entitled to bring a claim.
One of the most common grounds for a claim is substandard surgical technique. This may involve:
For example, if a blepharoplasty results in the eyelids not closing properly due to excessive skin removal, that may indicate negligence rather than a known risk—particularly if the result is both cosmetically and functionally poor.
Negligence may also arise before the procedure even starts. Surgeons are expected to conduct a proper medical evaluation to determine whether you are a suitable candidate. That includes reviewing your health history, medications, allergies, and psychological readiness for elective surgery.
If a practitioner fails to identify a known contraindication such as a heart condition, bleeding disorder, or psychological vulnerability, the decision to proceed may itself be negligent. Likewise, performing an unnecessary procedure (one with no sound medical basis) can give rise to a claim if harm occurs.
Informed consent isn’t just about signing a form. The practitioner must explain:
If you were not told about major risks such as nerve injury, breathing problems, or the chance of needing revision surgery and would have declined the procedure if properly informed, this could be considered a breach of duty. Cosmetic surgery carries particular expectations, and failure to clarify likely outcomes is a common issue in these claims.
The duty of care continues after the surgery is completed. This includes proper wound monitoring, infection control, stitch removal (where relevant), and guidance on activity restrictions. Claims often involve:
Negligence may also arise if no post-operative review is arranged, or if the patient is discharged too soon without adequate checks.
Another ground for negligence is when a procedure is carried out by someone who is not appropriately qualified, or who performs a surgery they are not trained to do. In Ireland, cosmetic clinics are not subject to the same regulation as hospitals. If a general practitioner, dentist, or beautician attempts advanced cosmetic work without specialist credentials, this may support a claim even if the procedure itself was routine.
Eyelid procedures require precise judgement to avoid long-term harm. We’ve seen claims involving excessive skin removal, uneven eyelid height, and scarring that restricts blinking. In some cases, patients experience dryness, chronic irritation, or difficulty closing their eyes fully. Where these outcomes arise from poor technique or a failure to assess the patient’s anatomy properly, the surgeon may be found negligent. The standard of care is high for cosmetic eye procedures given the functional and aesthetic consequences involved.
Nose reshaping surgeries can give rise to claims when poor surgical planning or execution results in breathing issues, nasal collapse, or visibly misshaped outcomes. Common grounds include removal of too much cartilage, uneven bridge height, or excessive internal scarring. Many patients are also not properly warned about the potential need for revision surgery. If these complications were preventable with proper technique or consent was poorly handled, the clinic or surgeon may be legally responsible for the harm caused.
Liposuction carries risks that are well known in clinical practice, but avoidable harm can still occur. Claims usually involve irregular fat removal, scarring from poor cannula technique, or internal injuries caused by deep suctioning. Where liposuction is performed without adequate assessment, or where tissue is damaged beyond what’s reasonable for the procedure, a claim may arise. We’ve also seen cases involving infection due to poor sterility or fluid imbalance from over-aggressive suctioning without proper monitoring.
Some patients undergo procedures that were never clinically necessary—or were recommended without proper justification. This includes cosmetic surgeries performed despite psychological vulnerability, lack of screening, or coercive sales tactics. In such cases, the issue is not poor surgery, but the absence of proper medical judgement before proceeding. When a person is harmed by a surgery they didn’t truly need, especially where alternatives weren’t discussed, it may amount to negligence in how the procedure was advised or consent obtained.
Claims involving gastric band surgery often focus on poor placement, delayed diagnosis of slippage, or erosion into the stomach lining. Complications may include persistent vomiting, band migration, or infection due to poor post-op management. In some cases, the procedure was carried out without clear dietary or psychological screening. Where preventable harm results from failure to monitor the patient or respond to clear post-operative symptoms, the provider may be liable for the resulting injury and long-term health impact.
To bring a cosmetic surgery negligence claim in Ireland, you must show that the clinic, surgeon, or practitioner failed to meet the professional standard of care required and that this failure directly caused you harm. Cosmetic procedures, though elective, are subject to the same legal standards as any other form of medical treatment.
Irish law applies a four-part test in determining whether a valid claim exists: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and harm. All four must be established for a claim to proceed.
Any medical professional who performs a cosmetic procedure owes a duty of care to their patient. This includes:
The duty of care includes every stage of the treatment: initial consultation, pre-operative screening, the procedure itself, and aftercare. If the provider was unlicensed or improperly trained, the clinic or company may still be liable for allowing them to treat patients.
You must then show that the professional breached this duty by not meeting the standard expected of a competent practitioner. This might involve:
The standard used is what a reasonably competent peer would have done in similar circumstances. If the treatment fell below this level, that’s considered a breach.
Once a breach is identified, the next step is proving it caused the injury. This is known as causation.
You must show that your injury was not simply a known side effect of surgery, but a direct result of the practitioner’s failure to act appropriately. That often involves expert medical opinion to confirm that the injury would likely not have occurred if the correct standard of care had been met.
Examples include:
Without clear causation, a claim may fail even if the result was poor.
Lastly, the breach must have caused a tangible injury. This may include:
Minor dissatisfaction or a result that simply didn’t meet your expectations is not enough on its own. The harm must be significant enough to justify legal action often supported by medical reports, photographs, or counselling records.
To build a strong claim, your solicitor will usually require:
Irish courts and the Injuries Resolution Board rely heavily on medical evidence. A report from a qualified expert—usually a specialist in the same field—is needed to confirm that the care you received was substandard.
If all four legal elements – duty, breach, causation, and injury can be established, the claim may proceed.
If you believe something has gone wrong during or after a cosmetic procedure, the most important thing is to act quickly and carefully. Cosmetic negligence cases rely heavily on evidence – medical records, photographs, and documented concerns. The sooner you take the right steps, the better your position will be if a claim is needed.
Under Irish law, you are entitled to request all records relating to your treatment, including:
Make the request in writing to the clinic or hospital where the procedure was performed. Keep a copy of your request and any reply. If the clinic refuses or delays, your solicitor can pursue access formally.
Take clear photographs of the affected area in consistent lighting and from the same angles over time. This provides visual documentation of:
Use time-stamped photos where possible and avoid filters or image compression.
Write down key details while they are still fresh:
Even informal WhatsApp messages or text replies from clinic staff can support a claim if they acknowledge problems or recommend corrective action.
If you’re unsure whether something is wrong, seek a clinical review with a GP or an independent consultant. They can provide an impartial view of the result and any clinical failings. In some cases, they may recommend corrective treatment, but you should avoid undergoing revision surgery until legal advice has been obtained particularly if scarring or permanent damage is involved.
Revision procedures may remove important evidence of the original harm or make it harder to prove that the outcome was negligent.
Keep copies of:
This documentation will support a claim for financial loss, treatment costs, and the practical impact of the injury on your daily life.
By following these steps early, you place yourself in a stronger position to pursue a claim if the evidence supports one.
In Ireland, you generally have two years to bring a cosmetic surgery negligence claim. This period is counted from the “date of knowledge” the point at which you knew, or should reasonably have known, that your injury was linked to substandard care.
For most people, this means the date of surgery or shortly after, once complications become clear. If you wait beyond the two-year limit without submitting your case to the Injuries Resolution Board (formerly PIAB), your claim may be barred entirely, even if negligence occurred.
There are limited exceptions:
These exceptions aside, time is strictly enforced in Irish law. It’s not enough to raise concerns with your surgeon or seek follow-up care, you must formally initiate the claim within the two-year period to preserve your legal rights.
Delays also carry practical risks. Clinics may close, practitioners may relocate, and records may become harder to obtain. Scarring may improve or change over time, making it harder to document the original harm. Witnesses may forget key conversations, and evidence, such as pre-surgery photos or messages can be lost.
To avoid these complications, it’s always best to act promptly once you suspect that something went wrong.
If your cosmetic procedure caused avoidable harm due to negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. In Ireland, compensation is typically assessed based on the type and extent of injury, the cost of further treatment, and the overall impact on your quality of life.
Depending on the circumstances, a claim may include:
Every claim is assessed individually, based on medical evidence and expert reports.
The Personal Injuries Guidelines (2021)—used by both PIAB and the Irish courts—set out non-binding compensation ranges for certain injuries relevant to cosmetic surgery cases:
These figures are reference points, not fixed payouts. They don’t include associated costs like lost earnings or revision procedures, which are calculated separately based on your financial records and expert input.
Factors influencing the value of a claim include:
We stay local, but we operate at a national standard: With offices in Clare and connections across Ireland, we combine personal service with high-end legal support. You won’t find us in the headlines but you will find us where results matter.
Yes. Signing a consent form does not give the clinic a free pass. If the risks weren’t properly explained, or if the surgery went outside what was agreed, a consent form won’t prevent a negligence claim.
You may still have a claim, but it’s more complex. Overseas claims involve different legal systems, time limits, and evidential rules. We’ve handled cross-border claims before and can advise you on whether it’s realistic to proceed.
It depends. Some settle through the Injuries Resolution Board, while others require independent reports and litigation. On average, most cases take between 12 and 24 months. We move as quickly as the evidence and parties allow without compromising your position.
No. In fact, it’s usually best to wait. Corrective procedures can interfere with evidence and make it harder to trace the harm back to the original treatment. We’ll advise on timing based on your specific case.
That doesn’t necessarily stop a claim. Many clinics are insured through professional indemnity schemes. We can often trace the insurer or practitioner through registration bodies and regulatory records.
Yes if the treatment was administered negligently and caused harm. This includes unregulated practitioners, poor product use, or failure to handle known complications. The legal test is the same: was the harm avoidable and linked to substandard care?
If you believe your cosmetic procedure caused avoidable harm, Crimmins Howard Solicitors can help. We’ll examine the facts, explain your legal options, and act quickly where it counts. Get in touch today to discuss your case.
