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Essay / Behind the Scenes of the American Plastic Surgery Industry
The plastic surgery industry is one of the largest and most lucrative industries in the United States, if not the world. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Americans spent approximately $16 billion on plastic surgery in 2016, more than any other country that year. And the following year, more than 200,000 teenagers underwent plastic surgery (which caused enormous controversy and sparked multiple debates). Due to the profitability and rapid growth of this industry, plastic surgeons are among the highest paid surgeons (with an average of $360,000 in 2011), earning between $237,000 (starting salary) and $820 000 dollars per year. According to Grand View Research, if the industry continues to grow at this rate, the value of the industry as a whole will rise to $43.9 billion by 2025. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Plastic surgeons require extreme skill, education, and dedication. Plastic surgeons (cosmetic and reconstructive) are surgeons who specialize in correcting or improving the appearance of physical features, either solely for cosmetic purposes or for a specific purpose (or both). There are two main types of plastic surgeons: reconstructive and cosmetic surgeons. Reconstructive surgeons focus on treating parts of the body affected by birth defects, tumors, diseases, developmental problems or burns. Most of the time, the work performed by reconstructive surgeons serves a purpose that is not just cosmetic. Cosmetic surgeons, on the other hand, focus more on unnecessary procedures, such as rhinoplasties and breast augmentations. To become a plastic surgeon (reconstructive or cosmetic), you must earn a four-year undergraduate degree and complete required courses, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. After that, you attend medical school, which takes four years if you want to acquire an MD (doctor of medicine) or OD (doctor of osteopathy). Once you finish school and get hired, you spend at least 5 years in residency, focusing on general and plastic surgery. Most surgeons (not all) choose to be board certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery, making them a more trusted and preferred surgeon. The job outlook for plastic surgeons is currently promising: Job opportunities for plastic surgeons are expected to increase 14% by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to this, plastic surgeons must have a strong work ethic and be dedicated. On average, a typical plastic surgeon works 50 hours per week, mostly on their feet for hours. The majority of plastic surgeons are satisfied with the work they have chosen. According to a 2019 Medscape report, the majority of plastic surgeons (68%) said they would return to the medical field if they had to choose again. By the same majority, 90% of plastic surgeons say they would choose the same specialty. According to a 2019 Medscape compensation report, plastic surgeons who worked in larger medical practices benefit from economies of scale, resulting in a lower overhead percentage. While surgeons-2018/