The Salary of a Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon
Television has glamorized the lifestyles of cosmetic plastic surgeons in reality shows such as "Dr. 90210" and series such as "Nip/Tuck." These medical specialists perform a variety of services that can cost thousands of dollars, including rhytidectomies (face-lifts), breast augmentation and rhinoplasties (nose jobs). While the earnings of cosmetic plastic surgeons vary according to skill, the category as a whole is an extremely high-earning one.
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Job Description
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Plastic surgeons separate into two distinct types --- reconstructive and cosmetic. Reconstructive plastic surgeons focus on correcting issues resulting from accidents or birth defects. Cosmetic surgeons, on the other hand, perform surgeries to alter the appearance of an otherwise normal patient. They may remove excess fat through liposuction, lift sagging eyelids or place an implant in the chin. These surgeries are typically not in response to a medical crisis but are a voluntary procedure. Some procedures are not invasive, such as Botox injections, dermal fillers and laser resurfacing. In addition to degrees from both an undergraduate program and a medical program, cosmetic plastic surgeons complete a five- to seven-year residency after graduation.
Salary
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Plastic surgeons typically earn over $300,000 per year. The American Medical Association reported that the annual salary for plastic surgeons averaged between $327,000 and $445,575. The Association of American Medical Colleges reported a 2010 annual salary range between $275,000 and $499,656.
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Fees
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Cosmetic surgery procedures vary in complexity and cost. Short procedures, such as the injection of Botox or fillers, can run a few hundred dollars. Surgeries such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, face and thigh lifts and tummy tucks, which can take several hours and require the use of surgical facilities, run from $3,000 to $7,000. While these fees may seem high, self-employed cosmetic plastic surgeons have to pay significant costs for medicines, equipment and staff that make their cut from the procedure much less. Many cosmetic plastic surgeons try to figure a particular hourly rate for their services into their fees called a "surgeon's fee". According to the website Plastic Surgery Research, this fee can be several thousand dollars.
Experience
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Cosmetic plastic surgeons who are just starting out earn significantly less than those with a few years of experience. The Allied Physicians Physician Salary Survey reported in 2006 that plastic surgeons with less than two years of experience earned over 40 percent less than plastic surgeons with over three years of experience. New plastic surgeons earned an average of $237,000 per year, while their more experienced counterparts earned $412,000. The top earners in the field saw around $820,000 per year.
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References
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- Photo Credit Ready for surgery image by DGGallery from Fotolia.com
