Plastic Surgery Doctor

Nature of the work

A plastic surgeon manages the repair, reconstruction, or replacement of physical defects of form or function involving the skin, musculoskeletal system, head and facial structures, hands, extremities, breasts, and trunk as well as cosmetic enhancement of these areas. Cosmetic surgery is an essential component of plastic surgery. A plastic surgeon uses cosmetic surgical principles to improve overall appearance and to optimize this outcome of reconstructive procedures.¹

Plastic surgeons can receive training in the following subspecialties:

plastic surgery within the head and neck, which involves reconstructive treatment of disorders of the soft and hard tissues of the face and cranial areas.

surgery of the hand, which requires expertise in the investigation, preservation, and restoration by medical, surgical, and rehabilitative means, of all structures of the hand and wrist.

Training/residency information

The residency training program for plastic surgery is five to seven years. One year of additional training is required to practice in one of the subspecialties.

References
1 The American Board of Medical Specialties. Guide to Physician Specialties. Evanston, IL: American Board of Medical Specialties; February 2008.
2 2010 Physician Compensation Survey [special feature]. Modern Healthcare . July 19, 2010: 20–26.