What legal precautions to consider before going under the knife

 When it comes to cosmetic surgery, many of us forget about the legal implications that we could face should things go wrong. Our health insurance, or free healthcare policies will cover us for most procedures medically required, but what about those we've chosen on a cosmetic basis? Whether you need to look into medical tourism and the Hair Transplant cost Turkey has to offer, or the process of making a claim should things go wrong, we've pulled together some of the legal precautions to consider before you go under the knife.

Health Insurance

Cosmetic surgery is very rarely covered by Health Insurance, and most definitely not by the NHS. Unless the procedure is a reconstruction surgery or a necessary one, it's very unlikely that you'll find cover within a normal insurance plan. However, some plans do cover Plastic Surgery, at least for certain procedures. It's worth looking into your plan, or the plans available to you, especially if you plan to go abroad for your surgery. You may be able to cover the cost of the procedure, but can you cover the costs if things go wrong?

Investigate Your Surgeon

Choose your surgeon carefully. Make sure you investigate and research them to the best of your ability to ensure that they are not only a legitimate surgeon, but that they have experience in dealing with the surgery that you're undergoing. If you're having your surgery done in the UK, you can look at the BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) to see whether your surgeon is listed, and it's advised that you avoid them if they are not. After you've settled on a surgeon, make sure you ask them about their own insurance, and even ask for a copy of it to be safe.

Going Abroad

If you're planning on travelling for your surgery, you need to think about and look into what to do if the surgery goes wrong. Can you take it to an English court? Would you hold a standing taking it to court in the country that you had the surgery in? Investigating this ahead of time can prepare you in case you need to make a claim, as well as deter you from accepting surgery in a country that you may not be able to make a claim from should things go wrong.

Be Clear About What You Want

This is vital if you want any hope of making a claim in the event that something goes wrong during your procedure. Explain clearly to your surgeon exactly what it is that you want done, and make sure that you have a copy of your explanation in writing, including images and diagrams if at all possible. Keep a copy of this, and give a copy to your surgeon so you can ensure that you have proof of a clear explanation.

Make Sure You Know Every Risk and Discuss These with Your Surgeon

Investigating the risks into your surgery will give you a better idea of what to expect, and what you may or may not be able to protect yourself from. Make a note of these risks, as well as any costs and details of the surgery as a whole. Having copies of this information may help you should there be a case for compensation, and will help the case run far more smoothly.