Plastic surgery is a highly-specialized and demanding career that requires extensive training and education. This medical specialty involves the restoration, reconstructing, or altering of the body. It requires a high degree of precision and expertise. We outline here the extensive educational requirements needed to pursue a plastic surgery career.
1. Undergraduate Education
A bachelor’s degree is the first step in the journey. This can be in any science-related area, such as biology, pre-med, or chemistry. The four-year undergraduate degree program is the basis for medical school. To meet the requirements for medical school, aspiring plastic surgeons need to excel in their courses, especially in the sciences. Students are also encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities such as volunteer work and research projects.
2. Medical School
The next step after completing your bachelor’s is to enroll in medical school. This typically takes four years. Admission to medical schools is very competitive. It requires a high academic score, good scores on the Medical College Admission Test, and strong letters of recommendation. In the first two years, students are taught in classrooms about anatomy, physiology and pharmacology. The last two years of medical school involve rotations that allow students to gain experience in patient care through various medical specialties.
3. Residency training:
The next step is residency training after graduating with a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO). Plastic surgeons who wish to become plastic surgeons are required to complete a general surgery residency program, which lasts between five and six years. Residents gain valuable experience during this time in emergency care, surgical procedures and patient management. After completing the general surgery residency program, residents are required to complete a plastic surgery residency. This residency usually lasts three additional years. This training is specialized in plastic and reconstructive surgeries, such as cosmetic procedures, microsurgery and craniofacial surgical procedures.
4. Board Certification:
Plastic surgeons who have completed residency training must be board certified to show their commitment to providing the best possible patient care. This is done in the United States by passing the rigorous examinations administered by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Board certification is an indication of excellence, and it is often necessary for insurance reimbursement and hospital privileges.
5. Continued Education:
Plastic surgery is a field that is always evolving, with new technologies and techniques. Plastic surgeons are required to engage in ongoing education throughout their career to keep up with the latest advancements. Attending conferences, taking part in workshops and obtaining additional certifications may be required.
The path to become a plastic surgery is a long and difficult one, and requires a minimum of thirteen to fifteen years of training and education after high school. For those who are passionate and dedicated to pursuing this rewarding career, it is worth the effort to be able to change lives with surgical artistry.