This cannot be right...

[LaurieFairyCake]

I had facial fillers done by an experienced dentist at a cost of £350

They have caused 6 weeks of issues, 5 visits to A and E, drainage at A and E, 6 courses of antibiotics as the infection raged all over my face, prevented me from
Working, taken multiple days off, I have thrush in every orifice , they have had me postpone major surgery as the infection would not come under control

And now they want to charge me the same amount to dissolve it

They have accepted it's a rare bacteria caused by the fillers that the antibiotics can't get to

Is this in any way reasonable?

What would anyone else do?

I have no idea of the legal situation but I am so sorry you’ve been through all that!! you poor thing.

Wow! That's rare! You poor thing that's just appalling. It depends how the bacteria was introduced and how they responded to such a severe problem. If they are in any way responsible by incorrectly storing the fillers (maybe using half on another patient or not sterilising needles properly) then you can probably sue them.

As for charging you to dissolve it are they fucking mad? Things happen with medicine. But my god they should be putting this right.

I'm guessing there's plenty of organisations you can complain to and plenty of solicitors you can use who specialise in medical negligence. And I say this as someone who wouldn't normally complain or sue.

However do check that you followed any post filler instructions.

I'm sure there's no way I could prove they did anything incorrectly

I'm shocked beyond belief that they want to charge me to dissolve what they put in I'm proper horrified

Since my only alternative is to go back to the oral surgeon I've seen and cut it out (they don't dissolve fillers on the nhs) leaving me with a hole in my face, scarring, needing plastic surgery....

It's not like I have a lot of choice

Well if a bacteria is only usually passed a certain way then it is clearly negligence. It didn't just jump out of nowhere did it?

But your immediate problem is getting it out. But that means the bacteria is in the filler? How can that not be their fault?

Yuk. That's why the thought of fillers fills me with horror. Dentists live in fear of being sued so I would be more forceful in pointing out their error, if indeed they are at fault.

Im a regular with fillars and get mine done by a practicing nurse

I asked her about what would happen if anything went wrong and she basically said that her disclaimer covers her and tells potential clients that there is a risk of bruising swelling infections and much worse and waivers her liability. Did you sign simmilar

Will the dissolution resolve the infection? Can you go see someone else for that as i would have lost trust in dentist now

Sorry your in this situation

I've no idea if it will resolve the infection

But since the other option is to have surgery where they cut away at my face I'm not sure I have a choice

I think it would be really difficult to find someone else to dissolve it (because of Covid)

You're quite right I don't trust her now. The best outcome of this is that I will have paid £750 (for the filler and then the dissolve) to have NO filler in one side of my face - leaving me lopsided and with 6 weeks of constant A and E visits

I don't think I signed anything

I'd suggest getting legal advice and perhaps getting a strongly worded letter from a solicitor/lawyer stating that given the circumstances the filler needs to be dissolved at no cost to yourself, if the legal representation thinks that's a possible route. Alternatively pay up now and then go through medical negligence lawyers and see if you can recoup your money.

I’d just pay it and then take it up with a lawyer. You could possibly do it on a no win/no fee basis.
Alternatively, you could take it to small claims.
It doesn’t matter what you sign/didn’t sign. If they’re negligent then they are legally responsible.

I don't want to sue anyone, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to prove she was negligent.

What I want is my face fixed. I was actually thinking they would refund the cost of the fillers, not charge me a further £350 to remove them

Check your house insurance for legal cover. You may not want to but may have to threaten legal action.

From the dentist's point of view, dissolving is a procedure, just like the fillers were.

Personally I'd go back to the surgeon and ask if she/he dissolves fillers privately or can refer you to someone who does.

I thought dentists were teeth specialists. Why are dentists allowed to do this sort of thing?

The surgeon doesn't dissolve them. I'd be much happier to pay someone highly trained like an oral surgeon to do this. She said on the phone that they are having to do a lot of drainages of fillers - mine closed up and didn't drain when they did it.

For 6 weeks mine has been hot, swollen, painful to the touch - I'm getting really worried now

You need an opinion from an expert third party. There was a program on BBC1 last night that had several experts on, and the name of a support organisation that can give you further advice. Can't recall the name but it was presented by Michael Mosley. Have a watch and see where they can guide

Weren't facial treatments still banned six weeks ago?

www.saveface.co.uk/

I'm not sure I understand. You should have signed something before a medical procedure - otherwise you didn't give consent.
All procedures have complication risks, including infection, so it's erroneous to jump to the conclusion that they were automatically negligent just because this happened. That would need to be proved separately.
I wouldn't wait to prove negligence before getting it corrected as your health is at risk in the mean time.
If you don't trust your original practitioner find another you have confidence in.
But you paid privately for a non-necessary procedure that had risks, unfortunately one of these risks has occured for you. You've had help from the NHS as best they can despite this not being an NHS procedure, and j think it's unreasonable to expect to have the private procedure that is the solution to the problem caused by another private procedure paid for you.
Complications happen.
If you want to go down the route of proving negligence you can try and then you may get some financial compensation.
But get it sorted first and pay if you have to.

Yes, I have no idea if they were negligent. I will also check if they shouldn't have been doing this in lockdown.

Yes, I have lost trust in her and I've phoned multiple more experienced practitioners this morning and no one wants to correct someone else work

6 weeks ago, fillers etc were still not legally allowed under COVID restrictions, surely?

The bacteria likely got in because either (a) they didn't clean the injection site properly (b) something contaminated the needle or cannula between opening the packaging and administering the filler (c) there was some bacteria in the filler vial from production.

They will have made you sign a consent form which passes the risk over to you, unfortunately. Unless you go the route of publicly naming and shaming then I don't think they will do anything to fix it.
Doesn't make it right or fair that you are going through this though.

I wouldn’t assume that signing a consent form gives you no rights.

I used to have a job doing a leisure activity with a bit of risk. Everyone had to sign consent forms but had anything gone wrong I was still liable if it was something that I should have prevented. If your infection was caused by their unhygienic practices then they are still liable.

It must have been against COVID rules if you had it done 6 weeks ago?

I'm pretty sure that signing a consent form doesn't absolve them of all responsibility if something goes wrong, otherwise there would be no need for insurance.

Perhaps it's worth asking on the Legal board on here.

Yes, that's why I'm asking on the legal board and I do very much appreciate all your opinions

It's entirely possible that it was not within Covid restrictions - I have a letter confirming the date they did it (actually an email as well inviting me for the appointment)

I'm not sure if that helps me at all since clearly I agreed to it ?

I would not want to publicly name or shame them, I don't do social media at all

I do think it's unreasonable for me to pay for it as the consequences have been very serious for me but it's possible no one would agree with me on that

I will basically have paid £700 to have a lopsided face or no fillers at all if she removes both sides

Seems a very expensive lesson in vanity for me with no consequences for her or her business