Plastic surgeon
Plastic surgeons perform operations to restore someone's movement or appearance either for personal reasons or following an illness or injury.
Typical Salary
£37,000 – £140,000
per year
Working Hours
40–45
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a plastic or cosmetic surgeon, you could:
- discuss options with your patients
- restore tissue, skin and limb function
- complete reconstructive surgery after burns or illness
- carry out facelifts, implants and liposuction
- check on progress after surgery
- update records and teach trainee surgeons
Skills needed
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- the ability to work well with your hands
- thinking and reasoning skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of biology
- the ability to work well with others
- knowledge of English language
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.
Career progression
You could:
- specialise in a certain type of surgery, for example burns or scars
- become a senior surgeon, leading a team or department
- move into teaching student surgeons
- set up your own private practice