Plastic surgery specializes in the repair, reconstruction, or replacement of defects of form and/or function involving the skin, musculoskeletal system, craniomaxillofacial structures, upper and lower extremities, breast and trunk, and external genitalia—basically the entire human body! It uses aesthetic surgical principles not only to improve undesirable qualities of normal structures but in all reconstructive procedures as well.
Special knowledge and skill in the design and surgery of grafts, flaps, free tissue transfer and replantation is necessary. Competence in the management of complex wounds, the use of implantable materials, and tumor surgery is required. Plastic surgery has been prominent in the development of innovative techniques such as microvascular and craniomaxillofacial surgery, liposuction, tissue transfer, transplantation, and prosthetics. The foundation of surgical anatomy, physiology, pathology, and other basic sciences is fundamental to this specialty.
Competency in plastic surgery implies a special combination of basic knowledge, surgical judgment, technical expertise, ethics, and interpersonal skills in order to achieve satisfactory patient relationships and problem resolution.
Residency training in plastic surgery is designed to educate and train physicians broadly in the art and science of plastic and reconstructive surgery and to develop a competent and responsible plastic surgeon with high moral and ethical character capable of functioning as an independent surgeon.
Training models: The Residency Review Committee (RRC) for Plastic Surgery recognizes two training models, independent and integrated.
A. Independent Model (Plastic Surgery Fellowship)
In the independent model of training, residents complete a minimum of three years of concentrated plastic surgery fellowship training, with no less than 12 months of senior/chief responsibility. Residents entering plastic surgery fellowship training must complete 5 progressive years of clinical general surgery residency training, sufficient to qualify for certification by the American Board of Surgery (ABS), or approved alternate subspecialty pathway.
B. Integrated Model (Plastic Surgery Residency)
In the integrated model, residents complete a minimum of six years of ACGME-accredited plastic surgery training following receipt of an MD or DO degree from an institution accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Graduates of schools of medicine from countries other than the United States or Canada must present evidence of final certification by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). This six years of training must include no less than 12 months of senior/chief responsibility on the clinical service of plastic surgery.
For more information, visit the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Plastic Surgery as a Career
If you are seeking a life in surgery that is exciting, interesting, fulfilling, and diverse, plastic surgery would be an excellent career choice. From the tremendous variety of conditions that fall into the plastic surgeon's area of treatment expertise, to the flexibility of professional lifestyle, plastic surgery offers practitioners lifelong satisfaction in the practice of surgery.
It is commonly perceived that plastic surgeons do nothing but aesthetic surgery. One of plastic surgery's greatest attributes, however, is the breadth of conditions that fall into the area of treatment expertise of those in the field. These include congenital, acquired, and traumatic problems. In fact, the field of plastic surgery is so broad, that subspecialties exist within the specialty of plastic surgery, including craniomaxillofacial surgery, microvascular surgery, hand surgery, burn surgery, gender-affirmation surgery, and aesthetic surgery, just to name a few. Craniomaxillofacial surgeons treat conditions involving the bones of the face and skull, and their associated soft tissue abnormalities such as cleft lip and palate. Microvascular surgeons move tissues from one area of the body to another and reestablish blood supply and innervation to this tissue using an operating microscope and sutures that are finer than human hair. Hand surgeons treat congenital, acquired, and traumatic problems of the hand and upper extremity, employing both plastic and orthopaedic surgical techniques to treat bone, muscle, tendon, nerve, joint, and blood vessel problems, as well as skin and soft tissue coverage requirements. Burn surgeons work as part of a diverse team that provides intensive care for burn-injured patients and treats both acute burn wounds and chronic scars and contractures. The goal of the aesthetic surgeon is to make changes in body shape or rejuvenate areas that have been affected by aging. A plastic surgeon can choose to limit a practice to one of these areas, or practice the entire scope of plastic surgery.
Although the field of plastic surgery is broad and challenging, it offers flexibility in lifestyle not found in other surgical specialties. A plastic surgeon can enjoy a thriving practice in either an academic or private-practice setting. The focus of the practice can be toward areas such as trauma, where the work can be exciting and unpredictable. Alternatively, it can be focused on elective surgery, such as breast reconstruction or aesthetic surgery, where the lifestyle can be more controlled. One may also choose to become active in academic research in plastic surgery, which is very active in institutions across the country and around the world.
Regardless of what type of practice a plastic surgeon pursues, those who choose plastic surgery as a career can rest assured that they will continue to encounter new challenges in a field that is always changing. They will be able to design a practice that fits in with their goals in life. And most importantly, they will enjoy the satisfaction of being able to help patients in very unique and diverse ways.
Steven C. Haase, MD, FACS
Ann Arbor, MI
July, 2026
