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Seeking Guidance for Pursuing a Career in Plastic Surgery?
I am currently a medical student with a strong interest in pursuing a career in plastic surgery. I would greatly appreciate any advice or insights on how to best move forward in this field. Specifically, I am eager to know the steps I should take, any recommendations for gaining experience, and how to ensure I am on the right path to success in plastic surgery.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing your advice.
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Sheriff’s Answer
Focus on strong grades, especially in anatomy and surgery. Join surgical clubs, attend suturing workshops, and shadow plastic surgeons early. Get involved in plastic surgery research or case reports. Build connections with mentors and ask smart questions. Know the residency requirements in your country and prepare ahead. Stay updated through journals and conferences. Be consistent, curious, and committed — it’s competitive but worth it.
Thank you so much!
Zuhlke
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Zuhlke !
Since you are already in Medical School in Colorado, you probably know that becoming a doctor is a step by step process. Most likely during your orientation at Medical School, it was told that you would start discussing a specialty in your third year of Medical School because that's when you will begin your rotations. If this doesn't sound familiar to you at all, visit your Medical School Physician Advisor to get clear and accurate information about specialties. I would like to give you some advice, but it may reorient you for what you may be having in mind.
While you are in Medical School, remember that you should not make any outside additional commitments such as community based trainings, certification course or anything like that. You are expected to be totally focused on your medical school requirements now. You cannot move forward just yet for Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery until you are assigned to choose your specialty and start doing rotations in your third year. Please attend another orientation at your Medical School or have a meeting with your advisor there.
I see that you have mentioned doing a Liposuction Internship. I am so sorry to say, you will not be able to do any sort of outside training if you are in Medical School. You probably know, Medical School is a 100% commitment and your Medical School will not look approvingly of you going into the community for a liposuction training at this time. Also in order to do Liposuction, you would have to be a Doctor. In addition, one DOES NOT learn Liposuction through an Internship. This is not a path you should take right now. You can do it after you start practicing as a doctor (nurses can do it, too) and then incorporate it into your practice. I wouldn't recommend straying from exactly what your Medical School tells you to do. There's a lot to learn. Thanks for coming here to be informed.
If you wanted to know beforehand, Plastic Surgery is very, very hard to obtain as a specialty. I would advise keeping up with exactly how competitive it is at your Medical School by asking your professors each year how many slots are open for that specialty. That can give you an estimated idea of your chances of getting that specialty.
I hope this helps and I urge you to focus on Medical School and make much stronger connections there. Best wishes in all you do !
Since you are already in Medical School in Colorado, you probably know that becoming a doctor is a step by step process. Most likely during your orientation at Medical School, it was told that you would start discussing a specialty in your third year of Medical School because that's when you will begin your rotations. If this doesn't sound familiar to you at all, visit your Medical School Physician Advisor to get clear and accurate information about specialties. I would like to give you some advice, but it may reorient you for what you may be having in mind.
While you are in Medical School, remember that you should not make any outside additional commitments such as community based trainings, certification course or anything like that. You are expected to be totally focused on your medical school requirements now. You cannot move forward just yet for Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery until you are assigned to choose your specialty and start doing rotations in your third year. Please attend another orientation at your Medical School or have a meeting with your advisor there.
I see that you have mentioned doing a Liposuction Internship. I am so sorry to say, you will not be able to do any sort of outside training if you are in Medical School. You probably know, Medical School is a 100% commitment and your Medical School will not look approvingly of you going into the community for a liposuction training at this time. Also in order to do Liposuction, you would have to be a Doctor. In addition, one DOES NOT learn Liposuction through an Internship. This is not a path you should take right now. You can do it after you start practicing as a doctor (nurses can do it, too) and then incorporate it into your practice. I wouldn't recommend straying from exactly what your Medical School tells you to do. There's a lot to learn. Thanks for coming here to be informed.
If you wanted to know beforehand, Plastic Surgery is very, very hard to obtain as a specialty. I would advise keeping up with exactly how competitive it is at your Medical School by asking your professors each year how many slots are open for that specialty. That can give you an estimated idea of your chances of getting that specialty.
I hope this helps and I urge you to focus on Medical School and make much stronger connections there. Best wishes in all you do !