Plastic Surgery Work-Life Balance: What Doctors Actually Say

Based on 66 verified physician responses, Plastic Surgery has a 4.6/10 average career satisfaction rating.89% of Plastic Surgery physicians say they would choose the specialty again if starting their career over. The average Plastic Surgery physician works 55 hours per week.

Plastic Surgery physicians commonly report loving: building meaningful patient relationships, intellectual stimulation and diagnostic challenges, clinical variety, the ability to make a tangible difference in patient outcomes, and procedural diversity. Many also appreciate the collegial environment and opportunities for subspecialization.

Based on SalaryDr data, Plastic Surgery physicians work an average of 55 hours per week. This varies by practice setting—academic and hospital-employed positions often require more hours than private practice.

The most commonly cited challenges from Plastic Surgery physicians include: administrative burden and documentation requirements, call schedules impacting personal time, work-life balance pressures (especially early in career), and compensation concerns relative to training length. Some also mention challenging patient populations or high-acuity cases as sources of stress.

89% of Plastic Surgery physicians surveyed say they would choose Plastic Surgeryagain if starting their career over. This data is based on 66 verified, anonymous physician responses collected by SalaryDr.