Burn Injury Claims: Can You Get Compensation for Future Plastic Surgery?

• March 14, 2025
• The Stoddard Firm
• Catastrophic Injury

Future plastic surgery for burn injuries plays a vital role in healing and rebuilding lives. These surgeries can help repair damaged skin, release tightened areas that restrict movement, and improve a burn survivor’s confidence and well-being.

However, the cost of these procedures, especially over a lifetime, can be a lot. If you’ve suffered a serious burn injury, you may wonder whether you can include the costs of future plastic surgeries in your claim.

The good news is that compensation for future medical expenses, including surgeries, can often be pursued as part of burn injury claims in Atlanta. With the right legal support, you can ensure that your long-term needs are accounted for and funded by the party responsible for your injury.

At The Stoddard Firm, we know how critical it is to account for these future needs. As experienced Atlanta burn injury lawyers, we work with medical experts, life care planners, and financial professionals to ensure our clients’ claims reflect the true scope of their injuries and ongoing needs.

Why Future Plastic Surgery Is Often Necessary

Burn injuries can cause damage far beyond what’s visible to the eye. The scarring and disfigurement they leave behind often require more than just initial treatment to heal. Future plastic surgery is a key part of recovery for many burn survivors.

For some, scars from burn injuries can tighten over time, a condition known as contracture. This tightening can limit mobility in areas like the hands, arms, or neck, making everyday tasks difficult. Reconstructive plastic surgery is often necessary to release this tightened skin and improve movement.

Even when mobility isn’t impacted, the psychological toll of visible scars can be immense. Survivors often struggle with self-confidence and emotional trauma from their altered appearance. Plastic surgery helps restore a sense of normalcy, easing the mental burden and helping survivors regain their confidence.

In many cases, these procedures aren’t a one-time solution. Burn injuries often require multiple surgeries spread over years as the body continues to heal and adjust. For survivors, future plastic surgery is an essential part of rebuilding their lives—physically, emotionally, and functionally.

Types of Future Plastic Surgery Covered in Claims

Plastic surgery procedures go beyond improving appearance; they help restore function, reduce discomfort, and improve quality of life. Here’s a closer look at the types of future plastic surgeries that are often included in burn injury claims:

Scar Revision

Scar revision surgery focuses on minimizing the visibility of scars and improving the functionality of the affected area. Depending on the severity and location of the scars, several techniques may be used:

• Excision: The scar tissue is surgically removed, and the wound is carefully closed with stitches to create a less noticeable scar.
• Grafting: Skin grafts, where healthy skin is taken from one area of the body and placed over the injured site, are commonly used to improve the texture and appearance of scarred areas.
• Laser Therapy: This non-invasive option is often used to reduce redness, flatten raised scars, or improve skin texture.

Tissue Expansion

This technique is particularly useful in reconstructing larger areas that have sustained significant damage. Tissue expansion involves inserting a balloon expander under the skin near the area of the scar.

Over time, this expander is gradually filled with water or air to stretch the skin. The extra-grown skin is then used to reconstruct or replace areas damaged by burns, allowing for a more natural healing process and appearance.

Reconstructive Surgery

Reconstructive surgeries are designed to restore function and repair specific areas of the body affected by burn injuries. These procedures may include:

• Face: Reconstruction of facial features to restore symmetry and improve functionality, such as repairing the lips or nose.
• Hands: Procedures to improve mobility and dexterity if scar tissue has caused stiffness or contractures.
• Eyelids: Reconstructing eyelids to protect the eyes and maintain vision, especially in cases where burns have damaged their structure.

Revision Surgeries

Burn recovery is often an ongoing process, and initial surgeries may not be the last. Over time, patients may require revision surgeries to address complications, improve outcomes, or adapt to changes in their body. For example:

• Scar tissue may thicken or tighten over time, limiting movement and requiring additional surgical intervention.
• Advances in medical technology might offer new options for improving the results of earlier procedures.

Proving the Need for Future Plastic Surgery

Proving the need for future plastic surgery is a crucial element of burn injury claims. Unlike some other medical treatments, future surgeries require clear and convincing evidence to ensure they are accounted for in your compensation.

1. Medical Documentation from Healthcare Providers

To establish the necessity of future plastic surgery, your attorney will work closely with healthcare providers to gather detailed medical documentation. This often includes records from treating physicians, surgeons, and specialists who can testify to the long-term impact of your burn injury.

These experts may explain how the scars or damaged tissues will likely evolve over time and why additional surgeries will be essential to improve functionality, appearance, or both.

2. Life Care Plan

A comprehensive life care plan for burn injury victims plays a pivotal role in this process. This plan outlines your long-term medical needs, detailing each recommended surgical procedure, follow-up care, and related expenses. It provides the court or insurance company with a clear picture of how your injury will continue to affect your life in the years to come.

3. Visual Evidence

In some cases, visual evidence, such as photos of the injuries and their progression, can also be persuasive. This, combined with expert opinions, can help establish that future plastic surgery isn’t a luxury but a medical necessity to improve your quality of life.

4. Psychological Evaluations

Additionally, psychological evaluations are often crucial in substantiating the need for cosmetic surgeries. These evaluations can demonstrate the emotional and psychological impact of visible scars and how subsequent surgeries can contribute to emotional recovery and mental health.

Including Future Costs in Your Claim

Future plastic surgery costs are categorized as medical expenses and can be claimed as part of the damages in burn injury claims. These expenses are recognized not only for their immediate necessity but for the ongoing medical care they signify.

Your attorney plays a critical role in negotiating with insurance companies to ensure that the costs of future plastic surgeries are included in your settlement. This process involves a thorough presentation of your medical prognosis, supported by expert opinions and detailed documentation.

The goal here is to secure a settlement that fully accounts for these future needs without your having to worry about paying for them out of pocket. Insurance companies may initially resist recognizing the full extent of future medical costs, but a skilled lawyer will advocate on your behalf.

Estimating future medical expenses requires a detailed and methodical approach. Factors considered include medical inflation, which accounts for the rising costs of healthcare services over time, and life expectancy, which helps gauge how long the injured person will need ongoing care.

Medical experts and economists often collaborate to project these costs, using current treatment prices as a baseline and adjusting for expected changes. This projection ensures that the compensation you receive is not only adequate for your needs today but also sufficient for your future.

How an Atlanta Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help

Here is how a burn injury lawyer can help with your case:

• Gathering Evidence: Your lawyer will collect medical records, life care plans, and expert opinions to show why future plastic surgeries are necessary.
• Negotiating With Insurance Companies: Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts. Your lawyer will stand up for you and negotiate to make sure you get fair compensation for your future medical needs.
• Calculating Future Expenses: Your lawyer will work with medical experts to estimate the costs of all future surgeries, follow-up care, and other related expenses, so nothing is left out of your claim.
• Representing You in Court: If a fair settlement isn’t offered, your lawyer will be prepared to take your case to court and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Burn Injury Lawyer in Atlanta

A well-prepared life care plan for burn injury is a key component in securing compensation for future medical expenses. This document outlines the ongoing treatment and surgeries you may require, serving as powerful evidence in your case.

If you’re filing a burn injury claim in Atlanta, it’s important to act quickly and strategically. Insurance companies often undervalue claims or fail to account for future costs like plastic surgery, leaving survivors to bear the financial burden. Working with an Atlanta burn injury lawyer who understands the complexities of these cases can make all the difference in ensuring you get the support you need.

At The Stoddard Firm, we understand the challenges burn injury survivors face and are here to guide you through the legal process. Compensation for future medical expenses, including surgeries, is your right under the law.

We will ensure that your claim reflects the full extent of your current and future needs, so you can move forward without worrying about how to afford necessary care.