Burns can seriously harm the skin, underlying muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and bone. Additional consequences of severe burns include: Scars and disfigurement Serious emotional and psychological damage Infection during treatment Respiratory distress in patients with severe burns, which is often fatal. Financial costs for severe burns can be prohibitive. Initial medical expenses for emergency burn treatment can exceed $200,000, and lost wages combined with rehabilitation and reconstructive surgery can put the total cost of a burn injury into the millions.