Working Life
What is an average day like?
There is no average day. About 50 per cent of
referrals to plastic surgery come from GPs, 30 per cent from
emergency departments and the remaining 20 per cent are referred
from other surgical specialties. Duties within an average working
week will include outpatients clinic, operating theatre, on-call
rota work, and dealing with any on-call referrals.
What are the hours like?
There is a lot of on-call demand and frequent
out-of-hours work in this specialty.
Where is the work based?
This work is split between theatre and
outpatients clinic.
What people work in the same team?
This is a multi disciplinary team.
Types of patients
Patients of all ages, with injuries caused by
burns or in need of reconstruction of congenital deformities.
Number of patients seen in a day
This can vary, but would be roughly between 20
and 30, split between theatre and clinic.
What is most enjoyable?
Plastic surgery offers a very varied caseload
and the opportunity to use technology, such as microscope lasers.
Most rewarding is that you have the ability to transform someone’s
life.
What is most challenging?
This is a highly competitive specialty.