In the beginning of your question, you said that the surgery occurred nine years ago.  If that occurred in KS, it is too late to file a lawsuit as you have missed the statute of limitations.  If it occurred in another state, you may still have time to file your lawsuit.  There are only a few states in which you have not missed the statute of limitations if the surgery occurred nine years ago.However, near the end of your question, you said that the original rhinoplasty surgery occurred a year and a half ago.  If that is the case, you have not missed the statute of limitations and can still file your lawsuit, but should do so immediately as the statute of limitations is rapidly approaching.  If the statute of limitations expires, your daughter has lost her rights forever in the matter.Medical malpractice is negligence.  Negligence is the failure to exercise due care (that degree of care that a reasonable medical practitioner in the community would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances to prevent foreseeable harm).If your daughter is a minor, you will need to be appointed guardian ad litem to file a lawsuit on her behalf.Damages (monetary compensation you are seeking in your lawsuit for negligence) would include compensation for the medical bills and compensation for pain and suffering.Compensation for the medical bills is straight reimbursement.  Compensation for pain and suffering is an amount in addition to the medical bills based on the medical reports.