<p>I'm looking at going into the field of medicine (specifically cosmetic plastic surgery), and would like to work in California. I was wondering what kind of salary I would be looking at making, what kind of malpractice insurance I would be paying, how many procedures I would do in a year, etc. I imagine that starting my own firm straight out of residency probably would not work, but I could work with another firm to get my name out there, then eventually start my own practice. I understand the amount of training is a lot (4 years of undergrade, 4 years of medical school, 7ish years of residency), but what do you think?</p>
<p>[PLASTIC</a> SURGEON at MDsalaries - The Physician Salaries Blog](<a href=“http://mdsalaries.blogspot.com/2006/06/plastic-surgeon.html]PLASTIC”>http://mdsalaries.blogspot.com/2006/06/plastic-surgeon.html)</p>
<p>Considering that, each year, only about 250 medical students (out of some 15,000) choose to/are able to get into plastics residencies, and that cosmetic plastic surgery must be a saturated field in California, you’d do well to make sure you’re interested in medicine and the idea of being a doctor more than just being a plastic surgeon.</p>
<p>Oh, I am very interested in the field of medicine. I have been since I was 9.</p>
<p>You would make tons of money (ie payment of cash up front before you book the case at rate you determine). Big malpractice. Know of one whose wife owned a modeling agency and added boob jobs to the coverage.</p>
<p>Or you could make some money by being a burn plastic surgeon or cleft palate or many others which are needed.</p>
<p>My D extensively shadowed a plastic surgeon. It was the best of times and the worst of times. She remains very interested but at the same time she was appalled at what he had had to put up with as far as “running a business” and dealing with hard to please patients. Her favorite experience shadowing may have been watching this dude rebuild a guy’s nose (cancer) over a period of an entire summer. She said it was exceptional to watch start to finish.</p>
<p>Her latest research has been dealing with melanoma so maybe she can blend the two in some academic way.</p>