If a dog bite left you with significant scarring, tissue damage, or disfigurement, plastic surgery is often a real part of recovery. Nevada law treats reconstructive costs as recoverable damages in a dog bite claim, and that includes both immediate reconstruction and future revision surgeries that happen years down the road.
Dog bites cause serious damage, especially to the face, hands, and neck. Research published by the NIH on facial dog bite reconstruction found that over 75% of patients with facial injuries required surgery, and many needed multiple procedures before achieving the best outcome.
The most common reconstructive procedures include primary closure done immediately after the attack, skin grafting to replace lost or damaged tissue, flap reconstruction for deeper structural damage using skin or muscle from another part of the body, and scar revision to minimize or reshape scars, which is typically performed months or years after the initial injury.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that nearly 19,000 people underwent reconstructive procedures for dog bites in a single recent year. These aren’t quick fixes. Facial injuries in particular often require several rounds of revision surgery and extended recovery time.
Understanding what infections can develop after a dog bite matters here. Untreated infections complicate wound closure and can increase the scope of reconstruction you’ll eventually need.
Yes. Nevada law allows victims to recover medical expenses from a negligent dog owner, and that includes the full cost of reconstructive and plastic surgery. This covers emergency wound repair after the attack, follow-up scar revision procedures, surgeries your treating physician has projected for the future, and recovery costs tied to each procedure.
Nevada dog bite liability under NRS 202.500 is grounded in negligence. If the owner failed to control a dog with known dangerous tendencies, their liability extends to every cost your injury creates, including surgeries that happen years down the road.
ASPS findings on complex dog bites confirm how often severe cases require not just initial surgery, but hospitalization and multiple follow-up procedures. All of those cumulative costs belong in your claim.
Homeowner’s insurance coverage for dog bites is the most common source of payment on these claims in Nevada. These policies frequently cover plastic surgery costs, disfigurement damages, and anticipated future medical expenses.
No. Delaying necessary medical treatment to protect your case usually backfires. Nevada courts and insurance adjusters look for consistent, reasonable care following an attack. Gaps in treatment raise questions about the severity of your injuries. Staying current with your treatment during your case is one of the most important steps you can take.
What matters most is documentation. Your plastic surgeon should clearly record the medical necessity of each procedure and project what additional surgeries are likely based on your current condition. That documentation becomes part of your claim and protects your right to future compensation.
The CDC’s data on dog bite injuries reflects how medically serious these attacks can be. Insurance companies know this and often push for quick settlements before your full surgical picture emerges. A Nevada dog bite attorney helps make sure the timeline of your medical treatment doesn’t work against the value of your claim.
Scarring and disfigurement are treated as non-economic damages in Nevada, separate from your medical bills. They compensate for the emotional and quality-of-life impact of permanent changes to your appearance, including the psychological weight of living with visible scarring on the face, neck, or hands.
Visible scarring in prominent areas typically increases case value significantly. Therapy and psychological support for dog bite victims is also part of full recovery, and those costs are recoverable in your claim alongside the physical ones.
Your attorney will work with medical experts to establish what your scarring means over the long term. Future plastic surgery costs that are medically anticipated, but not yet incurred, can be factored into settlement negotiations or a jury award.
Facing reconstructive surgery after a dog attack changes the entire scope of what your case is worth. Meesha Moulton Law helps Nevada residents understand their full damages and fight for compensation that covers every surgical need, current and future. Contact us to talk through your situation.
