What it is
Plastic surgeons reconstruct and restore form and function — after trauma, cancer, or congenital conditions — and perform aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery. The field blends technical surgery with artistry.
What you do
They perform reconstructive surgery (e.g., after mastectomy, burns, cleft), hand surgery, and cosmetic procedures.
Training path & length
~6-year integrated residency (or general surgery + a plastic surgery fellowship).
Fellowship subspecialties
Fellowships include hand surgery, craniofacial surgery, microsurgery, burn surgery, and aesthetic surgery.
Pay & job outlook
Physicians are among the highest-paid professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $275,930 for physicians and surgeons (May 2025), with employment projected to grow about 4% from 2025 to 2035. Pay varies by specialty — procedural and surgical fields generally earn more.
Plastic surgeons earn well above the physician median.
How to get there
Become a physician first: earn an MD or DO, then match into this residency. Licensure requires completing residency and passing the board exams.
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Key facts
- Residency~6 years (integrated)
- FocusReconstructive & aesthetic surgery
- FellowshipsHand, craniofacial, microsurgery, aesthetics
- PayWell above the physician median
- EntryMD or DO via the match