Plastic Surgery

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons diagnose, treat and manage patients who require surgical intervention to restore, construct, reconstruct or improve the form, function or appearance of bodily structures. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons may also provide cosmetic surgical services to patients who do not suffer any condition or disease, but who wish to affect an improvement in aesthetic appearance of a bodily structure.

Plastic surgery is an exciting and innovative area of medicine. We make things. We fix broken parts. I tell people I go to work and do craft. We make noses, breasts, ears and other missing parts. We restore form and function.  Our operations go from scalp to sole and from birth to death. We work with every other specialty in surgery.

Dr Dan Kennedy
Plastic Surgeon

Clinical Practice

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons work within both public and private facilities provide care for patients who require surgical, non-surgical, reconstructive and cosmetic services. Procedures commonly performed by plastic and reconstructive surgeons include abdominoplasty, breast reconstruction, cleft lip and palate repair, dermabrasion, hand surgery, liposuction, nose surgery, scar revision, sclerotherapy and skin cancer excision.

Statistics and information - Plastic Surgery

Number of specialists - QLD

Number of new fellows - QLD

Number of specialists - AUS

Number of new fellows - AUS

Average weekly hours
QLD

Average Age
QLD

% Aged 60+
QLD

43% of the QLD 2017 workforce intend to retire by 2027

Proportion Female/Male - QLD

Male
Female

Location - QLD

Regional
Major cities

Public/Private QLD

Private
Public

Number of trainees - QLD

Number of new trainees - QLD

Number of trainees - AUS

Number of new trainees - AUS

PGY new trainees - QLD

Proportion Female/Male - QLD

Male
Female

College

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

Length of Training

5 years full-time

Method of Allocation

College-selected trainees may be allocated to a training post by:

  • College
  • Queensland Health pathway/network (centrally coordinated)
  • Queensland Health facility (accredited for training)

Training and assessment summary

For detailed information in relation to training and assessment requirements, please contact RACS.

Training program overview

Plastic and Reconstructive surgery trainees are selected directly into the sub-specialty and progress through the SET (Surgical Education and Training) program, an integrated program designed to provide clinical and operative experience across a wide ranging specialty to enable trainees to manage manipulation, repair and reconstruction of the skin soft tissue and bone. The main components of SET training are placements in hospital posts, short courses (skills and specialty-specific), research and assessments. Upon completing all requirements of the training program, trainees may apply for admission to Fellowship of RACS.

Eligibility

Applicants must have permanent residency or citizenship of Australia and New Zealand at the time of registration and hold general (unconditional) medical registration in Australia or general scope or restricted general scope registration in the relevant specialty in New Zealand. Applicants are also required to have successfully completed the RACS Hand Hygiene Learning Module and RACS Let’s Operate With Respect eModule and must have passed the RACS Generic Surgery Science Examination (GSSE). In addition, applicants must have completed an emergency or critical care rotation of at least 8 working weeks in length a plastic and reconstructive surgery rotation of a least 10 working weeks in length, including a minimum of 5 continuous weeks and Surgery in General rotation of a least 26 working weeks in length. Further details are available from RACS.

Flexibility

Minimum 50% of full-time commitment however trainees must apply to the relevant specialty board prospectively. Flexible Training of less than 1.0 FTE is not permitted in the SET 1 year. Training must be completed within 9 years after the trainees's first clinical rotation.

Interrupted training

Trainees must apply to the relevant specialty board.

Data Sources