Plastic Surgeon - A Career with Art in Medicine

Cosmetic surgery is often used to improve a patient's appearance. What many do not know is that it is also used extensively to improve and restore one's body after a traumatic accident or a debilitating illness. Many have sought a plastic surgeon after a car accident or a bout with cancer. People with birth defects also benefit from the services of these physicians. Due to the high difficulty of plastic surgery, the educational requirements are extremely stringent for this occupation. It is nonetheless a worthy consideration when looking to become a medical doctor.

In order to become a plastic surgeon one must first earn a bachelors degree. There is a misconception that in order to become a physician one must major in science in undergrad. This is not true. While focusing on biology or chemistry may help in forming a strong foundation for the sciences, it is not necessarily mandatory to become an MD. One must simply take the prerequisite courses in science; but they are also welcome to study whatever they are passionate about. An art major may actually find the field of cosmetic surgery is appealing to them because while it is clearly a highly specialized field of health care, it demands an artist's touch and aesthetic taste.

After one's bachelor degree it is necessary to attend an accredited medical school. This involves four years of training and education to learn the fundamentals of being a physician. The beginning of this training is in the classroom, while the final two years actually put them in a hospital setting where they gain the experience and skills necessary for a clinical setting. These four years of education are followed by more education in which they are a resident. They are now fully qualified doctors, but they are still learning the precise craft of surgery. Usually this means three years of general surgery to refine their technique working on the body, followed by a few years of residency specifically in cosmetic surgery. After these five or six years of residency the person is fully a qualified and may decide to practice general cosmetic surgery.

More often than not, a plastic surgeon will choose to spend a few more years doing a fellowship in a specialty. This makes them particularly qualified to work on one area of the body or to do one type of procedure. Some choose to become specialists in breast augmentation and reconstruction. Others are focused on repairing the face or eyes. Regardless of the specialty, each plastic surgeon is qualified to do all basic surgical work to the body.

It is a lot of work to become a plastic surgeon and it demands a desire to excel and challenge one's skill and creativity. A mastery of anatomy and physiology is necessary for the re-creation and construction of absent or damaged structures. It is not the field for everyone who wants to be a doctor, but it can be a thrilling and challenging career for those who are up to the task.