Plastic surgery
Plastic surgeons restore form and function following illness or trauma.
They also perform aesthetic or ‘cosmetic’ surgery which changes appearance or form.
Life as a plastic surgeon
You’ll treat the whole body and an interesting mix of emergency and non-life-threatening operations in children and adults.
You’ll mainly work on reconstructive surgery in the NHS on cases such as breast reconstruction after cancer or burns, surgery for congenital conditions and trauma surgery after accidents and violent incidents. If you do cosmetic or aesthetic surgery it could include facelifts, surgery to treat protruding ears or eyelid surgery.
Your surgery will be varied, covering everything from brief operations under local anaesthetic to lengthy, complex surgery involving collaboration with other surgical specialists and long-term follow-up with patients. Your working week will also include outpatient clinics, ward rounds, pre-operative meetings with patients and monitoring of cases after surgery.
You can expect to work on a mixture of planned cases such as cancer surgery through to emergency cases for trauma, complex wounds or burns, which can sometimes mean callouts at night.
It’s an exciting time to be involved in plastic surgery with new developments in areas such as tissue engineering, the development of scar-free wound healing and facial and hand transplants. Research is at the forefront of this specialty and most plastic surgery units in the UK contribute to this.
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the 'Pay for doctors' page.
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
- a high degree of manual dexterity
- superb hand-eye co-ordination, excellent vision, and visuospatial awareness
- physical stamina to cope with the demands of surgery
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
"I really love the breadth of work in plastic surgery and the fact that you see people of all ages from babies to elderly people. Plastic surgeons treat the whole body and also have an interesting mix of emergency and non life-threatening operations."
What are my chances of starting a career in plastic surgery?
In 2021 there were 543 plastic surgeons in England. There were 190 applications for 41 specialty training places (a competition ratio of 4.63).
How to become a plastic surgeon
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a plastic surgeon, which will take a minimum of six years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career as a plastic surgeon can take you
You could:
- specialise or conduct research in areas such as paediatric plastic surgery, hand surgery, treating congenital conditions such as cleft lip and palate or cancer surgery and reconstruction
- teach medical students or postgraduate students in training
- get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector
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Consultant Plastic Surgeon (Burns / General Plastic Surgery)
Wakefield, WF14DG
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust
-
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Burns and Plastic Surgeon
Birmingham, B46NH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary - Plastic Surgery
East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Speciality Doctor in Plastic Surgery
Harlow, CM20 1QX
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
-
IDWG's Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery EAG
London, E14 4PU
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
-
Advanced Physiotherapist (Burns/Plastics/Head and Neck Team)
East Grinstead, RH193DZ
- Salary :
- £46148.00 to £52809.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant General Surgeon WSI Benign Upper GI Surgery
Warwick, CV34 5BW
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
-
OMFS Consultant Surgeon
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Luton, LU4 0DZ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Hand Surgeon
Doncaster, DN40TG
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Consultant Prostate Surgeon
Southampton, SO16 6YD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
Torquay, TQ2 7AA
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Dermatology Surgeon
Grimsby, DN31 2BH
- Salary :
- £105000.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- HCRG Care Group
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
London, E11 1NR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Consultant Vascular Surgeon
London, SE5 9RS
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Vascular Surgeon
London, SE5 9RS
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Spinal Surgeon
Sheffield, S11 8UX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- One Health Group
-
ToP Surgeon (Rotherham)
Rotherham, S60 1FL
- Salary :
- £78488.17 to £109691.14
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- MSI Reproductive Choices
-
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
Brighton, BN2 5BE
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
King's Lynn, PE30 4ET
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHSFT
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
London, E1 4DG
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
Worthing, BN11 2DH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon
Basildon/Broomfield/Southend, CM1 7ET
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant Breast Surgeon
Bristol, BS10 5NB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- North Bristol NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant Hand Surgeon
Sheffield, S5 7AU
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon - Stone
London, E11 1NR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant Urological Surgeon
London, E1 1FR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
Brighton, BN1 6AG
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon
Birmingham, B152QD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Consultant Surgeon - Orthopaedics & Trauma
Braddan, IM4 4RJ
- Salary :
- £107208.00 to £185166.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Manx Care
-
Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Lancaster, LA14RP
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant Cleft Surgeon
Salisbury, SP2 8BJ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant General Surgeon ( Lower GI )
Sheffield, S11 8UX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- One Health Group
-
Consultant General Surgeon ( Upper GI )
Sheffield, S11 8UX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- One Health Group
-
Fellowship-trained Foot & Ankle Surgeon
Sheffield, S11 8UX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- One Health Group
-
Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon
Dorchester, DT1 2JY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant ENT Surgeon Specialising in Otology
Peterborough, PE3 9GZ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
-
HCA - Ballater Surgery
Orpington, BR6 0DP
- Salary :
- £13.50 to £15.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Ballater Surgery
-
Secretary - Vauxhall Surgery
Chepstow, NP16 5PZ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- GP Practice in Wales
-
HCA - Ballater Surgery
Orpington, BR6 0DP
- Salary :
- £13.50 to £15.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Ballater Surgery
-
CONSULTANT IN ORTHOPAEDIC TRAUMA SURGERY PELVIC AND ACETABULAR SURGERY
Oxford, OX3 9DU
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon – Upper Limb or Shoulder & Elbow
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Hand and Wrist
Wythenshawe, M23 9LT
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon with specialist interest in Paediatrics
Watford, WD18 0HB
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Senior Pharmacist – Ophthalmology & Surgery
Kingston, KT2 7QB
- Salary :
- £59490.00 to £66239.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
-
ARRS GP Surgery Paramedic
Billericay, CM12 9DX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Western Road Surgery
-
General Practitioner Kingsway Surgery
Swansea, SA1 5LF
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- GP Practice in Wales
-
Specialist in Oral Surgery
Plymouth, PL1 4JZ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise CIC
-
GP Surgery Healthcare Assistant
Southampton, SO19 0HS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Peartree Practice
-
Phlebotomist - Corner Place Surgery
Paignton, TQ4 5AH
- Salary :
- £23809.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
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These organisations have further information about being a plastic surgeon, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
British Society for Surgery of the Hand
Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
And hear from someone already working as a plastic surgeon.
David Ward - Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Leicester Royal Infirmary