Plastic Surgeon Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a plastic surgeon. Feel free to use our plastic surgeon job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a plastic surgeon.
Who is a Plastic Surgeon?
Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on restoring, reconstructing, or changing the human body. Reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery are the two basic types of surgery. Craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery, and burn therapy are all examples of reconstructive surgery. While reconstructive surgery tries to rebuild or improve the function of a body part, cosmetic (or aesthetic) surgery aims to improve its look.
A plastic surgeon is a licensed medical doctor who specializes in tissue transfer, body sculpting, and laser surgery, as well as patient interactions, trauma care, and basic surgery procedures. The restoration of normal form and function is the goal of plastic and reconstructive surgery. It is a diverse specialty that involves both adults and children and covers a wide range of problems in various body sections. Ears, faces, trunks, hands, and other extremities are all shaped and moulded by plastic surgeons. They can also help with congenital issues including faulty bone structure in the hands or feet. Reconstructive surgery fixes or replaces body parts destroyed by accidents, sickness, or abnormality, whereas cosmetic surgery reshapes normal body parts for aesthetic reasons. Plastic surgeons specialize in reconstructive surgery. Patients with birth problems, injuries, infections, or burns can be seen by them. Many plastic surgeons opt to specialize in cosmetic surgery, which involves performing operations to improve a patient’s appearance or aesthetic. However, not all cosmetic doctors are plastic surgeons.
Plastic surgery encompasses far more than just “cosmetic or aesthetic” procedures. Cosmetic surgery is the most apparent and certainly the most glamorous aspect of plastic surgery, yet it is only a minor part of the field. Plastic surgery can be performed to improve a person’s appearance as well as to restore a patient’s appearance after an accident, cancer, or another disease. A plastic surgeon can operate on almost any portion of the body, and many specialize in one area, such as the head and neck or the hands. Plastic surgeons do not have control over a disease like cancer specialists do, nor do they have control over a body part like heart surgeons do. They treat disorders all over the body and frequently collaborate with other doctors in a multidisciplinary group. Plastic surgeons learn specialized skills and expertise, such as how to make a flap graft or design a skin graft. They learn how to move tissue from one part of the body to another, how to treat complex wounds, and how to employ implantable materials like plastic and metal.
Plastic surgeons can fix the bones of the face and skull, restore cleft lips or palates, reconnect severed fingers, toes, or limbs, and cure congenital abnormalities in addition to doing cosmetic procedures like facelifts. Because microvascular plastic surgery is so sensitive, it necessitates the use of a microscope and sutures that are finer than human hair. Burn victims frequently require plastic surgery to cover scarred or injured skin. Plastic surgery may be required for patients who have suffered traumatic injuries. Although plastic surgery is a large and hard discipline, it provides a level of lifestyle flexibility not found in other surgical specialties. In either an academic or private practice context, a plastic surgeon can have a thriving practice. The practice’s concentration may be on areas like trauma, where the work can be fascinating and unpredictable. It could also be focused on elective surgery, such as breast reconstruction or aesthetic surgery, where the lifestyle can be more managed.
One may also choose to participate in academic plastic surgery research, which is highly active in institutions across the country and all around the world. Regardless of the sort of practice a plastic surgeon chooses, those who select plastic surgery as a profession may expect to face new problems in a field that is constantly evolving. They will be able to create a practice that is tailored to their personal objectives. Most significantly, they will gain satisfaction from being able to assist patients in a variety of ways. You may do elective surgery to improve a person’s look or necessary surgery to correct a physical flaw or injury as a plastic surgeon. Special abilities, such as employing grafts, performing tissue transfers, or inserting implanted materials, may be required while performing plastic surgery. As part of the training, you may wish to specialize in a specific type of plastic surgery. The following are the 10 most common plastic surgery procedures:
- Liposuction
- Breast Augmentation
- Blepharoplasty
- Abdominoplasty
- Breast Reduction
- Rhinoplasty
- Rhytidectomy
- Breast Lift
- Forehead Lift
- Gynecomastia Surgery
Plastic Surgeon Job Description
Below are the plastic surgeon job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a plastic surgeon job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a plastic surgeon include the following:
- Performs invasive procedures on patients to treat birth defects such cleft lip, polydactyly, syndactyly, craniofacial malformations, and other physical deformities.
- Applies a non-surgical procedure to improve your appearance.
- Makes skin grafts from cells or obtains it from the recipient/donor.
- Performs pediatric plastic surgery to address congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate and polydactyly in children.
- Implants or plates are used to reinforce the bone structure, and skin grafts are used to restore muscle and skin loss caused by burns.
- Collaborates with medical personnel such as nurses, anesthesiologists, and other experts as needed.
- Provides rehabilitative treatment to help bodily components like the hand regain movement.
- Uses microsurgery to transplant tissues to missing reconstruction areas (head/hand).
- Examines and diagnose patients to determine if there is an anomaly and the best course of treatment.
- Ensures that established surgical protocols are followed throughout plastic surgery.
- Directs and coordinates nurses, assistants, and residents’ activities.
- Examines the operation room and medical tools for cleanliness and sterility.
- Exchanges ideas with other plastic surgeons and medical specialists.
- Uses images and verbal explanations to determine patients’ visual expectations and establish a reference point.
- Injects botox into individuals to minimize muscular activation and the appearance of wrinkles on their faces.
- Prescribes medicine to patients prior to and following surgery.
- Informs patients about the dangers involved with a procedure, as well as the post-operative requirements.
- Follows up with patients following surgery to monitor their recovery processes and personal adjustment to treatment.
- Installs prosthetic devices on patients to allow for restoration of appearance.
Qualifications
- A six-year residency program in which general surgery and plastic surgery are combined.
- A five-year surgical residency is followed by a three-year plastic surgery fellowship.
- After that, candidates must pass an exam in order to practice plastic surgery in their state.
- They can further their study by completing a one- or two-year fellowship in fields such as breast surgery, craniofacial surgery, cosmetic surgery, general reconstructive surgery, hands, scars, or burns.
- Additional cosmetic and reconstructive surgery courses and training.
- Years of hands-on surgical expertise.
- Problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities are exceptional.
- A thorough understanding of patient care and wound management is required.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.
- Exceptional bedside manner and attention to detail.
Essential Skills
Surgical techniques: Plastic surgeons are skilled in a variety of surgical techniques, including implanted devices, microsurgery, flap surgery, skin grafting, and tissue expansion.
Wound management: Plastic surgery necessitates a thorough understanding of complex wounds, such as burns or automobile accident injuries. Plastic surgeons employ wound care techniques (cleaning, skin closure, and wound dressing) to facilitate healing after these injuries have been treated.
Communication skills: Because surgeons rely on the assistance of other professionals to conduct surgery, they must be able to communicate effectively in order to ensure a successful outcome. They should be able to communicate with their team in an open and professional manner.
Motor skills: Manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and attention to precision are all necessary qualities for anyone doing medical procedures like patching wounds or severing blood arteries. You should be able to maintain your composure and maintain a steady hand even while under duress. Plastic surgeons must make exact and coordinated movements with their fingers, arms, and hands during delicate, dangerous surgeries.
Stress tolerance: Operating rooms are generally high-stress environments, yet skilled plastic surgeons keep their cool under pressure to ensure precision and accuracy.
Bedside manner: Because plastic surgery is a service-oriented specialty that prioritizes patient health and quality of life, civility and compassion are essential character attributes.
Reasoning skills: Plastic surgeons employ both inductive and deductive thinking to synthesis data and make well-informed judgments about their patients’ treatment and care.
Physical Dexterity: Plastic surgeons must be able to operate a variety of equipment and tools in order to perform cosmetic surgery.
Attention to Detail: They pay attention to the smallest details and are capable of performing delicate procedures to give patients the appearance they seek.
Problem-solving Ability: They carry out surgical and non-surgical techniques to fulfill patients’ physical needs. An operation, like any other medical procedure, does not always go according to plan. Plastic surgeons must be able to fix difficulties swiftly and effectively in order to avoid endangering their patients’ lives.
Patience and stamina: Patience and stamina are two qualities that help surgeons get through difficult operations. Plastic surgeons must be able to stay attentive for the entire procedure in order to prevent making deadly mistakes.
Teamwork: Plastic surgeons must be exceptional team players and be able to acknowledge everyone’s contribution to a successful operation because they work with nurses, assistants, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals when performing surgery.
How to Become a Plastic Surgeon
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Premedical courses, such as organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physics, and biology, are required by medical schools during your undergraduate years. You should also take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and ask your mentors for letters of recommendation. Most people who get into medical school acquire a bachelor’s degree in addition to taking the required premedical courses, however, this is not a necessity. Extracurricular activities, working in a hospital, and exhibiting leadership characteristics can all help you stand out as a more competitive medical school applicant.
Step 2: Graduate From Medical School
Two years of science classroom study are followed by two years of clinical rotations in diverse medical specialties in medical school. Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, and pharmacology are among the subjects you’ll study. After that, you do clinical rotations in family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, and psychiatry to get experience dealing with patients. A Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree can be obtained by attending a standard allopathic medical school. A Doctor of Osteopathic Care (D.O.) degree can be earned by attending an osteopathic medical school, which focuses primarily on the musculoskeletal system and preventative medicine.
Step 3: Earn a License
To practice medicine in the United States, all physicians must get a license. You must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination if you are a physician (USMLE). You must pass the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam if you are a D.O. (COMLEX). The USMLE and COMLEX are divided into three sections that assess applicants’ ability to apply basic science concepts to medical practice.
Step 4: Complete a Plastic Surgery Residency
You have two possibilities for plastic surgery training after you become a licensed physician. You can either do a three-year general surgery residency followed by a three-year plastic surgery residency, or a six-year integrated residency that combines both types of training. Clinical rotations in several areas of surgery, such as abdominal, breast, pediatric, trauma, cardiothoracic, and neurological surgery, are completed as part of your general surgery training. Additional rotations in cosmetic, hand, reconstructive, laser, maxillofacial, otolaryngology, and oculoplastic surgery will be included in your plastic surgery training. Attending conferences, conducting research, obtaining teaching experience, participating in journal clubs, and dissecting cadavers may all be part of your residency training.
After completing your residency, you might choose to become board certified in plastic surgery. Allopathic plastic surgeons can be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), whereas osteopathic plastic surgeons can be board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS). If you become board certified, you must continue your education and renew your certification on a regular basis.
Step 5: Consider Completing a Fellowship in a Subspecialty
A one-year fellowship program in plastic surgery could be completed if you want to focus on a certain specialization. Hand surgery, craniofacial surgery, body contouring, microvascular reconstructive surgery, and aesthetic surgery are among the fields where fellowships are provided. You may be required to do a research project in addition to clinical training in your specialty. The ABPS offers voluntary subspecialty certification in hand surgery and plastic surgery of the head and neck to allopathic plastic surgeons.
Step 6: Acquire certification
A plastic surgeon’s board certification proves that he or she is an expert in a specific area or subspecialty of medicine. The following are some of the certifications required of a plastic surgeon:
Certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): This certification indicates that you have completed additional training and study beyond the basic criteria for earning a license. You must hold a medical license and pass a written and oral examination to obtain this certification. To keep this certification, you must complete the ABMS Program, which is a rigorous continuing professional development program.
The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) Certification: The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is one of the 24 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). To earn this credential, you must complete the required coursework and pass extensive oral and written exams covering all aspects of plastic surgery.
Where to Work as a Plastic Surgeon
In either an academic or private practice context, a plastic surgeon can have a thriving practice. Outpatient clinics, surgery, on-call work, and dealing with any on-call referrals are all possible duties in a typical work week. Ear, nose, and throat specialists, orthopaedics, neurology, dermatology, gynecology, maxillofacial surgery, and breast surgery specialists, as well as other health experts, interact with plastic surgeons. A plastic surgeon can choose to specialize in one of these fields or practice all aspects of plastic surgery. A plastic surgeon may also opt to participate in academic plastic surgery research, which is quite active in institutions all across the country and the world.
Plastic Surgeon Salary Scale
According to Payscale, plastic surgeons in the United States earn salaries ranging from $76,819 to $510,283 per year, including incentives and profit-sharing payments. Annual bonuses range from $1,021 to $99,683 per year, with profit-sharing gains ranging from $1,021 to $99,683 per year. In the United States, plastic surgeons are among the highest-paid occupations. Salary for plastic surgeons is determined by a variety of criteria, including years of experience. Professionals with 1 to 4 years of experience earn between $46,602 and $375,000 per year, including bonuses and profit-sharing, while those with 5 to 9 years of experience earn between $95,943 and $504,493 per year, including bonuses and profit sharing. According to Payscale, plastic surgeons with 10 to 19 years of experience earn annual wages ranging from $100,000 to $799,992, while those with 20 or more years earn annual salaries ranging from $650,000 to $850,000.
In Nigeria, a Surgeon – Plastic Reconstructive earns roughly 1,380,000 NGN per month. Salaries range from 717,000 NGN to 2,110,000 NGN (lowest to highest) (highest). This is the monthly average pay, which includes housing, transportation, and other benefits. Salary for a Plastic Reconstructive Surgeon varies greatly depending on experience, skills, gender, and region.