10 Aesthetic Skills Surgeons Need for a Successful Career

According to a report by Markets and Markets, the medical aesthetics market was worth around $13.9 billion in 2022. It is projected to reach $23.4 billion by 2027.

This certainly implies a degree of projected job security for those considering a career in aesthetics. However, job security isn’t the only consideration in choosing a medical specialty. There’s also the matter of how your particular skillset aligns with the requirements of the area you hope to pursue.

If you’re wondering how to become a plastic surgeon, understanding the requirements is a key part of the process. Below, we’ll look at some pivotal skills and attributes needed for aesthetic surgeons.

1. Steadiness and Hand-Eye Coordination

Aesthetic surgeons require good dexterity, or fine motor skills that involve accurately using the hands. Precise hand movement is critical for any surgical procedure, making dexterity a necessary skill for plastic surgeons.

Practical skills like good hand-eye coordination and visuospatial awareness may be obvious requirements for someone considering a career in aesthetic surgery, but they’re only obvious because they are so vital. 

Aesthetic procedures are delicate and precise, making a steady hand and excellent hand-eye coordination critical. This is also why surgeons are often so well-suited to aesthetics. They have years of training and performing high-stakes, difficult surgical procedures.

2. Compassion

Being an aesthetic surgeon isn’t just about having a steady hand, the right education and critical thinking skills. It’s also about displaying compassion, kindness and empathy toward your patients. Research shows that empathy improves patient satisfaction and compliance.

Patients are more likely to recommend you to others if you demonstrate empathy. Put yourself in the patient’s shoes. Listen to any concerns they may have about the procedure and offer reassurance.

Aside from the actual surgical procedure, you can exhibit compassion in other aspects of your practice, such as office staff interactions. An aesthetic medicine practice could have the top surgeons, decades of expertise and plenty of accreditations. However, unpleasant customer service can quickly turn a potential patient away from a practice regardless of how good it seems to be.

Even a simple smile and friendly greeting at the front desk can determine whether a client gives you a recommendation to their friends. Interpersonal skills are important to ensure the best possible care for patients. Remember that kindness and people skills go a long way.

3. Excellent Vision

Because surgeons often work with delicate machines or small instruments for hours at a time, good near vision is another obvious must. Even though aesthetic surgery is seldom a matter of life or death, per se, all surgical procedures present an element of risk.

Aesthetic surgeons must not only follow their plan with precision, but they must also react quickly to any changes they see and stick to a surgical timeline for the patient’s health. The very goal of aesthetic surgery is to achieve a form of visual “perfection.” This makes good visual acuity, strong hand-eye coordination and good contrast sensitivity even more important in achieving the results patients expect.

4. Communication Skills

As with any health care professional, an aesthetic surgeon’s communication skills need to be top-flight and a top priority. Active listening is vital in evaluating an aesthetic patient’s desired outcome, so the doctor and patient can set appropriate expectations prior to their procedure.

A plastic surgeon’s communication skills should entail verbal, written and deciphering nonverbal cues. They need to explain complex procedures and treatments to patients in an easy-to-understand manner. Additionally, they should clearly communicate instructions to other staff members in a surgical environment. Aesthetic surgeons must listen to patients and each other to ensure a successful procedure.

Communication is not simply a matter of listening and responding appropriately to patients’ needs and concerns. It also involves properly assessing body language and possessing a nonjudgmental attitude toward your patients’ wants and concerns. 

Effective communication is essential in aesthetic medicine and the health care industry. It can help: 

• Prevent injuries.
• Increase trust between the patient and the practitioner.
• Strengthen relationships with other staff members.

5. Artistic Ability

Art can be defined as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form.” If we accept this definition, plastic surgery should definitely be considered art. While it’s certainly not necessary to be a Rembrandt or Da Vinci, a good artistic eye can be a valuable skill for anyone considering a career in aesthetic surgery.

Artistic training can help plastic surgeons cultivate a better understanding of:

• Proportion.
• Symmetry.
• Dimensionality.
• Hand-eye coordination.

6. Quick Thinking

The ability to process and address issues quickly is crucial. The technical skills aesthetic surgeons acquire during their training can help foster critical thinking. This education includes:

• Proper surgical tool and equipment use.
• Math skills for calculating accurate medication doses before and after procedures.

As an aspiring aesthetic surgeon, you’ll need to be able to think strategically and on your feet. Quick thinking abilities help ensure a reliable, well-trained staff equipped to handle any emergencies that might occur.

7. Stamina

Another vital skill for any aesthetic surgeon is good, old-fashioned physical and mental stamina. More often than not, aesthetic surgeons can expect long days filled with patient consultations, meetings and the many other requirements of running an aesthetics practice. And this is all in addition to actually performing surgical procedures, which by itself requires immense amounts of stamina and mental concentration.

8. Cleanliness and Organization

Accidentally administering the wrong medication or dosage, scrambling to find the right tool during a procedure, or forgetting to clean a needle are the last things you want. Aside from the obvious dangers of these incidents, patients are unlikely to return to a cluttered, chaotic workspace for their treatments.

That’s why maintaining a clean, organized procedure room is a must for aesthetic surgeons. Keeping your workspace neat and orderly can:

• Ensure a smooth procedure.
• Reduce unnecessary risks and hazards.
• Maintain a positive image for your practice.

9. Adaptability to Different Work Environments

Aesthetic surgeons often alternate between different work settings. For instance, they may spend a few hours at their desk researching, updating files and reviewing patient records. Then, they may be called into the procedure room to perform a standard operation or resolve a medical emergency. This makes adaptability and flexibility important attributes for plastic surgeons.

10. Proper Education and Certification

For those already practicing another medical specialty, from physicians to registered nurses and practitioners, a switch to the field of aesthetic medicine can be just the change they need to renew that spark of professional enthusiasm that may have dimmed over the years. And the only thing standing between you and a new professional pathway to the future is the proper education and certification.

Develop Your Plastic Surgeon Skills With AAAMS Courses

The American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery (AAAMS) is America’s leading aesthetic medicine and surgery training community. It’s also the only association that trains registered nurses, physicians, surgeons and practitioners from all medical specialties in the art of aesthetics and noninvasive cosmetic surgery through both virtual and in-person courses. 

Since 2006, AAAMS has offered a wealth of benefits and assistance to our members in all areas of their practice. From training to setting up a practice to networking, AAAMS is truly a full-service professional medical association. We also offer the opportunity to promote and showcase your expertise through membership profile pages.

Ready to start your training in noninvasive aesthetic medicine? Sign up for one of our courses today!