Plastic surgery vs. rheumatology 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. rheumatology 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. Rheumatology: 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.
Rheumatology, meanwhile, offers more job openings. You can easily find a hospital that needs rheumatologists, and the career outlook is positive, even if the salary is not as high as plastic surgery. But rheumatology 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 rheumatologists earn less with an average of $281,000.
Plastic surgeons earn $619,000 per year on average, while rheumatologists earn less with $281,000 annually
Plastic Surgery vs. Rheumatology: 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 their preferred specialty. Plastic surgery was the most competitive residency in the 2022 Match, with a 37.3% unmatched rate among US Seniors.
Internal medicine had a 2% unmatched rate, while plastic surgery had a 37.3% unmatched rate among US seniors
To pursue a career in rheumatology, 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 rheumatology 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 rheumatology fellowship was 8.2%, making it moderately 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). To become a rheumatologist, you must complete a two-year fellowship in rheumatology after completing an internal medicine residency.
A rheumatology fellowship is typically less competitive than a plastic surgery residency. 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. Rheumatology: Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is a crucial factor for many medical professionals. Rheumatologists often enjoy a better work-life balance due to the nature of their work. They usually have predetermined working hours, leading to more predictable schedules.
In comparison, 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 work 52.2 hours per week, which is in the middle of all medical specialties. Rheumatologists work an average of 47.2 hours, ranking near the lower end of all medical specialties.
Plastic surgeons work an average of 52.2 hours per week, while rheumatologists work fewer hours, at 47.2 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. The estimated physician admin/paperwork hours were not provided for rheumatology, but you can see estimated paperwork hours for other specialties below.
Plastic surgeons work on admin/paperwork an average of 11 hours per week.
Training Duration and Subspecialties
The training duration is a key aspect to consider when choosing between plastic surgery vs. rheumatology. Rheumatology requires a minimum five-year training period, including three years of internal medicine residency, 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. Rheumatology: 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 rheumatology. 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 rheumatology.
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 rheumatology ranked lower with 81% of rheumatologists feeling the same way.
Plastic surgeons reported a 97% job satisfaction rate, while rheumatologists reported lower satisfaction with 81%
That being said, the burnout rate for plastic surgery was 46% which was near the lower end of all medical specialties. In comparison, rheumatology had a burnout rate of 50%, ranking near the middle of all medical specialties.
Plastic surgeons have a burnout rate of 46%, while rheumatologists have a higher burnout rate of 50%.
Plastic Surgery vs. Rheumatology Comparison
To provide a visual overview, here’s a table comparing plastic surgery and rheumatology:
| Aspect | Plastic Surgery | Rheumatology |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | High income, especially in specialized areas like reconstructive or cosmetic surgery | Lower than plastic surgery |
| Job Security | Stable field with availability of both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures | High demand due to an increase in autoimmune and musculoskeletal disorders |
| Training Path | Typically involves 5-6 years of plastic surgery residency | Typically involves 3 years of internal medicine residency, followed by 2 years of rheumatology fellowship |
| Lifestyle | Generally predictable work schedule and increased opportunities for time off, but may involve on-call responsibilities for trauma or burn cases | Generally more predictable hours with less frequent emergencies; outpatient clinic-based practice |
| Administrative Paperwork | Low to Moderate documentation requirements for patient records and surgical plans | Moderate documentation requirements, focusing on rheumatologic assessments, imaging, and treatment 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 | Moderate |
| Personality | Requires creativity, precision, and good communication skills, attention to aesthetics | Strong analytical skills, empathy, and good communication skills to understand and address patients' complex musculoskeletal and autoimmune concerns |
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. rheumatology 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 preferences.
