Why Another Provider May Refuse to Fix a Botched Aesthetic or Dermatological Procedure
When a plastic surgery or dermatology procedure goes wrong, patients often seek another provider to fix the issue. However, many experienced professionals refuse to take on botched cases from another clinic or doctor. Here’s why:
1. Legal & Ethical Liability
✅ Medical professionals are responsible for their own work.
❌ Fixing someone else's mistake can make the new provider legally liable if complications arise.
- If the correction doesn’t go as planned, the blame could fall on the second provider, even if they weren’t responsible for the original mistake.
🔹 Example: If a botched filler treatment caused vascular occlusion, a new provider treating it might be blamed for negligence, even if they were just trying to fix the problem.
2. Unpredictable Tissue Damage & Healing Issues
✅ A fresh, untouched case is easier to treat than a damaged one.
❌ Scar tissue, nerve damage, or poor healing from the first procedure can make correction riskier.
- Botched treatments can cause permanent tissue changes, making results unpredictable.
- Revision procedures may not work as well as the original treatment.
🔹 Example: A poorly performed laser treatment may have caused deep hypopigmentation or scarring, making further correction risky.
3. Unknown Technique or Products Used
✅ When performing a treatment, doctors know exactly what they injected, removed, or altered.
❌ A new provider has no idea what was done or what products were used.
- Filler Migration: If a patient had cheap, non-FDA-approved fillers injected, a new provider may not know how they will react to correction.
- Laser Settings: If improper laser settings were used, the skin may be too damaged to safely re-treat.
🔹 Example: If another provider used low-quality, permanent fillers, dissolving or correcting them might cause even more complications.
4. Increased Risk, Lower Success Rate
✅ Providers want the best possible outcome.
❌ Correcting a botched job has a higher risk of complications and lower patient satisfaction.
- Scarred or overtreated areas may not respond to correction the same way as untouched skin.
- If the correction doesn’t work, the patient may still be unhappy and blame the second provider.
🔹 Example: A patient with a botched nose job (rhinoplasty) may have weakened cartilage, making revision surgery far more complicated than the first procedure.
5. Reputation Risks for the Second Provider
✅ A good provider builds their reputation on quality work.
❌ Taking on botched cases increases the chance of negative reviews.
- If the correction doesn’t meet the patient’s expectations, they may leave a bad review even if the provider wasn’t responsible for the original problem.
🔹 Example: A patient comes in with severe lip filler overfilling from another clinic. Even after correction, they may not get the natural lips they want, leading to dissatisfaction and complaints.
When Will a Provider Consider Fixing a Botched Procedure?
Some experienced specialists will accept revision cases under these conditions:
✔ A thorough consultation is done to assess the damage and risks.
✔ The patient understands that revision is more difficult and that results may not be perfect.
✔ The provider knows exactly what was done previously (original records, products used, techniques).
✔ The patient is realistic about costs, risks, and possible outcomes.
What Should Patients Do After a Botched Procedure?
🔹 Step 1: Return to the original provider first—they are responsible for addressing complications.
🔹 Step 2: If the original provider is unhelpful, consult a highly specialized expert in revisions (not just any aesthetic doctor).
🔹 Step 3: Be honest and realistic about expectations, risks, and costs of correction.
Final Thoughts
✔ Fixing a botched procedure is far riskier and less predictable than performing the treatment correctly the first time.
✔ Many providers avoid revision work because of legal risks, poor tissue quality, and unknown previous treatments.
✔ Patients should be careful about where they go for procedures in the first place—choosing a reputable provider prevents complications from the start.