Ever since human kind civilized itself into more or less organized cohabitating arrangements – ever since there were professions and professionals – certain trades were more popular than the others. Priests, scientists, art makers, poem writers, doctors, wine makers were all quite popular at some point. Entertainers enjoyed their golden age of stardom in the twentieth century. Well, let’s face it we are less crazy about all the actors and singers – all the artificial popularity, spruced up here and there by some paparazzi scandals, fades away and eventually declines. In this century we worship plastic surgeons. Successful surgeons generally enjoy luxurious life and the celebrity themselves want to be friends with them.

This fancy life doesn’t come easy, though. Every surgeon has to pay a lot of dues before he or she gets to enjoy any sort of break. Of course, everything starts with the med school. Usually, you’d have to suffer through all the general classes before you finally get to surgery related courses. Typically, it is a standard four year course. In most cases students start doing some hands-on duties in their third year of medical program. After this, every striving surgeon needs to complete the residency requirements. It will take six more years, and can be split between three years of general operation practice and three more of actual plastic surgery experience, or depending on a situation can be done with several two- or three-year residencies at a plastic surgery clinic. Such training usually covers all sorts of surgeries – from an easy lipoma removal to gastric bypass and all the way to gender reassignment surgery. If a surgeon decided to specialize in something – for instance, hand surgery or facelifts, he or she would have to put another year of studying down in a program with the needed, narrowed-down practice. After all that every surgeon needs to get certified in accordance with the local governing bodies. Usually it involves a theoretic test and a practical testing assignment, which far not every surgeon passes from the first try or at all. So basically ten-eleven years of training and then hopefully you’ll get to do what you wanted.

After newly graduated plastic surgeons get all the certifications and training in order, comes the part where they have to find nice jobs, recommend themselves as “the best in town”, get their client base, basically establish themselves. Some professionals have to struggle for several years before they finally get on a roll. For some folks it is really tough since most of them have families to support and a couple of school loans to pay off. And only then they can sort of enjoy their profession and the fruits it brings. Job outlook is actually looking great for the next couple of … well, the trade shows no signs of slowing down. Reconstructive surgeons will always be in demand as long as there are accidents and other unfortunate events. Plastic surgeons will be around even longer since we will never stop worrying about how we look.

There might emerge a subdivision in this trade. It will cover all the non-invasive procedures that plastic surgeons and partially dermatologists perform now. All the laser treatments, all the ultra-sounds and radio-frequency device applications, different peels and surface treatments, injections and fillers, permanent makeup and tattoo removals – all that will take its own niche among non-invasive plastic surgeries. These treatments will become more and more popular. With technological advances and scientific break-throughs new revolutionary treatments will continue to emerge and replace the older, less effective and more invasive procedures. It will be getting cheaper, too. Once some device pays itself off, covers all the research expenses, the price drops down almost immediately, partly to attract new clients and also to stay competitive on the market.

The biggest pro of such procedures is that they are less risky. They might turn out ineffective – but all the invasive surgery run that risk, too. New methods completely eliminate the need for scars and stitching. Some of the procedures will continue to be associated with some bruising and swelling but this is nothing compared to the recovery time required by the regular surgical treatments. Another thing is anesthesia, which is not only expensive, but also quite dangerous and harmful on the long run. It is a well-known fact that some folks do not live through full body anesthesia and some of the current surgeries just cannot be done without one.

Non-invasive procedures remind of a regular car check up – when you have to change the oil, check the tire pressure, maybe switch a thing or two under the hood. You still can use your car as you usually do. But surgical procedures are like major repairs. You have to give up your car for a month or so. Basically, you put your life on hold, going through painful recovery, expensive stay at the hospital and numerous follow-up visits to a surgeon’s office. The future of cosmetic procedures is of course in such non-invasive options. Plus, when your body will be going through gradual changes all the rejuvenations and restorations will settle much nicely and will look hundred times more natural. And traditional surgical works, such as nose jobs or facelifts, might startle you with surprises other than bring the long awaited satisfaction.

In any way, the world of plastic surgeries – whether drastic or cosmetic – the industry of making people look and feel better is a wonderful and interesting profession. If you are thinking about joining it you certainly have to be prepared to be patient and hard-working, prepare to study long and hard, but then once you will become a great professional, enjoy a comfortable living and meet a lot of cool new friends and famous people. If you have what it takes in you then this would be a great career opportunity.