Employment as a Plastic Surgeon: A Review of Trends and Demand Across the Field

Abstract

Intrinsic to the field of plastic surgery, constant changes in health care policy, consumer demands, and medical technology necessitate periodic evaluation of trends in employment over time. In this article, we review the existing literature to report the current state of plastic surgery employment in the United States with regards to compensation, practice patterns, subspecialty trends, contract negotiation, representation of women in the field of plastic surgery, burnout and job satisfaction, and retirement. Understanding how the plastic surgery job market is changing not only serves as a valuable tool for the individual plastic surgeon regarding the navigation of his or her own career but also offers insight into the future of the field as a whole.