Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Qualifications required

The medical career route is enormously well traveled, and information on how to pursue a career in medicine (at all levels) is readily available online and via just about every educational institute in the UK. However, as always we find out what we can for you, plus add-in some cheeky extras, so here goes...

Your first step is (of course) medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry, to get into medical school. Many medical schools also ask for A-level biology; others may require maths and/or physics.

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To become a plastic or cosmetic surgeon you will need to complete:

• A degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council

• A 2-year foundation programme of general training

• 3-years of core surgical training in a hospital

• ‘Specialist’ surgical training (into the field/pathway you have chosen) which can take up to 6 years

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When you apply for a course in medicine, you could be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) or even a Graduate Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT).

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They test for the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.

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A medical degree normally takes 5 years to complete. Some courses have the option to include an extra year if you want to study a subject further; this is called an intercalated year.

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You might be able to study a foundation year before starting a medical degree and this will depend on your circumstances and if you have not studied enough (or have high enough grades in) sciences. Always check with the admissions department of the institute you want to study at/with.

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Medical schools will also expect you to have/get some relevant paid or voluntary work experience. The British Medical Association provides information on how to find a placement.

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As Mary-Clare outlines, it has taken her 17 years to become a fully established medical professional consultant.  As a patient that's incredibly reassuring, but as a normal person that's a full open-mouth shocked emoji face.

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Rules and regs

As you might imagine, there are A LOT of rules, regs and laws for all medical practitioners, and they are all thoroughly explained through every stage of the education and training you complete. However, some highlights to note are…

To practise you have to be registered with the GMC.

The Professional Standards Authority ‘judges’ and assesses the GMC.

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The NHS has an ‘Equality Hub’, giving information relating to statutory responsibilities regarding equality & health equalities:

The Royal College of Surgeons is the UK governing body for surgeons and again a body that surgeons, like Mary-Clare must be registered with to practice.

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The GMC details the type and level of insurance and indemnities all doctors will need here.

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Remuneration framework

Doctors' salaries can vary radically from the NHS system to the private system, so it's important to know upfront - and be honest with yourself about - how much a driver money/salary is for you. Not only will this determine whether you (and when you) end up going down the private route, but it will also determine what medical specialism you opt for.

 

This NHS page outlines basic NHS pay.

This link gives further intel on what UK surgeons can earn.

 

And this isn’t a bad site to help you debate whether to go NHS or private.

 

How to get started

Let's be frank here… If you’re not 100% sure you want to go into a medical role/career, then do not embark on a degree course. As Mary-Clare says, it takes 17-years to get to the level she is now at, which is not a small amount of time, and not a cheap amount of time (degrees cost money!). And although she’s ‘top of the tree’ in terms of her skill level and you can of course qualify and work in much lower-level medical roles, it’s still a full-on study and practical process. Be sure. Do research. Talk to as many medical practitioners as you can, in as many sectors as you can; get the good and the bad before you make your decision.

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Mary-Clare went to Cambridge to do her initial medical degree, but you can study across the UK and the UCAS website gives some great advice on this.

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The Royal College of Surgeons also gives an overview on the ins and out of applying to Medical School.

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Associations or official bodies to register with

You must apply for GMC registration, with a licence/fitness to practise, in the UK.

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As we’ve said, The Royal College of Surgeons is the UK governing body for surgeons.

BAPRAS is the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons and has lots of great information and links on, should you wish to pursue this as a specialism, like Mary-Clare.

Progression pathway

Mary-Clare outlines her own progression pathway brilliantly and certainly to become a fully-fledged ‘specialist’ surgeon, there is quite a clear progression pathway and indeed pay scale to follow this.

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However, as we also touched on in the chat, lots of doctors and surgeons can shift into the private sector, in order to progress their salary and indeed set-up and run their own medical business. This obviously means becoming good at business, as well as medicine; but, if that’s an area that interests you, then it’s certainly a progression pathway out there.

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We also discussed the ability/scope to work abroad, subject to transferable skills and qualifications, and there’s no doubt that British Doctors and Medical Staff are highly regarded across the world. Pay looks to be better abroad than in the UK, and of course, you get to travel and see the world. Where do we sign?

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Mary-Clare discussed that one of her brothers has gone into the pharmaceutical industry after becoming a fully qualified doctor, and now applies his knowledge and skill-set into researching, building and developing new drugs and medical systems. And as we all know, the pharmaceutical industry is a thriving and lucrative industry, so pay in this sector is never going to be shabby.

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Finally, teaching. Lots of degree lecturers were/are active doctors and choose to diversify by teaching the next wave of doctors. As the saying goes, those that do, teach.

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Additional links/FYIs

The General Medical Council (GMC) has a link regarding their standards and practices regarding education.

They also have further info on becoming a doctor in the UK.

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The British Medical Association has advice and support on studying medicine.

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As does the Medical Schools Council.

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NHS Scotland gives information in medical training in Scotland here.