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Brockton Laser Surgery Injury Lawyers
Legal help when you are injured during a cosmetic procedure in Massachusetts
When you walk into a dermatologist’s office, plastic surgeon’s clinic, or a med spa for a cosmetic treatment, you expect to leave feeling much better about your appearance. Whether you’re getting laser hair removal, Botox, or a chemical peel, the goal is to enhance your looks, not to walk away with scars, burns, or nerve damage. Unfortunately, however, injuries from aesthetic and medical cosmetic procedures are more common than you might think.
At the Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan, our personal injury lawyers help people in Brockton and throughout Massachusetts who’ve suffered injury because of careless or improper cosmetic procedures. If you suffered an injury during a laser treatment, filler injection, or other aesthetic service, we want you to know that you have legal options. Especially if the procedure should have been performed or supervised by a licensed medical professional under Massachusetts law.
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How we can help?
- What’s the difference between medical and aesthetic procedures?
- What are some common cosmetic procedures that can lead to injury?
- How common are these types of injuries?
- What should I do if I’ve been injured by a cosmetic procedure?
- Who is responsible for my Brockton laser surgery injury?
- How much is my Brockton laser surgery injury case worth?
- How can your Brockton laser surgery injury lawyers help with my case?
- Do you have a Brockton laser surgery injury lawyer near me?
What’s the difference between medical and aesthetic procedures?
Before we get into the types of injuries and legal claims, you should know the difference between aesthetic and medical procedures.
Aesthetic procedures are generally non-invasive and done for cosmetic purposes. These procedures include things like Botox, dermal fillers, microneedling, and laser hair removal. Many of these services are offered at spas or medical spas (also called med spas) and often by technicians who aren’t licensed physicians.
On the other hand, medical procedures may involve more invasive methods or carry a higher risk. These are typically performed by trained dermatologists or plastic surgeons. These procedures might include surgeries, fat-dissolving injections, or treatments like laser resurfacing that penetrate the deeper layers of skin.
The line between the two isn’t always clear. Some med spas market themselves as offering medical services, but they may not have doctors present or supervising. This gray area is where many problems begin.
What are some common cosmetic procedures that can lead to injury?
Following are some of the most popular cosmetic procedures, and the ways they might go wrong.
Laser hair removal and IPL (intense pulsed light)
These treatments use heat and light to destroy hair follicles or improve skin tone and texture. However, when the wrong settings are used, or the device is handled incorrectly, patients can suffer a variety of injuries. These include burns and blisters, permanent scarring, hyper- or hypopigmentation, infection, and nerve damage. Improper use on darker skin tones can be especially dangerous, leading to lasting skin discoloration.
Chemical peels
Chemical peels are used to exfoliate the skin and improve its appearance. If done improperly, though, especially when using strong acids, they can cause second-degree burns, scarring, infections, and permanent skin discoloration. Some technicians may not evaluate your skin type properly or may use products that are too strong.
Botox and dermal fillers
Botox temporarily paralyzes muscles to smooth out wrinkles, while fillers plump up the skin. When injected incorrectly or by someone who was not properly trained, they can cause drooping eyelids, asymmetrical features, lumps under the skin, tissue death, and even blindness (in rare cases when injected near the eyes). These are medical procedures and must be performed or supervised by a licensed healthcare provider, such as a physician or nurse practitioner. It is illegal for unlicensed individuals to administer them.
Microneedling
Microneedling uses tiny needles to puncture the skin and promote collagen growth. However, unsanitary tools or improper techniques can lead to infections, scarring, allergic reactions, and worsening of existing skin conditions. DIY kits or unlicensed spa workers performing microneedling can significantly increase the risk of serious injury.
CoolSculpting and fat-dissolving injections
These procedures aim to eliminate fat without surgery. When misused, however, they can result in nerve damage, lumps or uneven skin texture, paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (a condition where fat cells grow instead of shrinking), and tissue damage. Fat-dissolving injections must be performed by licensed medical providers. CoolSculpting, while non-invasive, should still be conducted under appropriate training and supervision to avoid injury.
How common are these types of injuries?
Cosmetic procedures are big business. Per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), more than 26 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in 2022. And, many of these procedures weren’t done in hospitals or doctor’s offices, but in med spas or salons.
Some other key statistics include:
- Dermatology Times reports that “unsupervised non-physician operators are cited in 75% of laser surgery lawsuits.”
- JAMA Network noted that a study looking at the most frequent causes of injuries related to laser surgery revealed that “hair removal was the most common litigated procedure.”
- A survey from 2023 shows that Botox complications like drooping eyelids occur in more than 1 in 100 procedures, with higher risks when performed by inexperienced injectors.
These numbers tell us that cosmetic injuries are not rare, and they’re on the rise.
What should I do if I’ve been injured by a cosmetic procedure?
If you suspect something went wrong during your cosmetic treatment, take the following steps to protect yourself:
- Seek immediate medical care to assess the damage.
- Take photos of your injuries and save any records or receipts from the procedure.
- Avoid contact with the provider until you speak to an experienced lawyer.
- Write down everything you can remember about the treatment, like who performed it, what was said, and what happened afterward.
Most importantly, however, talk to an attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we’ve been helping injured patients for more than 35 years. We know what to look for in these types of cases and how to hold the right people accountable.
Who is responsible for my Brockton laser surgery injury?
Injury claims often come down to negligence. This means someone failed to act with proper care. Depending on your personal situation, the person or business responsible might include:
- A dermatologist or plastic surgeon who used the wrong technique or device
- A spa technician who wasn’t properly trained or licensed
- A med spa that failed to supervise its staff or misled customers about qualifications
- The company that made a defective product or device
In many cases, people are injured by staff who shouldn’t be performing medical procedures at all. Massachusetts has specific rules about who can do what. For example, laser hair removal in Massachusetts must be performed by a licensed electrologist who has received specialized laser certification. These procedures typically require physician supervision.
How much is my Brockton laser surgery injury case worth?
If you suffered injury during a cosmetic or aesthetic procedure, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. With a successful lawsuit, you could recover:
- Your medical bills (including future treatments and surgeries to fix the damage)
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages if you missed work due to your injuries
- Emotional distress from scarring or disfigurement
- In rare cases — such as certain wrongful death claims — punitive damages may be available under Massachusetts law
Sometimes, these injuries are life-altering. A burn on the face or a visible scar can impact your self-esteem, job opportunities, and personal relationships. You deserve compensation for all of it, not just the physical harm.
How can your Brockton laser surgery injury lawyers help with my case?
Cosmetic procedure injuries fall into a unique legal category that often mixes medical malpractice with personal injury law. Our legal team understands the differences and the challenges of both.
We investigate every case thoroughly, working with medical experts when necessary, to prove that the care you received was not only below standard, but caused you real harm. We’ve helped clients just like you win cases against untrained spa workers, negligent doctors and nurses, med spas without proper supervision, and clinics using dangerous or recalled products.
When you choose us, you’re not just getting legal help. You’re getting a team that will fight for your recovery and your dignity.
Talk to our Brockton lawyers today
No one should have to live with the aftermath of a botched cosmetic treatment. Whether you were burned during a laser treatment, injured by a filler injection, or left scarred after a chemical peel, we’re here to help. Call the Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan today for a free consultation. Let us review your case and explain your legal options. You don’t pay us unless we win for you. You trusted someone with your appearance. Now trust us to help you get justice. Call or contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled lawyers.