Best Medical Schools for Plastic Surgery

A career in Plastic Surgery can be satisfying and highly rewarding at the same time, but it can also be very tough. It requires considerable time in medical school and requires total commitment and focus. 

Undeniably, being a Plastic Surgeon is a complex medical profession and needs a lot of stamina and dedication. And they cover a lot of medical cases ranging from correcting congenital anomalies to reconstructing the faces and bodies of patients from accidents. 

If you are one of those aspiring medical professionals who want to specialize in Plastic Surgery, then we will help you choose the best and top-tier medical schools in the country. This article will give you a list of the best medical schools for Plastic Surgery.

What is a Plastic Surgeon?

Plastic Surgery is one of the subspecializations in Surgery that concerns improving an individual’s physical appearance by repair, reconstruction, or replacement. It also deals with facial and body tissue reconstruction due to congenital disabilities, trauma, or injuries. 

This surgical specialization also helps restore and improve the function of any body parts affected by abnormalities, diseases, and other medical conditions. Plastic Surgery can be reconstructive and aesthetic, depending on the patient's need. 

Plastic Surgeons are licensed medical professionals to perform plastic and reconstructive medical procedures. They can repair and reconstruct any body part except the central nervous system. 

They are highly trained doctors who spent six years in general and plastic surgery residency programs. While some have a five-year residency program in surgery and another three-year residency program in plastic surgery. 

Here are some standard Plastic Surgery procedures:

How Much Do Plastic Surgeons Earn?

Surgeons are among the in-demand healthcare occupation and are one of the top highest-payed medical specializations. Many countries worldwide are offering good compensation benefits for Plastic Surgeons in particular. 

Below are some of the top-paying countries for Plastic Surgeons. However, the salary range varies from country to country as other factors affect the wage of these medical specialists. To give you an overview of how much Plastic Surgeons earn, we present the average salary offer from one country to another. 

The average salary of Plastic Surgeons in the US is USD 459,250. 

And the entry-level salary ranges from USD 303,683 to USD 350,000. 

While Senior Plastic Surgeons have an average salary of around USD 600,000 to USD 616,243. 

In the UK, Plastic Surgeons have a median salary of GBP 302,362, and those with long years of experience in the field can receive an average annual income of GBP 405,724. 

Plastic Surgeons who are based in Canada have an average yearly income of CAD 448,645. 

Junior doctors having this specialization can have a starting salary between CAD 296,670 and CAD 350,000, depending on the level of education they have acquired and the other experiences they have in the field. 

In India, Plastic Surgeon's average salary is INR 43,810,916. 

Those in entry-level positions can earn around INR 29,420,281 up to INR 30,000,000. Senior specialists, they can earn as much as INR 59,710,525.

Surgeons specializing in Plastic Surgery working in Australia have a median salary of AUD 553,112. 

And senior medical professionals can earn an average of between AUD 700,000 to AUD 743,398. 

An entry-level Plastic Surgeon in Norway has an average yearly income of NOK 2,176,421. 

While the average salary of these specialists is NOK 3,291,332, and those with more than eight years of experience as a Plastic Surgeon can earn around NOK 4,416,460. 

The median salary of Plastic Surgeons in Switzerland is CHF 425,351, while those with less than three years of experience in the field have an average yearly income of CHF 280,484 up to CHF 300,000. 

Summary Table: Average Salary Rate of Plastic Surgeons in Different Countries

What are the Best Medical Schools for Plastic Surgery?

Specializing in Plastic Surgery requires in-depth and exceptional training and education to hone clinical skills. It is also a rigorous medical specialization compared to others, so choosing the medical school that will help you succeed in this field is crucial. 

To become a Plastic Surgeon, one must have a medical degree and undergo at least six years of residency training. Wherein you will be exposed to various surgical techniques and procedures. 

Below are the best medical schools for Plastic Surgery, and each has a unique curriculum and residency training programs offered to aspiring surgeons.

Harvard University 

Harvard University is a prominent educational institution in the country. It has long been known to provide the best quality education and is dedicated to nurturing its students' talents and skills to their full potential. 

Why Study Plastic Surgery at Harvard?

The Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Program is highly comprehensive and with a well-rounded and balanced curriculum. It is integrated with the best research and clinical training program for its residents. 

Also, the residents will be exposed to general surgery, oral surgery, otorhinolaryngology, urology, neurosurgery, and orthopedic surgery. 

And they are given numerous opportunities in clinical research that covers a variety of aesthetic, breast, craniofacial, cleft lip and palate, hand and upper extremity, lower extremity reconstruction, oncologic reconstruction of the neck and head, microsurgery, and more. 

The department is affiliated with notable hospitals in the area, wherein they will have their rotations in different ancillary services such as anesthesia, orthopedic surgery, dermatology, oculoplastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, and other divisions of plastic surgery. 

Johns Hopkins University

John Hopkins University is one of the world-renowned educational institutions in the United States. Though it is not part of the prestigious Ivy League Schools, John Hopkins University is still one of the top-performing universities with excellent academic programs on par with other prominent universities in the country. 

Why Study Plastic Surgery at John Hopkins?

The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the school also focuses and gives importance to the performance of its residents during their rotations in different major teaching hospitals. 

The program is dedicated to improving and developing the surgical skills of its residents. It is also one of the leading institutions with an excellent surgical education program. 

Also, it continues to keep up with the advances in surgery and its subspecializations. It is a dynamic curriculum with an in-depth structure that provides a good education system for aspiring Plastic Surgeons. 

Residents will also have the chance to do rotations in community hospital services. Wherein they will experience handling intensive care for critically injured patients, management of burn injuries, and other secondary deformities related to burns. 

They will also focus on other plastic surgery services such as hand and wrist surgeries, facial reanimation, cranial vault procedures, adult and pediatric craniofacial surgery, and others.

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) is among the notable and respected universities the US. It is also a member of the top-ranked Ivy League Schools. 

Why Study Plastic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania?

The Division of Plastic Surgery at Perelman School of Medicine offers advanced cosmetic and reconstructive surgery programs. It is also the leading and most recognized institution for reconstructive microsurgery. 

The department strives to create an inclusive and competitive learning environment for its surgical trainees. Also, it offers a full-time immersion in the Plastic Surgery department of various affiliated hospitals. 

The residents are highly exposed to breast reconstruction, craniofacial reconstruction, congenital anomalies, microsurgical techniques, cleft lip and palate surgery, cosmetic facial and body surgeries, and more. 

They will have comprehensive training in Plastic Surgery under the guidance of top-tier surgeons in the country. Also, the program includes exposure to orthopedic, dermatologic, and burn surgery.

Stanford University

Stanford University is a world-class private educational institution with a good reputation for its academic programs that exude excellence and contribution to various research programs. 

Why Study Plastic Surgery at Stanford University?

Stanford University has the most technologically advanced facilities intended for Plastic Surgery. The curriculum is integrated with innovation and research. Also, it offers its residents a wide range of opportunities in all aspects of this medical specialization. 

The department is dedicated to molding the next generation of Plastic Surgeons through professionalism and intensive clinical experience. It teaches excellent surgical care and develops its residents' technical skills using simulation and intraoperative training programs in their specialized clinics and other medical facilities. 

The residents will also get to experience handling complex reconstructive problems, peripheral nerve injuries, hand surgery, and more. And they will work closely with a multidisciplinary group of specialists to provide the utmost patient care.

Duke University

Duke University in North Carolina is among the top-performing university with notable alumni. It is known for its extensive educational programs that promote inclusivity and strongly emphasize research and development. 

Why Study Plastic Surgery at Duke University?

Duke Med is a world-class training institution for Integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The department highlights and emphasizes teamwork, diversity, and intensive training courses for its medical students. 

The program aims to deliver clinical excellence and an integrated residency training program for this subspecialization in Surgery. And it is known for its soft skills curriculum that allows its residents to explore an array of opportunities for their career advancement. 

The residents will collaborate with different medical professionals in the field and will be exposed to all areas of Plastic Surgery. Also, the program is highly dynamic and centers on collaboration and interactive courses, which develops the resident's professionalism and confidence. 

The rotation program includes a training opportunity in pediatric, craniofacial surgery, aesthetic surgery, and other complex reconstructive procedures. Duke Med also houses the famous Duke Human Fresh Tissue Laboratory, where students can work with fresh tissues during their surgical training. 

The laboratory consists of state-of-the-art medical facilities and other operating room equipment that assimilate a normal operating room theater. 

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh is a top-ranked university in Pennsylvania with a good reputation in academic research and a competitive educational system. 

Why Study Plastic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh?

The Department of Plastic Surgery comprises world-class faculty who are among the top medical specialists in the field. The program is integrated with life-long learning and demonstrates strong ethics and professionalism in its curriculum. 

It provides its residents with advanced surgical care and clinical excellence through academic research and residency programs. It is also a competency-based training program that provides a unique educational system that aims to educate the residents effectively and efficiently. 

Residents will be spending their rotations in surgery, anesthesia, orthopedic surgery, hand surgery, and a broad spectrum of reconstructive surgery. Also, they will experience handling various trauma levels in vascular surgery and head and neck reconstruction procedures at the school’s affiliated hospitals and medical centers. 

They will also handle evaluations, preoperative planning, postoperative care, multiple surgical services, paramedical services, and more in a tertiary care hospital system.

Summary Table: Best Medical Schools for Plastic Surgery

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