Pop Star Wins £450,000 for Botched Cosmetic Surgery

A former contestant on Celebrity Big Brother and frontman of pop group Dead or Alive has won damages of £450,000 after a cosmetic surgeon who treated his lips admitted negligence.

Pete Burns, 49, was treated by Dr Maurizio Viel at a London clinic after he experienced problems with a previous lip implant that had shrunk.

Dr Viel injected Mr Burns with a cosmetic filler called Outline, even though the product came with a specific warning that it should not be used in conjunction with other implants or fillers. He then administered a great many follow-up injections, which was also contrary to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Mr Burns later developed lumps and swelling and experienced discharge from his lips. As a result, he had to have corrective surgery, over a period of 18 months, to try to remove the product from his lips. Even after this, it is likely that Mr Burns will suffer a recurrence of the symptoms, which will require further treatment.

After the case was brought against him, Dr Viel admitted liability for many aspects of the claim – chiefly that he had failed to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when administering the filler.