Specialty overview

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons diagnose, treat and manage patients who require surgical intervention to restore, construct, reconstruct or improve the form, function or appearance of bodily structures. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons may also provide cosmetic surgical services to patients who do not suffer any condition or disease, but who wish to affect an improvement in aesthetic appearance of a bodily structure.

Clinical practice

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons work within both public and private facilities provide care for patients who require surgical, non-surgical, reconstructive and cosmetic services. Procedures commonly performed by plastic and reconstructive surgeons include abdominoplasty, breast reconstruction, cleft lip and palate repair, dermabrasion, hand surgery, liposuction, nose surgery, scar revision, sclerotherapy and skin cancer excision.

Key statistics

2023 QLD Training program selections(first year)

12
eligible

1
selected

This doughnut chart shows the proportion of applications recieved vs applicants selected. Eligible applications received is 12, Applicants selected is 1.

Number of Queensland and Australian specialists

73

Number of QLD specialists

486

Number of Australian specialists

Number of Queensland and Australian new fellows

1

Number of QLD new fellows

15

Number of Australian new fellows

Number of Queensland trainees and average work hours

15

Number of QLD trainees

48.5

Average weekly hours

Information on specialists

  • 73

    Number of QLD specialists

  • 1

    Number of QLD new fellows

  • 48.5 hours

    Average weekly hours QLD

  • 53 years

    Average age QLD

  • Specialists over 60

    This donut chart shows that 28% of specialists are aged over 60 years.

  • Specialist intending to retire by 2032

    This donut chart shows that 44% of 2022 workforce intend to retire by 2032.

  • Location in Queensland

    This donut chart shows the percentage of specialists by their location: 16.3% are located in regional Queensland, 83.8% are in major cities, and 0% are in remote regions. The chart highlights that a vast majority of specialists are based in major cities.

  • Proportion Female/Male - QLD

    77.5%
    male

    22.5%
    female

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 77.5%, Females are 22.5%.

  • Public vs Private

    79.5%
    private

    20.5%
    public

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of public and private specialists. Private is 79.5%, Public is 20.5%.

Information on trainees

  • 15

    Number of Queensland trainees

  • 5

    Number of new Queensland trainees

  • 39

    Number of Australian trainees

  • 85

    Number of new Australian trainees

  • Proportion female/male trainees in Queensland

    80%
    male

    20%
    female

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 80%, Females are 20%.

  • 2023 QLD Training program selections (first year)

    12
    eligible

    1
    selected

    This doughnut chart shows the number of 2023 QLD Training Program Selections (First Year). 12 Eligible applications were received, 1 of those were selected.

Number of Queensland trainees 2015-2022

This line chart shows the trend of the number of Queensland trainees from 2015 to 2022. The data points are: 2015 - 13 trainees, 2016 - 12 trainees, 2017 - 11 trainees, 2018 - 11 trainees, 2019 - 13 trainees, 2020 - 13 trainees, 2021 - 13 trainees, 2022 - 15 trainees.

What our staff have to say

Testimonial icon

Dr Atul Ingle

Plastic Surgeon
Townsville University Hospital

Plastic surgery requires hard work, perseverance, sacrifice and innovative thinking. We operate on problems from head to toe. We reconstruct complex surgical defects which requires three-dimensional view of tissues and a thorough anatomical knowledge. This is achieved through rigorous training in the full spectrum of plastic surgery, not just in surgical skills, but also the way of thought process aimed at evolving the best possible solution to the problem, often co-opting other specialties to come to an end point envisaged. There is a pressing and genuine need for specialist plastic surgery in regional centres and being able to help people in regional areas provides a sense of personal achievement.

Training information

College

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

Length of training

5 years full-time

Method of allocation

College-selected trainees may be allocated to a training post by:

  • College

Training and assessment summary

For detailed information in relation to training and assessment requirements, please contact RACS.

Training program overview

Plastic and Reconstructive surgery trainees are selected directly into the sub-specialty and progress through the SET (Surgical Education and Training) program, an integrated program designed to provide clinical and operative experience across a wide-ranging specialty to enable trainees to manage manipulation, repair and reconstruction of the skin soft tissue and bone. The main components of SET training are placements in hospital posts, short courses (skills and specialty-specific), research and assessments. Upon completing all requirements of the training program, trainees may apply for admission to Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS).

Eligibility

Applicants must have permanent residency or citizenship of Australia and New Zealand at time of registration and hold general (unconditional) medical registration in Australia or general scope or restricted general scope registration in the relevant specialty in New Zealand.  Applicants are also required to have passed the RACS Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) and the RACS Clinical Examination (CE) at time of registration or by close of SET applications. In addition, applicants must have completed an Emergency or Critical Care rotation of at least 8 working weeks in length (completed prior to the application closing date), a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery rotation of a least 10 working weeks in length, including a minimum of 5 continuous weeks (within the last 5 years) and rotations in any surgical specialty of a least 26 continuous working weeks in length (within the last 5 years). Further details are available from RACS.

Flexibility

Minimum 50% of full-time commitment however trainees must apply to the relevant specialty board prospectively. Flexible training of less than 1.0 FTE is permitted after 12 months of full-time training completed satisfactorily. Training must be completed within 9 years after the trainee's first clinical rotation.

Interrupted training

Trainees must apply to the relevant specialty board as part of accepting the training offer. Any interruption to training should be in multiples of 3 calendar months, preferably 6 calendar months, and return to training is aligned with training terms, where possible.

Accredited Training Sites - 2025

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Last updated: December 2024

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