Are you wondering how to match into plastic surgery? Or how many plastic surgery residency programs are there? Do you want to know everything there is about plastic surgery residency interviews? Need to know how many interviews to match in plastic surgery?
This article will teach you everything you need to match into plastic surgery.
Summary:
- Plastic surgery is highly competitive, in part due to having a high % of unmatched US seniors and fewer positions available.
- In part due to the volume of applications, plastic surgery residency programs use standardized screens to “weed out” applicants
- The most successful applicants will have a letter of recommendation in the specialty. They will also have a stellar USMLE Step 1 score, demonstrate leadership qualities, and have excellent grades in required clerkships.
- Historically, most plastic surgery interview invites occur before November 30, and the vast majority before December 31
Table of Contents
How Competitive is it to Match into Plastic Surgery?
How competitive is it to match into plastic surgery in the US? Here we have the unmatched % of US seniors by specialty. The “Unmatched %” means the % of US seniors who applied for plastic surgery who did not match during the given year.
This is one measure of specialty competitiveness – perhaps the most relevant if you want to match into plastic surgery.
For more on the competitiveness of plastic surgery relative to other medical specialties, see this article.
How Many Plastic Surgery Residency Programs Are There?
Before we discuss how many plastic surgery residency programs there are in the US, let’s review some terminology. For many specialized residency programs (e.g., anesthesiology, dermatology, radiology, radiation oncology, etc.), the specialty training begins during the second year of residency. This second year is also known as the PGY-2 (post-graduate year 2, for the second year after graduating from medical school).
Categorical vs. Advanced vs. Physician Plastic Surgery Programs
Most residencies have three different kinds of residency programs applicants can potentially enter: categorical, advanced, and physician (R). Plastic surgery, however, only offers categorical positions.
Categorical refers to programs that include all years of residency training. Plastic surgery residency lasts 6 years which includes 3 years of general surgery training followed by 3 years residency in plastic surgery.
How Many Plastic surgery Residency Programs and Positions Are There?
In the 2022 NRMP Match, there were:
- 86 plastic surgery programs offering 194 PGY-1 (categorical) positions,
- No programs offering positions PGY-2 (advanced) positions, and
- No programs offering positions Physician (R) positions
Thus, the total number of plastic surgery residency positions in 2022 was 194. There were at least 86 plastic surgery programs in 2022.
See the 2022 Main Residency Match Results and Data for more information on plastic surgery match statistics.
How to Match into Plastic Surgery: Impressing Program Directors
To match into plastic surgery, you must first be invited to interview. According to the most recent program director (PD) survey from 2021, PDs shared what they look for in candidates they hope to interview.
For plastic surgery, the top five most important characteristics for receiving an interview, according to program directors, were:
- Letters of recommendation in specialty
- USMLE Step 1 score
- Leadership qualities
- Grades in required clerkships
- Involvement and interest in research
The same data are presented more fully in a table. Here you will see the % of program director respondents who cited a factor as important for granting an interview, as well as the mean importance score (out of 5).
To balance the breadth of program directors citing each factor with the importance given to each element, a “composite score” was created. This composite score takes the average of the % respondents citing a factor with the importance score scaled to 100%. For example, if 80% of PDs cited a given element, with a mean importance score of 5.0 (out of 5), the composite score would be 90%. (The average of 80% of PDs citing with 5/5 – or 100% – for the mean importance, for a composite score of 90%).
| Plastic Surgery (Integrated): Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to INTERVIEW (% of Respondents Endorsing) | Plastic Surgery (Integrated): Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to INTERVIEW (Mean Importance / 5) | Plastic Surgery (Integrated): Characteristics Considered for Interview Composite Score (Average of % Respondents Endorsing and Mean Importance / 5) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letters of Recommendation in Specialty | 85.1% | 5 | 92.6% |
| USMLE Step 1 Score | 93.3% | 4.2 | 88.7% |
| Leadership Qualities | 86.7% | 4.4 | 87.4% |
| Grades in Required Clerkships | 73.3% | 4.6 | 82.7% |
| Involvement and Interest in Research | 80.0% | 4.2 | 82.0% |
| Perceived Commitment to Specialty | 73.3% | 4.5 | 81.7% |
| Diversity Characteristics | 73.3% | 4.3 | 79.7% |
| Professionalism and Ethics | 66.7% | 4.6 | 79.4% |
| Having Overcome Significant Obstacles | 73.3% | 4.2 | 78.7% |
| Grades in Clerkship in Preferred Specialty | 60.0% | 4.8 | 78.0% |
| Personal Prior Knowledge of Applicant | 63.6% | 4.6 | 77.8% |
| Perceived Interest in Program | 73.3% | 4 | 76.7% |
| Awards/Honors, Clerkship in Preferred Specialty | 60.0% | 4.6 | 76.0% |
| Any Failed USMLE Attempt | 53.3% | 4.9 | 75.7% |
| MSPE | 73.3% | 3.9 | 75.7% |
| Personal Statement (Overall) | 73.3% | 3.7 | 73.7% |
| AOA Membership | 73.3% | 3.6 | 72.7% |
| Volunteer/Extracurricular Experience | 73.3% | 3.6 | 72.7% |
| Awards/Honors in Clinical Clerkships | 66.7% | 3.9 | 72.4% |
| Class Ranking/Quartile | 53.3% | 4.5 | 71.7% |
| Consistency of Grades | 60.0% | 4.1 | 71.0% |
| USMLE Step 2 CK Score | 66.7% | 3.7 | 70.4% |
| Other Life Experience | 60.0% | 3.8 | 68.0% |
| Interest in Academic Career | 60.0% | 3.8 | 68.0% |
| Medical School Accreditation Status | 46.7% | 4.3 | 66.4% |
| Audition Elective/Rotation in PD's Dept | 44.8% | 4.3 | 65.4% |
| Any Failed COMLEX-USA Attempt | 26.7% | 5 | 63.4% |
| Awards/Honors in Basic Sciences | 46.7% | 3.9 | 62.4% |
| Continuous Medical Education w/o Gaps | 60.0% | 3.2 | 62.0% |
| NRMP Flag for Match Violation | 27.8% | 4.8 | 61.9% |
| Medical School Reputation | 46.7% | 3.6 | 59.4% |
| Ability to Work Legally w/o Visa | 35.5% | 4 | 57.8% |
| GHHS Membership | 46.7% | 3.4 | 57.4% |
| Visa Status | 33.4% | 4 | 56.7% |
| Fluency in Language of Pt Population | 6.7% | 5 | 53.4% |
| Away Rotation in Specialty Elsewhere | 18.9% | 4 | 49.5% |
| COMLEX-USA Level 1 score | 13.3% | 4 | 46.7% |
| COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE Score | 13.3% | 4 | 46.7% |
| Passing USMLE Step 2 CS | 33.3% | 3 | 46.7% |
| Passing COMLEX-USA Level 2 PE | 13.3% | 3.5 | 41.7% |
| Sigma Sigma Phi Membership | 26.7% | 2 | 33.4% |
| USMLE Step 3 Score | 6.7% | 3 | 33.4% |
| COMLEX-USA Level 3 Score | 6.7% | 3 | 33.4% |
| How Medical School Handled Virtual Rotations | 6.7% | 1 | 13.4% |
Here are the composite scores for the criteria plastic surgery program directors use for grading interviews.
What Do Plastic Surgery Program Directors Look for When Ranking Applicants?
Getting an interview is only part of the process of matching into plastic surgery. Program directors also rank the most important factors for creating their rank order list.
In the 2021 Program Director Survey, plastic surgery PDs rated these criteria as most important for deciding whom to rank:
- Letters of recommendation in specialty
- Feedback from current residents
- Interpersonal skills
- Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
- Interactions with faculty during interviews/visit
We can see the full list here:
| Plastic Surgery: Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to RANK (% of Respondents Endorsing) | Plastic Surgery: Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to RANK (Mean Importance / 5) | Plastic Surgery: Characteristics Considered for Rank Composite Score (Average of % Respondents Endorsing and Mean Importance / 5) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letters of Recommendation in Specialty | 86.7% | 4.9 | 92.4% |
| Feedback from Current Residents | 86.7% | 4.8 | 91.4% |
| Interpersonal Skills | 86.7% | 4.7 | 90.4% |
| Interactions with House Staff During Interview/Visit | 80.0% | 4.8 | 88.0% |
| Interactions with Faculty During Interview/Visit | 73.3% | 4.7 | 83.7% |
| Professionalism and Ethics | 66.7% | 4.7 | 80.4% |
| Personal Prior Knowledge of Applicant | 60.0% | 4.8 | 78.0% |
| Diversity Characteristics | 66.7% | 4.3 | 76.4% |
| Leadership Qualities | 60.0% | 4.6 | 76.0% |
| Perceived Commitment to Specialty | 60.0% | 4.4 | 74.0% |
| USMLE Step 1 Score | 66.7% | 4 | 73.4% |
| Perceived Interest in Program | 66.7% | 4 | 73.4% |
| Grades in Required Clerkships | 46.7% | 4.6 | 69.4% |
| Involvement and Interest in Research | 60.0% | 3.8 | 68.0% |
| Other Life Experience | 53.3% | 3.9 | 65.7% |
| Interest in Academic Career | 53.3% | 3.9 | 65.7% |
| Awards/Honors in Clinical Clerkships | 46.7% | 4.2 | 65.4% |
| Having Overcome Significant Obstacles | 46.7% | 4.1 | 64.4% |
| NRMP Flag for Match Violation | 33.3% | 4.6 | 62.7% |
| AOA Membership | 40.0% | 4.2 | 62.0% |
| Personal Statement | 40.0% | 4.2 | 62.0% |
| Volunteer/Extracurricular Experience | 40.0% | 4.2 | 62.0% |
| Grades in Clerkship in Preferred Specialty | 26.7% | 4.8 | 61.4% |
| Audition Elective/Rotation in PD's Dept | 26.7% | 4.8 | 61.4% |
| Any Failed USMLE Attempt | 33.3% | 4.4 | 60.7% |
| Consistency of Grades | 33.3% | 4.4 | 60.7% |
| Awards/Honors, Clerkship in Preferred Specialty | 40.0% | 4 | 60.0% |
| Any Failed COMLEX-USA Attempt | 20.0% | 4.7 | 57.0% |
| MSPE | 33.3% | 4 | 56.7% |
| USMLE Step 2 CK Score | 46.7% | 3.3 | 56.4% |
| Awards/Honors in Basic Sciences | 26.7% | 4 | 53.4% |
| COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE Score | 6.7% | 5 | 53.4% |
| Medical School Reputation | 20.0% | 4.3 | 53.0% |
| Away Rotation in Specialty Elsewhere | 20.0% | 4.3 | 53.0% |
| Medical School Accreditation Status | 13.3% | 4.5 | 51.7% |
| GHHS Membership | 20.0% | 4 | 50.0% |
| Visa Status | 20.0% | 4 | 50.0% |
| Class Ranking/Quartile | 33.3% | 3.2 | 48.7% |
| Continuous Medical Education w/o Gaps | 26.7% | 3.5 | 48.4% |
| COMLEX-USA Level 1 score | 13.3% | 4 | 46.7% |
| Fluency in Language of Patient Population | 6.7% | 4 | 43.4% |
| Ability to Work Legally w/o Visa | 6.7% | 4 | 43.4% |
| Passing USMLE Step 2 CS | 20.0% | 3.3 | 43.0% |
| Other Post-Interview Contact | 13.3% | 3.5 | 41.7% |
| Sigma Sigma Phi Membership | 6.7% | 2 | 23.4% |
| How Medical School Handled Virtual Rotations | 6.7% | 1 | 13.4% |
| Applicant Facility with Meeting Platform Tech | 6.7% | 1 | 13.4% |
| Passing COMLEX-USA Level 2 PE | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
| USMLE Step 3 Score | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
| COMLEX-USA Level 3 Score | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
| Second Interview/Visit | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Finally, we can see the composite scores for criteria used to rank plastic surgery applicants.
What Characteristics Do Successful Plastic Surgery Applicants Share?
Here are the characteristics of matched vs. unmatched US seniors applying for plastic surgery.
| Matched | Unmatched | |
|---|---|---|
| Mean number of contiguous ranks, US Senior | 13.9 | 4.4 |
| Mean number of distinct specialties ranked, US Senior | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| Step 1, US Senior | 251 | 240 |
| Step 2, US Senior | 257 | 247 |
| Mean number of research experiences, US Senior | 6.1 | 5.9 |
| Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications, US Senior | 28.4 | 13.8 |
| Mean number of work experiences, US Senior | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Mean number of volunteer experiences, US Senior | 9.2 | 7.8 |
| Percentage who are AOA members, US Senior | 37.7 | 20 |
| Percentage who graduated from one of the 40 U.S. medical schools with the highest NIH funding, US Senior | 34.9 | 27.1 |
| Percentage who have Ph.D. degree, US Senior | 2.2 | 1.2 |
| Percentage who have another graduate degree, US Senior | 20.7 | 28.9 |
Match Into Plastic Surgery: Pass the Screens with High USMLEs
Plastic surgery relies on standardized screens to weed out applicants. In the 2021 Program Director Survey, plastic surgery PDs respondents reported that 31% of applications were rejected via the standardized screen. This ranked near the bottom of residencies.
What Are the Step 1 and Step 2 CK Cut-Offs for Interviews in Plastic Surgery?
As mentioned above, plastic surgery ranks near the bottom of programs using standardized screens to eliminate applications. Many plastic surgery programs screen out applicants with failed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK (see below). In addition, PDs use Step 1 and Step 2 CK score cut-offs to weed out applicants.
For Step 1, plastic surgery program directors reported Step 1 score cut-offs between 224 and 239 as 25% and 75%ile marks to screen out applicants.
Similarly, plastic surgery program directors reported Step 2 CK scores between 214 and 238 as 25% and 75%ile cut-offs.
For more on the USMLE cut-off scores for granting interviews – or weeding out applicants – see this article.
If I Fail Step 1, Can I Still Match Into Plastic Surgery?
If you failed Step 1, you might wonder if you can still match into plastic surgery. In the most recent program director survey addressing this question, we can see that plastic surgery programs are relatively unforgiving if you’ve failed Step 1.
In 2020, plastic surgery 82% of PDs reported they “never” consider applicants who fail Step 1, while 18% would “seldom” consider it. That said 0% of plastic surgery programs “often” consider someone with a Step 1 fail.
Did you fail Step 1 and are wondering what you can do to recover? Read this article and consider scheduling a consultation.
If I Fail Step 2 CK, Can I Still Match Into Plastic Surgery?
Similarly, you may wonder what your chances of matching into plastic surgery are if you fail Step 2 CK. Just like with Step 1, plastic surgery PDs are unforgiving for not passing Step 2 CK.
In 2020, plastic surgery 80% of PDs reported they “never” consider applicants who fail Step 2 CK, while 20% would “seldom” consider it. That said 0% of plastic surgery programs “often” consider someone with a Step 2 fail.
Did you fail Step 2 CK and wonder what you can do to recover? Read this article and consider scheduling a consultation.
How Many Publications for Plastic Surgery Residency in 2022
Research is an important factor when matching into most specialties, particularly the most competitive. So, how many publications do you need to match into a plastic surgery residency?
In 2022, the mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications for US seniors who matched into plastic surgery was 28.4. The mean number of research experiences was 6.1.
Do I Need an MD-PhD to Become a Plastic Surgeon?
You may wonder how much an MD-PhD helps with matching into plastic surgery. It appears that having a PhD correlates with an advantage of 13% when applying for plastic surgery. Specifically, the match rate for those with a PhD is 13% higher than for those without one when applying for plastic surgery.
Note that those with PhDs are relatively rare among plastic surgery residents. In fact, only 2.2% of matched applicants for plastic surgery had a PhD in 2022.
Plastic Surgery Residency Interviews
When applying for plastic surgery, you may be wondering what the chances of getting an interview are. Here we present the outcomes of applicants per the 2021 NRMP Program Director Survey.
Note that plastic surgery uses standardized screens to reduce the number of applicants. Roughly 31% of applicants that year were eliminated via a screen (e.g., Step 2 CK scores, visa status, failed a USMLE in the past, etc.).
When Are Plastic Surgery Residency Interview Invites Sent vs. Conducted?
When you apply for residency, you’ll be doing a lot of waiting. Specifically, you’ll be waiting to hear whether – and when – you will be able to interview.
Want to know when you might expect to hear from plastic surgery programs regarding your residency application? Here are when programs typically extend and conduct interviews. Note that the most recent data are from 2020.
Here are the same data presented differently. Note that due to rounding, sometimes the percentages can add up to more than 100%.
How Many Interviews to Match in Plastic Surgery?
How many interviews to match into plastic surgery with confidence? For US Seniors, the magic number of interviews needed to match into plastic surgery is 9-13. In 2022, having 9 interviews (and ranking them all on their match list) led to a 75-80% chance of matching. For even greater safety, though, having 12+ interviews led to a ≥90% chance of matching into plastic surgery for US seniors.
How Many Interviews to Match in Plastic Surgery as an IMG?
Note that because of so few IMG candidates, the numbers can’t be interpreted with much confidence. 5 out of the 7 IMG candidates matched in the 2022 Match.
How Many Interviews to Match in Plastic Surgery as a DO?
Matching into plastic surgery as a DO is very competitive, with a 0% match rate and 0% of spots filled by DO Seniors in the 2022 Match.
Concluding Thoughts
Matching into plastic surgery is a challenging proposition. The challenge may feel more daunting if we have perceived weaknesses in our application, or if we want to match in a top program, a desirable location, and/or couples match.
The good news? Matching into plastic surgery depends largely on things you can control – your USMLEs, demonstrate leadership qualities, and have excellent grades in required clerkships.
Looking for a Plastic Surgery Residency Advisor?
Looking for a plastic surgery residency advisor? Want help writing your personal statement? Need effective strategies for interviewing? Do you have things on your application – e.g., low USMLE scores, failed USMLEs, no research, IMG status, or others – you need help overcoming?
Be sure to check out our Residency Advisor service.
