By Lee Kyung-min
A high court upheld Monday a ruling that side effects from breast enlargement surgery should be recognized as a disability that can result in a loss of labor ability.
The court said a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul must pay 57 million won ($49,000) in compensation to a woman who underwent a series of breast enlargement operations.
The woman in her 30s, surnamed Hyeon, had the first surgery at the clinic in 2006; followed by a second operation in 2010. However, she had to undergo a third due to shoulder pain. Because of continuous pain, Hyeon had two additional operations in 2011, resulting in scarring and an asymmetrical appearance.
She demanded the clinic pay 93 million won. A lower court put the clinic’s responsibility at 50 percent, saying she had a partial loss of labor ability. The clinic appealed the decision, saying breasts were not exposed unlike the face and thus any side effects would not cause the loss.
But the high court said the woman is expected to have difficulty breastfeeding in the future, and this can be construed as a loss of labor ability.