Woman wins payout over Tunisia breast op
A woman whose breast incision reopened after enhancement surgery has been awarded £12,000 in compensation, her lawyers said.
Alison Chapman, 45, from Hampshire, suffered a "horrendous" ordeal after the surgery in Tunisia, they said.
Ms Chapman returned to the clinic for a corrective procedure but a cut in her breast tore open once back in the UK.
Her solicitors said they had secured the claim from the credit card company Ms Chapman used to pay for the surgery.
The mother of one from Hedge End opted for breast enhancement after suffering from low self-esteem over the size and shape of her breasts.
After the procedure at Clinique El Menzah, Ms Chapman returned to the Tunisian clinic as she was disappointed with the results, which she felt had left her breasts uneven.
She was left in agony when she arrived back in the UK and a wound to her left breast tore open when she had a shower.
After developing septicaemia, Ms Chapman underwent surgery to close the wound and had two further operations to replace the implants and repair the scar.
Ms Chapman said: "I'd been deeply unhappy about my figure for years and didn't take the decision to have the breast surgery lightly.
"I looked on the internet and when I came across the clinic in Tunisia it seemed professional, so I made the decision to go.
"It's now one of the biggest regrets of my life.
"I was in absolute agony after the second operation and knew something wasn't right, but when I called the clinic for advice no-one could help.
"It was horrendous. I took a hot shower to try and relieve the pain and was absolutely horrified when my breast burst open."
Ms Chapman said it took three years of reconstructive surgery to repair the wound and reduce the scarring.
She said she now felt "more self-conscious than ever before".
"I hope my story acts as a warning to anyone else considering having cosmetic surgery abroad," she added.
The director of Clinique El Menzah argued the operation had been a success and so did not accept responsibility.
The majority of the compensation Ms Chapman received from insurance cover was for the cost of two corrective operations she had in the UK.
Her solicitor, Sandeep Aujla, said: "The problems suffered by Alison are increasingly common and can have terrible consequences."