How hard is it to land a military plastics residency? What's the commitment like? I heard bec of the present war, the mil (all branches) are heavily recruiting residents in plastics, and other specialties, Is this true???

I am looking at this as a plan B if I don't match in a civ prog.

I would think this option is extremely difficult and the reason is simply a matter of numbers. I just did a rotation through the WRAMC Plastics Dept., and talking to one of the attendings there he told me there was ONE slot for the military per year in a combined program with WRAMC and a civilian hospital in the Northeast (sorry I don't remember which one). Interestingly enough I have never heard of this program, but he promised me it was available.

Now with that being said the latest GME letter for the Navy states that there will be ONE slot per year opening up this next year for someone to join a combined program. There appears to be a caveat; however, in that the slot will be competed between those already completed a residency and those completely new. Not sure how that will work, but you can check the letter out at the Navy GME website.

Hope this helps. Bottom line, go civilian if you want to do plastics.

There is NO military plastics residency program. In the Army, they want board certified general surgeons and even if you are a plastic surgeon you will deploy as a general surgeon. If you want to do plastics you have to get the one or two slots that the Army will offer to post surgical training docs, likely, these slots will be snatched up by guys comming back from deployment. If you have a military commitment, you will not get a deferrment for a plastics residency.

AirForce has a plastics fellowship at Wilford Hall @ Lackland. It's with the University of Texas.

I wouldn't hold my breath trying to get into plastics via the military.

AirForce has a plastics fellowship at Wilford Hall @ Lackland. It's with the University of Texas.

I wouldn't hold my breath trying to get into plastics via the military.

Well, there goes my plan B.

What about doing Fam Prac or Int Med, then attending one yr certificate programs on cosmetic surgery if one is not particularly interested in the reconstructive part anyway??

Well, there goes my plan B.

What about doing Fam Prac or Int Med, then attending one yr certificate programs on cosmetic surgery if one is not particularly interested in the reconstructive part anyway??
Dude....if out of the entire military there is but 1 hospital with plastics what do you think your chances are of the military giving the okay for a 1 year certificate program do a FP or IM?

You have no plan B, C, or D with plastics in the military....just ain't gonna happen. Plastics in the military is not a priority. Gone are the days where you could get a breast augmentation within 2 weeks....it took me months to get mine done. :laugh:

one yr certificate programs on cosmetic surgery if one is not particularly interested in the reconstructive part anyway??[/QUOTE]

Military Cosmetic Surgery??? You've got to be kidding... :laugh:

Dude....if out of the entire military there is but 1 hospital with plastics what do you think your chances are of the military giving the okay for a 1 year certificate program do a FP or IM?

You have no plan B, C, or D with plastics in the military....just ain't gonna happen. Plastics in the military is not a priority. Gone are the days where you could get a breast augmentation within 2 weeks....it took me months to get mine done. :laugh:

No, guys. I meant one yr certif prog in CIVLAND. Not military. The military was Plan B. Civ certif prog is Plan C.

Took you months? They must really be backed up. That means DEMAND is way more than SUPPLY. Shouldn't the military get MORE plastic surgeons then?

You got yours done? On a strictly professionaly level, can you attach a pic? I just need to see the quality of their work. (wink, wink). Seriously, did they do a good job? Are you happy with the result?

...... there will be ONE slot per year opening up this next year for someone to join a combined program. There appears to be a caveat; however, in that the slot will be competed between those already completed a residency and those completely new. ........Bottom line, go civilian if you want to do plastics.

I believe you and CaptMAc...but, why does the military NOT have an extensive plastics program? This doesn't make sense. Many of our kids - men and women - are coming back from Iraq, Afghanistan, etc,... with disfiguring injuries. They NEED plastic surgery. Who will fix them?

I do NOT see civilian-trained plastic surgeons GOING INTO the military when they could be making money by the fistfuls as civilians. It behooves the military to train THEIR OWN plastic surgeons...rather then send our young men and women to CIVILIAN plastic surgeons who charge a lot.

"All I want is world peace,...and marry someone with Kluver Bucy syndrome".

I believe you and CaptMAc...but, why does the military NOT have an extensive plastics program? This doesn't make sense. Many of our kids - men and women - are coming back from Iraq, Afghanistan, etc,... with disfiguring injuries. They NEED plastic surgery. Who will fix them?

I do NOT see civilian-trained plastic surgeons GOING INTO the military when they could be making money by the fistfuls as civilians. It behooves the military to train THEIR OWN plastic surgeons...rather then send our young men and women to CIVILIAN plastic surgeons who charge a lot.

"All I want is world peace,...and marry someone with Kluver Bucy syndrome".
Since when does a disfigurement matter to the military? I guess in this day & age a military member can get medical disability for a disfigurement but only if it handicaps them somehow.

FYI
Keep your wits about you...I'm a guy. The boob job was a joke about how easy it was to get them done at one time. For a few years the cleavage at NNMC made the politics worth it....
:meanie:

....Keep your wits about you...I'm a guy. ..... For a few years the cleavage at NNMC made the politics worth it....
:meanie:

A GUY??? You build me up, then you tear me down :( Stop playing with my heart !!! hehehe.

Dang, i wish I was at Bethesda during those days. Are you kidding??? I always loved women in uniform...and now with cleavage? GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!

I believe you and CaptMAc...but, why does the military NOT have an extensive plastics program? This doesn't make sense. Many of our kids - men and women - are coming back from Iraq, Afghanistan, etc,... with disfiguring injuries. They NEED plastic surgery. Who will fix them?

I do NOT see civilian-trained plastic surgeons GOING INTO the military when they could be making money by the fistfuls as civilians. It behooves the military to train THEIR OWN plastic surgeons...rather then send our young men and women to CIVILIAN plastic surgeons who charge a lot.

"All I want is world peace,...and marry someone with Kluver Bucy syndrome".

Frankly, there is nothing much that a plastic surgeon has to offer that a good orthopod cannot, and the orthopod brings to the table a lot more skills and can treat a wider array of problems. Especially when it comes to the kind of wounds That is atleast what I see at our facility, where we treat ALOT of casualties. General surgeons in the military can do most of flaps. Our plastics guys, really don't want to do more than cosmetic anyways, as the reconstructive stuff requires more work, in-hospital care etc. They stick mostly to breast reconstruction, cosmetics and such.