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Cosmetic Surgeons


Overview

Introduction

Cosmetic surgeons (also known as plastic surgeons and esthetic surgeons) are medical doctors who specialize in surgeries to correct disfigurement and/or improve physical appearance. Though the terms cosmetic and plastic surgery are often used interchangeably, cosmetic surgery usually means procedures performed to reshape normal structures of the body to improve the patient's appearance. Plastic surgery generally refers to reconstructive surgeries performed on abnormal structures of the body caused...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$400,000

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Medical Degree


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Experience

Minimum of 12 years, including internship and residency


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Skills

Business Management
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Personality Traits

Enterprising
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Earnings

It takes many years of training to become a doctor, but earnings are among the highest of any occupation. For doctors, more so than for other fields, the number of years of training directly correlates with the earnings level. Specialists, such as cosmetic surgeons, generally earn more money than general practitioners. The more specialized the field, the higher the earnings.

According to...

Work Environment

There are advantages to working in the different work arrangements available to a plastic surgeon (private practice, group practice, hospital department, or government or academic setting). A surgeon's preference may depend on how he or she works with others, as well as geographic location. Hospital plastic surgery departments are usually structured with department chairs and supervisors. Altho...

Outlook

Employment for all surgeons is expected to increase by 1 percent from 2018 to 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Opportunities for cosmetic surgeons should be better for several reasons. This is a highly specialized medical specialty, and the number of cosmetic surgeons is small as compared to the total number of surgeons. Additionally, cosmetic surgeons, who treat conditions asso...