Running head: BECOMING A PLASTIC SURGEON

Becoming a Plastic Surgeon

Yamileth C Morales
Academy High School

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Being able to change the way people view themselves, giving patients another chance at
life, and changing a patients life are possible when becoming a surgeon. Last year alone, more
than 15.1 million cosmetic surgery procedures and 5.7 million reconstructive surgeries were
performed in the United States (Inpatient Surgery, 2014). There are nine certified specialties
within surgery: cardiothoracic, general, neurosurgery, oral and maxillofacial, otolaryngology
(ENT), paediatric, plastic, trauma and orthopaedic, urology, and academic (Types of Surgery,
2014). Plastic surgery can change a patients life by changing how they view themselves and
increasing their self-esteem through the correction of a defective feature. Becoming a plastic
surgeon goes beyond superficial benefits. With extensive preparation and quality
communication, a plastic surgeon can change a patients life.
Communication is a necessity when becoming a surgeon. The surgeons are required to
effectively obtain accurate patient histories, establish correct diagnoses, and explain treatment
plans to patients (Communication Matters, 2015). [Communication] allows the patient to be
actively involved in the decision-making process and establishes agreed upon expectations and
goals (Patient-Physician Communication, 2015). It is crucial for the surgeon to meet the
communication needs of a patient during consultations to prevent any later complications during
or after the procedure. A patient usually relates the quality of the hospital to how well his or her
doctor informs and/or listens to them. If the surgeon fails to communicate effectively with the
patient, the surgeon will not only face problems in the operating room, but possibly in the
courtroom as well. It is well known that most litigation cases are not due to actual malpractice
or bad surgeons, but rather because patients felt that they were not treated fairly as individuals
or they didnt understand the treatment recommendation (Communication Matters, 2015). In

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order to ensure a happy patient, the surgeons communication skills are critical. Effective
communication can be achieved through professionalism, diligence and teamwork.
In the operating room, various professions (surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses,
technicians) must interact closely and constantly across multiple social and economic levels.
(Improve Surgical Safety, 2015). Ineffective team communication in the operating room is often
the root of medical error. Surgeons must not only communicate effectively with the rest of the
medical team in the operating room, they are also required to liaise with nurses and junior
doctors after operations (Surgeon Job Information, 2012). A surgeon is in charge of being able
to efficiently interpret test results to the patient and rest of their medical team on the case
(Surgeon Job Information, 2012). Clear and constant speech along with the ability to listen to
others are effective ways to improve the communication in the operating room. Effective
communication and teamwork has shown promise in improving patient care in the field of
medicine.
Surgery typically requires the most thorough training in all medical studies. Before
surgeons are able operate, they must accomplish challenging education requirements: four years
of undergraduate study, four years of medical school leading to a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
degree and 3-8 years of surgical residency at a hospital (Requirements and Career Information,
2015). After earning a bachelor's degree, students must pass the Medical College Admission Test
in order to qualify to apply to medical school. In medical school, students must gain a better
mastery of subjects taken at the undergraduate level such as: anatomy, microbiology,
biochemistry, physiology, pathology, psychology, ethics, and medical law. Students are required
to go through rotations, where they learn the basics of patient care across a variety of specialties.
After graduating from medical school, aspiring surgeons must earn an M.D. (Doctor of

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Medicine) and become licensed before they can begin their residency. Before being able to start a
residency, medical students must complete a year of internship in the hospital where they desire
to complete their medical residencies. Residencies are paid training that allow students to begin
specializing (Requirements and Career Information, 2015). Surgical residencies are where a
physician is specialized in a certain area. The residencies take place in a hospital. Board
certification in all medical and surgical specialties requires the satisfactory completion of a
residency program and successful completion of a specialty board examination (Resident,
2015). Most residents have to spend five years in general surgery before they can move on to
another specialty (American College of Surgeons, 2015). Residents are given different
responsibilities throughout their residency. Evaluating patients and planning their treatments,
attending rounds, assisting in the operating room, and participating as a member of the
educational staff for the medical students are usually their first year resident duties. During their
second year as residents, medical students gain opportunities to receive more experience in each
specialty. Residents are expected to have training in trauma life support during their second
postgraduate year. The third and fourth year of a medical students residency is when a he or she
can start making decisions for the patient by themselves. The fifth year of a residency is known
as Chief Resident year. Chief residents are required to prepare and present for medical
conferences, and are responsible for the training and teaching of junior residents (General
Surgery Residency, 2014). The training that follows the completion of a residency is called a
fellowship, a fellowship must be completed in order to be certified as a surgeon. Fellowships
are available for those who wish to attain additional training after the completion of a residency
program in one of the surgical specialties (Post-Residency Fellowships, 2015). Becoming a
surgeon is a very rewarding career. Surgeons have one of the most important roles in medicine.

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The work of surgeons not only saves lives, but it also improves the quality of life for patients
dealing with chronic and restrictive injuries(Reconstructive Surgery, 2015). Although preparing
to become a surgeon is an extensive journey, it is a very rewarding career.
Plastic surgery is the only specialty that has changing a humans physical features as a
purpose. Plastic surgery has two branches, cosmetic surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery.
While both cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery deal with improving a patients body, the
overarching philosophies guiding the training, research, and goals for patient outcomes are
different. Cosmetic surgery is focused on enhancing a patients appearance while
reconstructive surgery focuses on restoring function or normal appearance by reconstructing
defective organs or parts (Reconstructive Surgery, 2015). Cosmetic plastic surgery is entirely
the patients choice. Cosmetic plastic surgery includes surgical and nonsurgical procedures that
reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve appearance and self-esteem (Cosmetic
Surgery, 2015). To be able to perform cosmetic plastic surgery, a surgeon must have complete
training in general surgery as well as in reconstructive surgery (Indications and Significance of
Esthetic Plastic Surgery, 2014). In 2013, there were over 11 million cosmetic procedures
performed in the United States, increasing the demand for cosmetic procedures by 6.5%.
Cosmetic surgery has shown to decrease depression, isolation and anger (Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery, nd). Even though cosmetic surgery is physical and completely optional,
cosmetic surgery has a big impact on a patients life. Reconstructive surgery can give people
their lives back, restoring appearance, functionality and mobility. For the patients, it can have the
power of a miracle, giving them back a part of their lives or providing something they never
thought they would have. (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, nd). Reconstructive surgery can
help repair permanently affected areas of the body such as, birth defects or injuries caused by

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traumatic events. Unlike cosmetic plastic surgery, reconstructive procedures are very unique to
each patient. The surgeon must evaluate the patient while considering their medical histories,
results wanted, and medical necessities. Over 5 million reconstructive surgical procedures were
performed in 2013, giving a 2% increase from 2012 (Reconstructive Procedures, 2015). A
cosmetic plastic surgery can often be needed after a reconstructive plastic surgery in extremely
traumatic cases.
Preparing to become a surgeon requires the most extensive training in the medical field.
After graduating from medical school, the aspiring surgeon must complete a residency and
fellowship to be certified as a surgeon by the American Board of Surgery. Although plastic
cosmetic surgery and plastic reconstructive surgery are two completely different branches in the
specialty, in order to become a plastic surgeon the medical student must have complete training
in general surgery and plastic reconstructive surgery. Communication is very important when
dealing with a patient ready for surgery. Without the proper communication, complications in the
operating room can occur not only with the patient, but with the rest of the surgical team on the
case. If the surgeon or medical resident does not communicate effectively with a patient about
important parts of a procedure or crucial component of their medical history surgical effects can
be detrimental. When assembling a surgical team for a case the members must communicate in
order to make sure that all of the information from lab tests, medical history, and patient
condition is being effectively examined. Preparing to become a plastic surgeon is an extensive
journey, but with adequate education and effective communication changing patients lives is
possible.

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BECOMING A PLASTIC SURGEON

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