How to Become a Plastic Surgeon
A Plastic Surgeon Los Alamitos CA is a doctor that specializes in the field of plastic surgery. They use various techniques to change and improve the appearance of a person's body. There are many types of plastic surgery including the removal of cancerous or unwanted tissue, repairing of birth defects, reshaping the body, and many more. In order to become a plastic surgeon, you must first complete a four-year degree at an accredited university or college, pass a licensing exam, and undergo many hours of hands-on training. These are just a few of the requirements to become a plastic surgeon.
There are many differences between cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is actually a medical specialty involving the repair, restoration, or enhancement of the body. It can also be divided further into two main areas: reconstructive plastic surgery and elective plastic surgery. Reconstructive plastic surgery includes hand surgery, craniofacial surgery, microsurgery, dental surgery, and so on.
Elective plastic surgery involves improving a person's appearance without repairing any underlying medical condition. Although most elective plastic surgeons are men, there are a growing number of women performing cosmetic surgery. Most elective plastic surgeons began their training as an intern, usually going to the University of Florida. They can then go on to gain a degree from a university or college and take additional training after gaining certification through the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
All states require that you obtain both a Bachelor's degree in Medical Science and a Masters Degree in Medical Science before becoming a qualified plastic surgeon. In some states, including Texas, there is no requirement for a medical degree. However, in most states, including California and Florida, both a medical science degree and a Masters Degree in Medical Science are required. The most popular elective medical specialty is pediatric plastic surgery, where doctors help make the recovery and rehabilitation of children who were born with conditions like congenital heart disease or birth defects. After completing a residency program at an approved hospital or clinic, you will qualify to take the board certification exam.
Once you have met all of the requirements needed to become licensed as a plastic surgeon, you will need to get your Masters Degree. This degree will take several years to complete and will be geared towards specific areas of medical education. Most cosmetic surgeons will choose to continue their education by taking additional specialized courses that focus on one particular aspect of cosmetic surgery. Some of these courses include brain surgery, cardiac surgery, and dermatology.
After medical school, you will be able to apply for state certification. You will be required to pass state certification examinations before you are allowed to work in the field. During the licensing process, you will be evaluated based on your performance in the areas of the exam that you took, as well as your education, experience and certifications. If you do not pass these examinations, you may still be able to work as a plastic surgeon but you will not be considered fully certified.
Some other specialties areas that you can get a certification for our pediatric plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, corrective medical equipment technicians, laser surgery technologists, thoracic surgeons, plastic surgeons and many others. These specialties can take several years or even a decade to complete, depending on how involved you want to get and the complexity of the specialty that you are going into. Many cosmetic surgeons choose to specialize in just one specific aspect of the medical field. Some of these areas include breast reconstruction, back surgery, face lift procedures, liposuction and others. A breast reconstruction may require a certain amount of training before it can qualify for certification, so you should consider this when choosing which area to concentrate your education in. All board certified cosmetic surgeons must also complete a minimum of two years of residency in their specialty area.
The best way to find a reputable plastic surgeon to perform a particular surgical procedure is to ask for references from past patients. Although you may not be able to find any personal references from patients, you should contact your medical professional's regulatory body to inquire about his or her professional reputation. This will give you a good idea of what to expect from the plastic surgery facility as well as how you can feel safe with your current plastic surgeon. You can even research online and read stories about prior patients' experiences with a specific surgical procedure.
