How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Laser Hair Removal Burn?

By Jo Anderson. Last Updated 17th January 2024. If you have suffered a burn from laser hair removal, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. However, you will need to prove that the aesthetician performing the procedure breached their duty of care, and that this is what caused you to suffer harm.

Within this guide, we will explain in more depth the eligibility criteria you must meet to be able to make a claim for laser burns. We will also discuss the types of compensation that could be awarded should you make a successful claim. Furthermore, we will share some of the benefits of making a claim with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

If you have any additional questions after finishing this guide, or would like to receive some free advice for your specific claim, you can contact our friendly advisors. They are available 24/7 to help you and be contacted by:

A person's hair being burned off using a laser

Laser hair removal burn compensation

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A Complete Guide To Claiming For Laser Hair Removal Burns

Welcome to our guide to claiming laser hair removal burn compensation. You may be asking; can I sue for laser burns?

If you have sustained burns after or during laser hair removal treatment, you could be able to make a claim for compensation as long as you can prove that the person carrying out the treatment was to blame. For example, they may have failed to carry out a mandatory patch test before your procedure, resulting in you suffering an allergic reaction. In this guide to claiming laser hair removal compensation, we’ll talk you through how you could get the payout that you deserve.

There are a number of different ways that a beauty salon or clinic could be responsible for burns sustained during laser hair removal treatment. Reasons range from failing to maintain equipment properly to failing to conduct the correct health and safety assessments for the procedure.

If you are interested in making a claim for laser hair removal treatment burns, you can find all of the information that you need to know in this guide. This includes information such as:

  • How to make a laser hair removal injury claim
  • What damage you can claim for
  • How much compensation you could be entitled to receive

What Are Common Laser Hair Removal Complications?

While laser hair removal treatment is considered safe, there are a number of complications that can happen. Most of these side effects are extremely rare and only tend to occur if the treatment has been carried out incorrectly. So, let’s take a look at some of the side effects in further detail:

  • General skin surface burns
  • Erythema ab igne – a skin reaction that can be caused by repeated or prolonged exposure to the laser
  • Libido reticularis – a rare condition that can be caused by laser hair removal treatment, which causes the skin to become mottled
  • Bruising – this can last up to 15 days
  • Excessive swelling – this can last up to a week
  • Lightening or darkening of the skin – this can last for a few months afterwards
  • Skin blistering – this can take up to 10 days to heal

Please see the next section to learn what damages you could claim laser hair burn compensation for.

Can I Claim For A Permanent Laser Burn On My Skin?

If you have sustained laser hair removal burn marks, these could potentially be permanent, depending on the extend of the damage. For example, if you suffered extensive blisters from laser hair removal, the marks may not fade.

Being eligible to claim for laser hair removal burn marks means fulfilling certain criteria:

  1. The salon or beautician must have had a duty of care towards you
  2. They must have breached that duty of care
  3. The breach must have caused your injuries

Permanent scars due to burns from laser hair removal could impact both your physical and mental health. If you’re able to claim compensation, your settlement should reflect these factors. 

If you have experienced blisters from laser hair removal, or burns from laser hair removal and would like to know whether you could claim for permanent scarring, please call us. 

Compensation For Laser Hair Removal Burns

Settlements for laser hair removal burns can vary in value depending on various factors and circumstances. They can also be made up of more than one figure. As mentioned earlier, special damages can be included in some payouts. However, this section focuses on general damages and how it can be calculated.

General damages are awarded to compensate you for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. Legal professionals are responsible for arriving at a suitable figure to award you. They do this by using a number of helpful resources, such as medical evidence that’s relevant to your case.

Additionally, they also make use of a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines. Within the JCG, there is a range of monetary figures that relate to various injuries. Each injury is described in detail, along with how severe each one could be.

The JCG is updated on a semi-regular basis. We have included some examples from the 16th edition in the table below. This is the most up-to-date version, published in 2022. Keep in mind that the figures listed are guidelines only. As such, your general damages payment will not necessarily fall within the brackets shown.

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Injury Type Typical Award Bracket Any Further Information
Multiple Severe Injuries with Financial Losses Up to £150,000+ Compensation for multiple injuries that are severe in nature and their financial losses such as medical expenses, loss of income and travel costs.
Very severe facial scaring £29,780 to £97,330 Severe psychological impact. Very disfiguring cosmetic impact. Usually for relatively young women.
Less severe facial scaring £17,960 to £48,420 Substantial disfigurement. Psychological impact.
Significant facial scaring £9,110 to £30,090 Plastic surgery has reduced the worst effects, however there may still be a level of cosmetic disability.
Less significant facial scaring £3,950 to £13,740 Small scars or one scar that can be disguised.
Trivial facial Scarring £1,710 to £3,530 Only minor effects
Scarring to other parts of the body £7,830 to £22,730 Large number of noticeable scars or one that is disfiguring to the arms, legs, hands, back or chest.
Scarring to other parts of the body £2,370 to £7,830 Single noticeable or several minor scars to the arms, hands or legs.
Scarring to other parts of the body £3,950 to £7,340 Full recovery within 2 years.

Laser Hair Removal Burns – What Are Special Damages?

Special damages could be awarded if you have suffered financially as a direct result of your injury. There are many ways that laser hair removal burns can lead to financial losses, for example, you may:

  • Lose out on income if you are unable to work
  • Incur spending costs towards your medical treatment
  • Require cosmetic surgery to help repair the damage

If the laser burns from your hair removal had financially harmed you in ways such as these then you could be eligible to make a claim for special damages.

You would need evidence to prove your losses, such as receipts, invoices and payslips.

You can reach out to a member of our team for information about the compensation you could seek in your claim, and the materials you should collect to help you.

Make A No Win No Fee Laser Hair Removal Burns Compensation Claim

If you are eligible to claim for laser hair removal burns, you may wish to receive legal support on your case.

One of our solicitors could offer to take on your claim under a type of No Win No Fee arrangement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under such an agreement, they would not typically ask you to pay anything upfront for their work or while your claim is progressing. Additionally, you will not have to pay them for their services if your claim ends unsuccessfully.

Should your claim be a success, they would deduct a legally capped percentage of your compensation. This is referred to as a success fee.

To learn whether you could make a claim with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors, you can contact an advisor today. They can be reached by:

Victim of medical negligence talking to a lawyer

Laser hair removal burn compensation

Helpful Links Relating To A Claim For Laser Hair Removal Burns

  • Details from the NHS regarding hair removal via laser – This link takes you to the NHS page covering laser hair removal. You will find lots of useful information regarding the treatment itself. This includes how it is carried out and what you should expect afterwards. Plus, what you should do if you experience any sort of problems.
  • HSE Beauty Industry – This link takes you to the UK Government Health and Safety Executive website. You will find information on the Beauty Sector Strategy 2012 – 2015. This includes details about health and safety issues and how to combat them.
  • Laser information – This link takes you to an official publication from the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Authority regarding lasers and intense light sources.
  • Permanent Scar Injury Claims

Thank you for reading our guide to making a claim for laser hair removal burns and laser hair removal blisters. Hopefully now, you’ll know what makes a laser burn. And, you’ll know whether you could claim for IPL burns or laser hair removal scars.