Best Medical Schools to Become a Plastic Surgeon in the U.S.

Research published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2018 places surgeons, including plastic surgeons, among the 20 professions with the highest median annual pay in the country. However, they have to work and study very hard to get there - up to 80 hours per week in a high-pressure environment. Read on to see what you have to do to become a plastic surgeon.

What Level of Education Do I Need to Become a Plastic Surgeon?

There are several post-secondary academic levels you have to reach to become a plastic surgeon. A bachelor's degree with subjects like biology, physics, chemistry, English and math is the first step. The next level is four years of study in medical school.

From there, you have two possible pathways to becoming a plastic surgeon. One is called the independent pathway, where you first qualify as a general surgeon by doing a hospital residency of anything between three and five years and then move on to a residency of three years that specializes in plastic surgery. The other is called the integrated pathway, where you go straight into a plastic surgery residency of six years that starts out with general surgery and gradually shifts the focus to plastic surgery.

What Will I Learn During My Plastic Surgery Residency?

You will learn how to surgically fix congenital defects such as cleft lips and palates, how to remove abnormal growths, how to fix damage to the head and face caused by injuries, cosmetic surgery, including plastic surgery to the breast, genital plastic surgery, as well as microsurgical techniques.

You will also learn how to reconstruct parts of the face and body by transferring and grafting skin and other tissue, how to remove malignant and benign lesions of the skin and other tissues and how to deal with burn wounds.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) warns that plastic surgery residents run a high risk of burnout and depression; that is why there is a limit of 80 hours of work and study per week, averaged over four weeks. Therefore, learning self-care to enable you to maintain a professional attitude will also be an integral part of your residency.

Which Medical Schools in the U.S. Have Residencies for Plastic Surgery?

The various independent and integrated residency programs at the following schools are all accredited by ACGME.

• The University of California-San Diego School of Medicine offers an integrated plastic surgery training program where residents rotate between four medical clinics in the district, including a children's hospital and a veteran's hospital.
• The University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, has an integrated and an independent plastic surgery program. Residents have the opportunity to work at seven different clinical sites in Pennsylvania.
• The University of Florida, in Gainesville, is currently phasing out its independent program in plastic and reconstructive surgery and gradually replacing it with an integrated program.
• The Loyola University Medical Center, in Chicago, offers an integrated plastic and reconstructive surgery residency program and claims that graduates fulfill twice as many operative cases as are required by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas, has an integrated and an independent resident program in plastic surgery, in collaboration with four health facilities in the region.

What Are the Licensing Requirements for Plastic Surgeons and what Certification Is Available?

Licensure for physicians and surgeons is required by all states and the requirements vary by state. You have to have graduated from medical school and completed your residency to qualify for a license.

Plastic surgeons don't have to get certified, but certification can increase their job prospects and help their patients to have confidence that they are in good hands. The American Board of Plastic Surgery has written and oral certification exams, as well as continuous certification to ensure that plastic surgeons are up to date with the latest developments in their field.