Plastic surgery vs. gastroenterology is one of the biggest debates among medical students interested in physiology. Both specialties allow you to explore the complex workings of the human body and use your skills to improve patient outcomes. However, they also have significant differences, such as the scope of practice, the work environment, and the training requirements.
How do you decide which one is right for you? In this article, we will provide helpful information and tips to help you make an intelligent decision on plastic surgery vs. gastroenterology and find a fulfilling career that matches your interests and abilities. We will also help you evaluate practical factors such as job availability, salary, and training duration.
Plastic Surgery vs. Gastroenterology: Salary and Job Security
Plastic surgery might be your specialty if you want to earn a lot of money and have a steady demand for your services. But be prepared for a competitive job market after fellowship, even if you graduate from a prestigious program.
Gastroenterology, meanwhile, offers more job openings. You can easily find a hospital that needs gastroenterologists, and the career outlook is positive, even if the salary is not as high as plastic surgery. But gastroenterology also comes with some challenges, such as higher burnout and less job security, which we will discuss later.
According to recent data, plastic surgeons have the highest average annual salary among medical specialties at $619,000, while gastroenterologists earn less with an average of $501,000.
Plastic surgeons earn $619,000 per year on average, while gastroenterologists earn less with $501,000 annually
Plastic Surgery vs. Gastroenterology: Competitiveness
Here we can assess the competitiveness of a specialty by looking at the unmatched rate – the % of people who apply and do not match into their preferred specialty. Plastic surgery was the most competitive residency in the 2022 Match, with a 37.3% unmatched rate among US Seniors.
Gastroenterology had a 2.0% unmatched rate, while plastic surgery had a 37.3% unmatched rate among US seniors
To pursue a career in gastroenterology, you must first match into an internal medicine residency. Among US Seniors, the unmatched percentage for internal medicine residency was only 2%, making it less competitive than other residencies. However, this does not mean that gastroenterology is less competitive. After completing your internal medicine residency, you will still need to match into a fellowship, which is generally more competitive than matching into a residency.
Below is the unmatched percentage among non-pediatric fellowships with >100 applicants. The unmatched percentage of US Seniors applying to the gastroenterology fellowship was 20.6%, making it highly competitive compared to most fellowships with >100 applicants.
Training Path: Residency vs Fellowship
Plastic surgery requires completing a five to six-year residency program accredited by the Residency Review Committee for Plastic Surgery (RRC-PS). Gastroenterology involves a three-year gastroenterology fellowship after a three-year internal medicine residency.
Both the gastroenterology fellowship and the plastic surgery residency programs are highly competitive. Your USMLE scores, med school, and research are the main things for residency applications. Research is also a big thing for fellowship applications, and your residency program counts more, but your USMLE scores matter much less.
Plastic Surgery vs. Gastroenterology: Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is a crucial factor for many medical professionals. Both plastic surgery and gastroenterology have demanding schedules with long hours and on-call responsibilities. However, due to the nature of their work gastroenterologists enjoy a better work-life balance compared to plastic surgeons. Gastroenterologists generally have a more predictable work schedule.
Plastic surgeons often have demanding surgical schedules and may work long hours in the operating room. They may also be on-call for emergencies such as trauma or burn accidents.
On average, plastic surgeons and gastroenterologists work 52.2 and 52.3 hours per week, ranking them in the middle of medical specialties.
Plastic surgeons work an average of 52.2 hours per week, while gastroenterologists work almost similar hours, at 52.3 per week.
Plastic surgeons spend an estimated 11 hours per week on administrative paperwork tasks, such as documenting pre- and post-operative notes and taking photographs. In comparison, gastroenterologists have to spend slightly more hours with 13 hours per week, ranking near the lower end of all medical specialties.
Plastic surgeons work on admin/paperwork an average of 11 hours per week, while gastroenterologists work more hours, at 13 per week.
Training Duration and Subspecialties
The training duration is a key aspect to consider when choosing between plastic surgery vs. gastroenterology. Gastroenterology has a three-year fellowship training period after a three-year internal medicine residency program, while plastic surgery has a minimum of five to six-year residency program.
After completing a plastic surgery residency program, some surgeons may choose to pursue additional fellowships to further specialize in a particular aspect of plastic surgery. This can increase the length of your plastic surgery training.
Plastic Surgery vs. Gastroenterology: Job Satisfaction and Burnout Rates
Job satisfaction plays a significant role in career fulfillment. According to various studies, plastic surgery tends to have higher job satisfaction rates than gastroenterology. Many plastic surgeons express contentment with their career choice and would choose it again if given the chance. Additionally, plastic surgery has lower reported burnout rates than gastroenterology.
According to recent data, plastic surgery ranked at the upper end of all medical specialties with 97% of plastic surgeons stating that they would choose the same specialty again, while gastroenterology ranked slightly lower with 92% of gastroenterologists feeling the same way.
Plastic surgeons reported a 97% job satisfaction rate, while gastroenterologists reported slightly lower satisfaction with 92%
That being said, the burnout rate for plastic surgery was 46% which was near the lower end of all medical specialties. In comparison, gastroenterology had a burnout rate of 52%, ranking near the middle of all medical specialties.
Plastic surgeons have a burnout rate of 46%, while gastroenterologists have a higher burnout rate of 52%.
Plastic Surgery vs. Gastroenterology Comparison
To provide a visual overview, here’s a table comparing plastic surgery and gastroenterology:
| Aspect | Plastic Surgery | Gastroenterology |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | High income, especially in specialized areas like reconstructive or cosmetic surgery | Generally high, but lower than plastic surgery |
| Job Security | Stable field with availability of both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures | High demand due to the prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders |
| Training Path | Typically involves 5-6 years of plastic surgery residency | Typically involves 3 years of internal medicine residency followed by a 3-year gastroenterology fellowship |
| Lifestyle | Generally predictable work schedule and increased opportunities for time off, but may involve on-call responsibilities for trauma or burn cases | Typically more regular working hours, but may also have on-call duties |
| Administrative Paperwork | Low to Moderate documentation requirements for patient records and surgical plans | Moderate documentation requirements for patient records and surgical plans |
| Job Satisfaction | Generally high, satisfaction tied to successful surgeries and patient outcomes | Lower |
| Burnout Rates | Low to Moderate, depending on the workload and stress associated with surgical procedures | Higher |
| Personality | Requires creativity, precision, and good communication skills, attention to aesthetics | Strong communication skills for patient education |
Please note that this table serves as a general comparison. To determine the most suitable career for you, consider your personal and career priorities and goals.
Concluding Thoughts
Choosing the right specialty between plastic surgery vs. gastroenterology depends heavily on your priorities. To determine this, try reverse engineering your ideal life and identify your top priority. A helpful exercise is to write down the top five things you want to achieve in your career and personal life. Knowing these priorities will make finding a career that aligns with them easier. Often, the biggest obstacle is not a lack of knowledge about different fields but a lack of self-awareness about our own preferences.
