I knew the moment that I wanted to become a doctor, I also wanted to be a surgeon. This was not because I thought it was "cool or fun," or that I like played the game "operation" when I was a kid, but because I knew that my personality and values matched this profession: I liked working with my hands, the idea of "healing patients with my hands," and requiring technical precision to produce results. I was impatient, and wanted to see the results of my work immediately, not months or years later. I knew the moment that I tied my first knot around a blood vessel, cut out a cancer on the body, and fixed a broken bone, that this was the greatest profession in the world. Every time I stepped foot in the operating room, there was a reaffirming moment or experience that made me certain that surgery was the right field for me.
Understanding your own personality and values will go a long way in determining your fit and longevity in plastic surgery. Surgical training is long and gruelling (between 6-10 years), and plastic surgery training is not a "walk in the park." If you think that the years of training in plastic surgery will be centered around "boob jobs and liposuction," you will be sorely disappointed. Try thinking of days in the burn intensive care unit managing the sickest of patients, 100 degree operating rooms reconstructing a burned child, 10 hour operations reconstructing a mangled face or limb, being wallowed up by the odor of a necrotizing infection, then going home to prepare a power point lecture on a topic you know little about, and giving that lecture to your peers and attendings who will criticize your work--then getting up at 5am to round on your patients to start the cycle all over.
I have seen many in surgery who quit in the middle of training because the surgical lifestyle does not fit their life. When you choose the road to become a surgeon, you need to know your personality, values, and motivators. If you cannot love the operating room like you love your own home, then you need to think twice about embarking on this journey. For those who can, there is an infinitely bright future in this field for you.
Understanding your own personality and values will go a long way in determining your fit and longevity in plastic surgery. Surgical training is long and gruelling (between 6-10 years), and plastic surgery training is not a "walk in the park." If you think that the years of training in plastic surgery will be centered around "boob jobs and liposuction," you will be sorely disappointed. Try thinking of days in the burn intensive care unit managing the sickest of patients, 100 degree operating rooms reconstructing a burned child, 10 hour operations reconstructing a mangled face or limb, being wallowed up by the odor of a necrotizing infection, then going home to prepare a power point lecture on a topic you know little about, and giving that lecture to your peers and attendings who will criticize your work--then getting up at 5am to round on your patients to start the cycle all over.
I have seen many in surgery who quit in the middle of training because the surgical lifestyle does not fit their life. When you choose the road to become a surgeon, you need to know your personality, values, and motivators. If you cannot love the operating room like you love your own home, then you need to think twice about embarking on this journey. For those who can, there is an infinitely bright future in this field for you.
13 comments:
I appreciate your writing these blogs very much, Dr. Lee. I am half-way through my chapter on protists while my friends are partying. Your blog re-affirmed my motivation to finish the chapter. It is sometimes very difficult to find interest in a professor who is also a botanist, especially when he has a penchant for describing the most minute details of a plant I have never heard of before. I hope I will see my aspirations come to fruition as you did. I look forward to reading more of what I will encounter in the future!
-Stefano
I have a friend that got a plastic surgery and she was 6 months in the hospital because it made that she got and infection so with the time she comes to feel bad and them was the surprise but if you visit Viagra Online you don't have that problem.
Of course this is a very crucial decision.You have choose the surgeon who is going to help you not only with the treatment but also the after care.
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Choosing to be a surgeon requires perseverance, drive and maturity. You may have to sacrifice your recreational activities to catch up with the lessons. That is why I salute the people who take on this profession.
Terry Bayer
Yes, personality is needed if you want to become a plastic surgeon. It highly needs dedication and hard work, or even perseverance to cope up with the lessons and practical exams.
Gilda Sanchez
Now, I have read all of your postings and have founded a great amount of respect not only for this profession but also for yourself as a teacher/mentor. It has become nothing less than transparent that this path, is a path that coincides perfectly with my psychological being and nature. I can proudly and confidently say, that this is the path I can take not because of the glamour, but because the same fire, compassion and impatience that I have studied in your words, burns vigorously and deeply in my heart mind and soul.
If you’re an aspiring surgeon, it’s important that by now, you already have these great qualities within you. You won't be successful in this profession if you don’t have these traits. It’s really important because a person’s life is in your hands, so you really have to do your best to fulfill your responsibilities.
Judith Arends
Dr Lee I am a final year surgery resident and like you I too believe that I can do stuff with my hands. I desperately want to opt for plastic surgery as my subspeciality. The only thing tht is keeping me is the thrill to save a life. What do u think of that ??
Thanks for the information about facial plastic surgery los angeles.I really appreciate your writings as it is very amazing.
Hi! I'm glad to stop by your site and know more about cosmetic surgeon. This is a good read. I will be looking forward to visit your page again and for your other posts as well. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about cosmetic surgeon in your area.
Up until the techniques of anesthesia became established, surgeries involving healthy tissues involved great pain. Infection from surgery was reduced by the introduction of sterile techniques and disinfectants. The invention and use of antibiotics, beginning with sulfonamide and penicillin, was another step in making elective surgery possible.
Surgical plastic surgery procedures include Facelift.
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You should know your personality when choosing your cosmetic surgeon. It is a very important point
Plastic Surgeon
In my opinion,plastic surgery is one of the best way to improve cosmetic appearance. It can help through surgical procedures to correct physical features on patients either for health benefits or cosmetic appearance. Choosing a career in surgery takes a lot of planning and careful thought. Good articles like this helps.
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this article really does point out a great mentality that a surgeon needs to have. Its not glamorous...you're not going to be on TMZ talking about what you did for Kim K...but you're changing lives! If you can keep that as your motivation, you'll LOVE the sacrifice it takes to be a successful surgeon.
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