Woman says plastic surgeon mistreated her

CHARLESTON - A Vienna woman says a trip to a South Charleston plastic surgeon resulted in a herpetic infection on her face.

Christy Durnell filed the lawsuit against W. Andrew Stewart July 11 in Kanawha Circuit Court, alleging that "due to the failure of the defendant to prescribe effective prophylactic antiviral medications prior to performing the dermatological procedures on the plaintiff, the plaintiff sustained a herpetic facial infection which resulted in significant scarring, discoloration and pain."

Parkersburg attorney George Cosenza is handling Durnell's case.

She says she received a medium blue peel to her face, a Botox injection into her mid-forehead and crow's feet area and a Restylane injection to her upper lip on Oct. 7, 2004.

A week later, she reported drainage from her face with blistering, crusting, edema and severe discomfort.

She says she was diagnosed with a herpetic infection and was prescribed Valtrex, Ambien and Darvocet.

Durnell is charging Stewart with failing to exercise the degree of care and skill ordinarily possessed by other physicians and surgeons, failing to display a degree of knowledge, failing to prepare her for dermatological procedures and failing to prescribe effective prophylactic antiviral medications.

She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and court costs. Her husband Thomas is also a plaintiff, claiming his consortium with his wife has been substantially diminished.

Christy Durnell says she has suffered physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, grief, permanent disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life.

Judge Tod Kaufman has been assigned the case.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 06-C-1357