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Who gets paid more? Plastic Surgeons or Doctors?

I want to be in the medical field I'm a high school freshman that's studying how to be a doctor but i'm into doing palstic surgery in the future. Before I make my final decision about what I want to be, who gets paid more doctors or plastic surgeons?

Public Comments

1. Plastic Surgeons are doctors. Either plastics or Ortho. Ususally highest paid MD's are Cardiothorasic MD's. All physcians make "good" money.
2. Well plastic surgeon gets paid better but the colledge course is longer than a doctors. Im not to sure how long it is though.
3. It depends on buisseness
4. Specialists like plastic surgeons are generally paid better than regular doctors. Table 2. Median total compensation of physicians by specialty, 2004 Less than two years in specialtyOver one year in specialty Anesthesiology $259,948$321,686 Surgery: General 228,839282,504 Obstetrics/gynecology: General 203,270247,348 Psychiatry: General 173,922180,000 Internal medicine: General 141,912166,420 Pediatrics: General 132,953161,331 Family practice (without obstetrics) 137,119156,010 SOURCE: Medical Group Management Association, Physician Compensation and Production Report, 2005. Self-employed physicians—those who own or are part owners of their medical practice—generally have higher median incomes than salaried physicians. Earnings vary according to number of years in practice, geographic region, hours worked, and skill, personality, and professional reputation. Self-employed physicians and surgeons must provide for their own health insurance and retirement.
5. plastic surgeons ARE doctors. But to be more specific, any doctor that has specialized and gone into private practice typically earns more than a doctor that works in a hospital or clinic (like as an obstetrician or oncologist) because they can charge whatever they want, their procedures are not covered by insurance (very rare exceptions like for mastectomy/reconstruction but not usually performed by cosmetic surgeons - which is the kind of plastic surgeon I think you're really referring to - there is a difference). so there is no offset in the charges. The bad part is, being in private practice + being a cosemetic surgeon = LONG hours and HIGH insurance/malpractice premiums. In my opinion, to earn $50K more per year having to work 18 hour days 6 days a week (or more) and having huge malpractice insurance premiums is just not worth it. And seriously - being a freshman in high school is NOT the time to be making 'final decisions' about your career. Obviously, setting goals is a great idea and working toward them an even better one. Just don't become concrete and fixated so early in your very short life. You may miss a lot of opportunities and 'lightbulb' moments that would really benefit you in the long-term. GL
6. surgeons make more the regular doctors UNLESS you go into a high in demand specialty like obgyn or pediatrics.