Plastic surgery is sometimes considered a taboo subject, and other times the butt of jokes. However, plastic surgeons need an enormous amount of skill to do their work well.
People looking to become plastic surgeons need to go through many years of education and training to practice plastic surgery.
Keep reading to learn more about the career of a plastic surgeon and what education is required to become one.
What Do Plastic Surgeons Do?
Plastic surgeons are doctors who use surgical techniques to reconstruct or repair specific parts of the body.
This may be done for purely cosmetic reasons, or it could be because the patient has a birth defect or was disfigured due to an accident or injury.
Patients may also request plastic surgery to improve their quality of life. For example, someone may have a rhinoplasty to fix a deviated septum so they can breathe better.
Plastic surgery is a broad field, and the job of a plastic surgeon can vary depending on their specialty. Typical job duties include:
- Caring for and repairing large wounds
- Consulting with the patient to determine what surgical procedures should be done
- Grafting skin from one area of the body to another
- Helping patients understand how they'll look when the procedure is finished
- Monitoring patient vitals during surgery
- Performing procedures to expand tissue
- Preparing prosthesis for surgery
- Transferring tissue from one area of the body to another
Plastic surgery requires both comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology as well as an artistic eye, much more so than other types of medical specialties.
Education Requirements to Become a Plastic Surgeon
To become a plastic surgeon, you'll need to undergo several years of education, pass a few different national exams, go through specialized training, and earn your license.
There are many schools for aspiring plastic surgeons to choose from. There are also several plastic surgery courses to take.
We've broken down all the requirements to become a plastic surgeon below.
Undergraduate Requirements to Become a Plastic Surgeon
Before you can begin medical school, you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree. This is a four-year undergraduate degree.
There is no specific major required for medical school, but many medical schools require you to have taken certain courses, such as biology, chemistry, and physics.
The most common field for pre-med students is the biological sciences, but students also major in areas like health science, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences.
Before you can make it into medical school, you'll also need to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). This is a standardized test offered by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).
The MCAT is a multiple-choice exam broken into four sections. These are:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Medical School Requirements to Become a Plastic Surgeon
Once you've been accepted into medical school, you'll begin your general medical training. Typically, medical school is four years long.
The first year is usually spent in class completing coursework. During the second year, students often begin clinical rotations.
During clinical rotations, students spend several weeks at a time in different departments. This gives them first-hand education and training.
After you've started medical school, you'll be eligible to take the first two steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
You won't be able to take the third and final step of the USMLE until you've spent at least one year in post-graduate training.
Post-Graduate Requirements to Become a Plastic Surgeon
After you complete medical school, you'll need to spend time in residency before you can earn your medical license. Residency programs for plastic surgery are typically six years long.
During your first year of residency, called your surgical internship, you'll learn the basics of patient management and fundamental surgical techniques.
You'll likely spend a lot of time either in the classroom or in general surgery, though you may be able to rotate through other surgical specialties.
Once you reach your second year, you'll have a mix of general surgery and plastic surgery. You'll participate in consults and take on more responsibility in the operating room.
As you progress through your residency, you'll take on more challenging tasks and have less oversight.
Work a Fellowship
Plastic surgeons who want to specialize in a specific area, like hand surgery or craniofacial surgery, will continue with a fellowship.
Fellowships allow physicians to study a subspecialty within their area of specialization. These can vary in length depending on the subspecialty.
During your fellowship, you will be a licensed doctor and earn a salary through the health care facility you are doing your fellowship at.
After your first year of graduate training, you can take the final step of the USMLE. This exam focuses on how you apply your clinical knowledge to patient management.
Once you've passed this step, you can apply for your medical license through your state. You may have to complete other steps, like a background check as well.
Become a Plastic Surgeon
To become a plastic surgeon, you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree, go to medical school, complete a residency, and pass the required exams.
You may also need to complete a fellowship. With the information above, you can be on your way to a career in plastic surgery today!
