While becoming a cosmetic surgeon may appear to be a lucrative and exciting career path, it is not for the faint of heart. The fourteen years of training typically required to achieve that goal is rigorous, and anyone interested in becoming a cosmetic surgeon should consider whether they are willing and able to devote the long hours and dedication required to complete the program. Interviewing medical students, speaking with practicing cosmetic surgeons, and volunteering at a hospital or clinic are all good ways to see if this is the right career for you.
A person who aspires to be a cosmetic surgeon should begin planning for his or her career while still in high school, focusing on maintaining a strong academic record. He or she should also study advanced science courses such as biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as advanced math courses, to lay a solid foundation for college and medical classes. If you don’t take these classes in high school, you’ll have to work harder in college and medical school. While the training and certification requirements for becoming a cosmetic surgeon vary country, nearly all countries require advanced education and training to become a cosmetic surgeon.
A person who wants to be a cosmetic surgeon must first complete a four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited college after graduating from high school. Although an undergraduate degree in a specific field is not usually required for admission to medical school, students should choose a major that is science-related. Pre-med, biology, chemistry, and physics are all popular majors.
Because medical school admission is competitive, a person who wants to be a cosmetic surgeon must maintain a high grade point average in college. Furthermore, because each medical school has its own set of admissions requirements, aspiring cosmetic surgeons should research the medical schools that interest them to see which ones are the best fit for them and whether their college courses will meet the schools’ prerequisites. Typically, students interested in medical school begin the application process at the end of their junior year of college.
A person wishing to become a cosmetic surgeon must usually pass a standardized entrance exam, such as the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), in addition to obtaining a relevant college degree and maintaining good grades. The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice test used medical school admissions committees to determine which students are most likely to succeed in medical school. The requirements for admission vary country, but the majority are extremely stringent.
Medical students will typically complete a four-year program after being accepted to medical school. Medical students spend the first two years of school or more in classroom lectures and labs focused on basic sciences. Then, under the supervision of a doctor, students work with patients in a clinical setting. After that, students usually complete elective clinical rotations, which give them the opportunity to learn more about different specialties. A doctor receives a degree such as Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) after completing medical school (DO).
Following medical school, a person interested in becoming a cosmetic surgeon may spend three years in general surgical training and two or three years in plastic surgery specialized training. A candidate may also need to pass certain certification exams in order to practice as a cosmetic surgeon. In the United States, for example, a candidate must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) as well as an American Board of Plastic Surgery certification exam (ABPS).