The various functions of surgery include correcting physical malfunctioning, repairing bones and tissues, and performing preventive surgeries on patients with debilitating disorders.
General Surgery
Many surgeons prefer to specialize in a specific area such as orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, or plastic surgery. However, those who opt for general surgery focus mainly on abdominal and thyroid glands.
As most general surgeons work closely with other physicians and surgeons, it is important for them to be familiar with the main facets of other surgical specialties and medicine in order to be able to identify problems in those areas and judge when to refer a patient to a specialist.
Besides hospitals, surgeons also work in government agencies, schools, private practices, and organizations.
According to the Department of Labor, 14.6% of all practicing physicians specialize in surgery.
Most Common Surgical Procedures
Obstetric:
- episiotomy
- repair of obstetric laceration
- cesarean section
- artificial rupture of amniotic membrane
- amputation
- appendicectomy
- circumcision
- dental extraction
- herniorraphy
Surgeons typically work in well-lit, sterile environments but have to stand for several hours. The work is unpredictable and can stretch on for long and irregular hours. Working 60 hours a week is not unusual for full-time surgeons. In fact, only 8% of surgeons work part-time. Moreover, surgeons also have to deal with patients' anxiety and emergency visits to hospitals and nursing homes.
Education and Residency
In the U.S., medical education spans many years. In the first two years of their education, students get basic training, and then the next two years are spent focusing on clinical training in affiliated school hospitals. Students decide on their specialties usually by the beginning or middle of their fourth years. The residency for surgeons is five years. In case of subspecialties, they receive two additional years of training and practice.
Salaries
General surgeons' salaries depend on their expertise, experiences, geographic locations, and individual hospitals. However, in general, their annual salaries range from $249,700 to $336,000.
According to a recent salary survey, surgeons' salaries, depending on their work experiences, vary as follows:
- 1-2 years: $226,000
- 3 or more: $291,000
- Maximum: $520,000
