A woman who claims she ended up with multiple wound infections after surgery to remove silicone breast implants has sued in the High Court.
Communications manager Roisin Milmoe (42) told the court after the €7,000 operation on one breast she started bleeding and had to be taken back to theater hours later for a second operation.
Months later, she said she continued to have nightmares about the November 2015 event.
“I would wake up screaming and shouting. It was very painful for me. I was affected by it for months,” she told Judge Denise Brett.
Answering her counsel Aidan Walsh SC who appeared with David McGrath SC, Ms Milmoe said she has significant scarring on her chest and it can be seen nine years after the operation.
Roisin Milmoe of Dundrum, Dublin sued plastic surgeon Labros Chatzis of Baggot Street Lower, Dublin, who carried out the surgery and Sheldon Investments Limited trading as River Medical Group of Pleasants Street, Dublin which managed River Medical Group. in Lower Baggot Street, Dublin for her aftercare.
It is alleged that Ms Milmoe, in October 2015, attended the River Medical Group clinic and was placed under the care of the cosmetic surgeon.
The surgery, a bilateral breast implant removal combined with bilateral breast mastopexy, was carried out by the plastic surgeon on 7th November 2015 in Waterford theatre.
He claimed to have developed multiple post-operative infections that required multiple courses of antibiotics.
Ms Milmoe alleged that there was an alleged failure to treat her appropriately or with the appropriate skills and there was an alleged failure to take any or any appropriate measures regarding potential infection or to prescribe any or any appropriate antibiotics to prevent infection in a timely manner or at all.
It is further alleged that she had delayed her healing and that there was an alleged failure to properly assess the risk of infection.
It is also alleged that during a post-operative check-up at the River Medical Group clinic, a week after the surgery, she was examined by a nurse and it was decided to see a doctor.
All claims are denied by both the defendants and the Sheldon Investments settlement, as River Medical Group also denies providing the implant removal to Ms. Milmoe.
Giving evidence on the first day of her action, Ms Milmoe said she had the implants in Turkey in 2007 and was very happy with them, but after a car accident she was too heavy and opted to have the implant removed.
After the three-hour operation in 2015 she felt very ill and her left breast was bleeding “covering the sheets”. She said she was in agony and after the weekend operation she was discharged home on Monday and was given a painkiller on discharge.
She said she was “really hurt” and by the second week she said she had “empty sores” as the breasts wouldn’t heal.
She told the court that after her operation she expected to have “access to someone who cared” but “I was ignored”.
He said RiverMedical had said there would be a 24/7 aftercare service, but he said they “didn’t”.
After the operation, she said she had to take a course of antibiotics and is now left with a crease in her right nipple as well as scarring in her breast area.
He said it hurt and it felt like chronic pain.
“You can still see the scars nine years later,” he told the judge.
The case continues.
