Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Cosmetic Surgeon Job Description & Career Opportunities

A Cosmetic Surgeon is one of the most sought out medical professions because the industry has grown significantly in recent decades. Cosmetic Surgery is one of the most highest paid fields of surgery, aside from being a neurosurgeon, which is a brain surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon which deals with the skeletal structure such as the knee and its tendons and ligaments or the ankle. In today’s society, because people are not pleased or happy with the way their outside appeareance is, whether it be the face or any part of the outside body, the Cosmetic Surgeon is the one who make the necessary adjustments to the patient, whether it be voluntay or involuntary. But to become a Cosmetic Surgeon takes great skill and knowledge.
Cosmetic Surgeon Training and Education

A cosmetic or plastic sugeon works on patients to correct physical features. These surgeries may or may not be medically necessary. For example, a patient may wish for a smaller nose known as rhinoplasty, or a breast augmentation. In order to perform these delicate tasks, the cosmetic surgeon needs to be highly qualified and skilled, and that’s where education comes into play. Let’s say someone is very interesed in becoming a cosmetic surgeon. The first step to becoming a cosmetic surgeon is to attend a 4 year college. Prior to college, the person needs to make and maintain good grades throughout high school. Also be a well-rounded student by getting involved in extra-curricular activities such as sports, fine arts prgrams, science programs, etc. With all of these academics and extra-curricular activities combined, you place yourself at a better chance to being accepted into a top college or university.

While attending college or a university, you also want to make sure you are excelling or doing well in each course taken. You also want to make sure you take plenty of courses in the science and mathematical fields. Major in the Pre-Med program. The courses within this program include, biology, physics, and other general science courses. As you familiarize yourself with these courses, you want to take the Medical College Admissions Test, also known as the MCAT. In the junior year of college, this is where you start applying to Medical schools. You want to apply to as many as possible so that you would have a higher chance into being accepted.
Once accepted into medical school, it requires a four year duration and it is extremely important that you keep your grades up high and learn as much as possible. The courses you will be taking are anatomy, physiology, microbiology and more in depth. Post medical school completion, you will need to complete a residency program. The residency program will last about 3 yrs, at which during this time that you will be training as a general surgeon. Finally after completing residency as a general surgeon, you will complete a specialized residency in plastic surgery for 3 more years which will include specific training as a cosmetic surgeon. After all is said and done, you will need to take the National Board Exams in Plastic Surgery and apply for license in the state in wich you wish to practice.
Cosmetic Surgeon Salary & Wages

When a cosmetic surgeon has a successful practice, they tend to make excellent income. They are among the highest paid professionals. It is a expensive proposition, and cost depends on the geographical location of the particular surgeon or hospial of which the surgeon practices. Also if the hospital is owned privately by the government makes a difference in the pay te surgeon receives. An annual salary of a cosmetic surgeon is about or ranges approximately between $300,000 and $700,000. That all depends on skill and knowledge the surgeon has received.
Cosmetic Surgeon Certifications & Professional Associations

Generally, a cosmetic surgeon has to be certified with the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery in order to be licensed and practicing within the United States. Within the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, there are doctors and surgeons who are aso members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Within this association, you can guarantee and rest assure your surgeon is highly qualified to perform the appropriate procedures and surgeries. There is also another professional association, The American Association of Aesthetic courses, and they set the standard in Cosmetic surgery training. So surgeons from this aassociation are well pepared to take on any cosmetic challenge.

Overall, when it comes to becoming a Cosmetic Surgeon, the person who is willing to pursue this goal has to be ver sure this is the medical field that they want to pursue. It is great money, but the importance is the reality that you are altering and changing the physical appearance of someone, whether it is to enhance beauty on the outside, or whether or not the reason for the change is voluntary or involuntary. Whatever the case may be, the surgeon just have to make sure that he or she is willing to take on the challenge that is takes in becoming a successful cosmetic surgeon.