An influencer alleges her prosperous social media career ended after a purportedly flawed breast augmentation, prompting her to sue the doctor responsible for a substantial sum.
Danielle Mansutti, aged 30, had a flourishing digital presence, sharing content related to fashion, lifestyle, and beauty with her considerable social media followers prior to undergoing surgery.
She asserts that her career suffered after receiving ‘overly large’ breast implants in December 2020, resulting in her claiming the procedure ‘ruined’ it.
Following the surgery and reportedly facing ‘asymmetry between the breasts,’ Mansutti underwent multiple corrective surgeries and subsequently left the UK. She currently holds a more traditional job in Australia.
In her legal documents, Mansutti contends that her initial surgeon, Dr. Domenico Mileto, advised her to opt for ‘oversized’ implants that have left her ‘disfigured’.
The ex-influencer is seeking £1.7 million ($2,240,000) from the Harley Street plastic surgeon, claiming she suffers from ‘pain’ and disability due to damage to her pectoral muscles.
The surgeon has denied these allegations, maintaining that he did not insert larger implants than requested and that the surgery was conducted correctly.
Previously residing in Brighton, Mansutti began her YouTube journey in January 2011.
During her tenure on the platform, she gathered 1.6 million subscribers, frequently uploading makeup tutorials, vlogs, and travel content on her self-named channel.
Roughly two months prior to ceasing her online activities, Mansutti consulted with Dr. Mileto.
The court documents reveal that Mansutti initially visited the doctor in November 2020, expressing her desire to enhance her 34B breasts to a ‘C/D’ cup.
“The claimant explained to Dr Mileto that she wanted a natural breast appearance, She was a size eight dress size and was sure she did not want the appearance of obviously augmented breasts,” barrister Caroline Hallissey outlined in the submitted documents.
“She was given two or three implants to try, in the range 350-400cc, which were inserted into a sports bra provided by the clinic… when she expressed a preference for the smaller implant, Dr Mileto advised her to go for the larger implant as he said the implant would ‘drop’ and ‘shrink’ in time.”
The lawsuit claims Mansutti trusted Dr. Mileto’s expertise, believing that a 400cc implant was necessary to achieve the desired ‘natural look’ that she wanted.
The filing further notes that she was ‘not advised of any specific risks pertaining to the size of the implant that Dr Mileto had selected for her’.
“She was not advised that 400cc implants, in the context of her small frame, had potential adverse implications for the soft tissue and skin of the breasts or her pectoral muscles (or that) corrective surgery might be required if such large implants were used,” it adds.
In January 2021, a month post-surgery, Mansutti had an appointment with a clinic nurse.
It was during this follow-up that she first raised concerns about her left breast ‘dropping’, causing her nipple to ‘point outwards’.
This led to her undergoing her first revision surgery.
Although it offered ‘short-term relief of the pain,’ her breast continued to ‘descend lower on the chest wall’.
Following a second opinion from another surgeon, she was informed that the 400cc implants were disproportionate for her size eight frame, as stated in the documents.
During a third surgery in May 2021, Mansutti’s implants were removed, resulting in a ‘visual deformity’ due to muscle damage and stretch marks.
The notes from the third surgeon indicate ‘the pectoral muscle on the left side had become detached from the sternal bone,’ as mentioned by the barrister.
“The appearance of her breasts is disfigured and pain and muscle damage have had a significant effect on her quality of life and ability to work.”
Following the surgeries, Mansutti moved to Australia to be with her family for their ‘support and care’.
The aftermath of the initial surgery and subsequent corrective procedures left Mansutti with a ‘very poor appearance’, according to the filing.
As a result of the physical and psychological toll of her experience, she ceased her work as an influencer, effectively losing her ‘social media career’ and accusing Dr Mileto of causing damage to her chest muscles.
“The claimant was a suitable candidate for breast augmentation with an appropriately-sized implant in the region of 250cc,” the barrister remarked in the court documents.
“Implants of this size would have achieved a C/D cup size without the need for further intervention. The surgery would have been straightforward, achieved a good cosmetic result and would not have required correction.”
Mansutti accuses Dr. Mileto of failing to ‘recommend and insert an appropriate implant size and shape’ and instead using ‘overly large implants’, resulting in ‘extensive scarring to her breasts’.
“The cosmetic appearance of her breasts is poor. She has sustained a significant adjustment reaction to the failed surgery,” the lawsuit states.
She is pursuing $2.2 million in damages, with the court considering the potential for experts to assess her ‘income streams’ to determine her financial losses since shutting down her online business.
The court may also call upon a psychiatric expert and a breast surgery expert, as discussed last week.
“Liability is in dispute in regard to everything: the consent, the examination, the size of the implants,” the judge was informed.
In response to the allegations, Dr. Mileto’s attorney, Matthew Barnes, argued that his client had given Mansutti the opportunity to try ‘several implant sizes’ before her surgery.
“The claimant showed… a photograph of how she wanted to look, and whilst he did not keep a copy, it was consistent with 400cc implants,” he stated.
“He provided the claimant with the option to try several implant sizes and take photographs for consideration after the appointment.
“He advised the claimant that she could have a second appointment if she was uncertain about the size.”
Barnes admitted, however, that the plastic surgeon did not inform Mansutti that the implants might have adverse effects on her pectoral muscles due to her small frame.
“It is averred that the extent of the dissection was appropriate for the 400cc implant,” he added.
The case between Mansutti and Dr. Mileto is set to return to court for a five-day trial at a future date.