Plastic surgeons are doctors who treat patients who have birth abnormalities, traumas, or burn wounds. They also assist those who want to enhance their look via cosmetic surgery.
Before entering medical school, a bachelor's degree is required to become a plastic surgeon. Then you must finish a residency.
The first step in becoming a plastic surgeon is to attend medical school. This will allow you to learn more about the field and determine if it is a good fit for you.
Medical schools often demand a good GPA and MCAT score to match students into their programs. It's also a good idea to have as much experience in cosmetic surgery as possible, especially via doctor shadowing as a premed and clinical rotations during med school.
The residency program is the next important step. A medical student who has finished their four-year medical degree would often match into an integrated residency program, such as the one provided at NewYork-Presbyterian. This ACGME-accredited six-year school has a solid record of producing excellent plastic surgeons. Residents devote their time to clinical or fundamental scientific research and attend national events. They must submit their study findings for publication in a prestigious journal, which many do.
It takes four years of medical school and six years of residency to become a plastic surgeon. During that period, you will sit for qualifying and licensing exams, train with a mentor, execute surgeries under supervision, and hone your surgical skills.
After finishing your residency, you will be fully accredited and autonomous in the speciality. You'll also be paid an annual salary of around $60,000.
Residency training is a demanding and thorough experience. Residents must mix medical academics with clinical responsibilities and often work long hours.
The residency program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is an ACGME-accredited 6-year Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program. It offers thorough clinical experiences in the main fields of plastic surgery, including microsurgery, pediatric and craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, and cosmetic surgery.
If you want to become a plastic surgeon, you may do it by participating in a fellowship program. These are often extra years of study added to your medical education. They may be an excellent method to learn more about your speciality while developing professional abilities.
Your CV should contain your academic history, volunteer activities, awards, and other credentials relevant to your area of interest while applying for a fellowship. This is a technique to distinguish yourself from other candidates by highlighting your strengths to the screening committee.
A fellowship experience is also an excellent way to network with people in your industry. Fellows often find employment after their fellowship experiences, directly or via recommendations from supervisors and other network members.
Breast augmentation treatments, tummy tucks, cosmetic facelifts, and rhinoplasty are all included in plastic surgery training. You will also learn how to inject fillers and how to execute surgery.
However, establishing a profitable practice is far from easy. Building and maintaining a successful surgical practice takes years, particularly in today's competitive market, when patients are more aware of their alternatives.
Fortunately, the most effective practices share five key principles. These attributes allow a practice to adapt to changing conditions, enabling long-term development and success.
Compassion and empathy are two of the most crucial. These characteristics are vital in patient-physician interaction, but they take on a special significance when dealing with trauma patients or those with congenital disabilities.