So you’ve decided that plastic surgery is for you. Perhaps you were inspired by Grey’s Anatomy. Or maybe, you’ve had a knack of fixing things since childhood. No matter your reasons, you’re in for a thrilling and challenging journey. Continue?

First of all, buckle up. The medical school is a long and arduous ride. You’ll spend four years in lectures, laboratories, and late night coffee runs. You will learn everything from anatomy and biochemistry. It’s like a firehose, overwhelming but essential.

The residency is the next step after medical school. The residency is the real test. A general surgery residency usually lasts about five years. You can expect long, sleepless hours and rapid learning. While you’ll be rotating through different specialties, keep your eyes focused on the goal – plastic surgery.

Then, after a general surgery residency is completed, you can begin specialized training. This takes between two and three years. You can refine your skills for reconstructive and aesthetic procedures. This is more than just a clay sculpting class; you will also be working with live tissue.

Let’s now talk about the board certification. That shiny badge isn’t easy to get. You must first pass written tests that measure your knowledge of all aspects of plastic surgery. It’s like revising for finals on steroids.

You’ll then have to take the oral examination, which is one of the most nerve wracking things you will do. Imagine this: experienced surgeons grilling about case studies, while you sweat bullets in an attempt to avoid making mistakes under pressure.

There’s more! There’s more! For you to qualify for the exams, you will need a logbook detailing every procedure that you have performed throughout your training period. This includes every stitch and every suture.

Do not forget that medicine is never still. The latest trends in TikTok are not as fast-paced as the new techniques. Staying up to date is important if you plan on keeping your credentials.

Attending conferences, keeping track of industry standards and networking can all help.

There are also fellowships, which offer deeper dives into specific sub-specialties. These include craniofacial and hand surgery. Fellowships can be a great way to set yourself apart from other surgeons by adding ‘another feather in your cap.

As you can see, getting board-certified requires a lot of stamina and dedication. There’s also humour along the way.