Human Biology and Plastic Surgery - Essay Example

Human biology has always intrigued me since childhood which provided the initial impetus to learn about what actually transpires within the human body. This deep interest has made me choose biology as my major subject with medicine and plastic surgery as my specific field of interest. In addition to being an interesting field of study the career options provided by the course is immense. The course exposes students to a wide range of subjects which will enable them to learn the basics of their specific field of interest. With plastic surgery being my field of interest, I believe that the basics of physiology and anatomy along with studying the molecular and cellular aspects of the human biological system will help me gain a good foothold for specializing in plastic and reconstruction surgery. While cellular biology will help me learn the composition, properties and functioning of cells, molecular biology will enable me to understand the various cellular interactions both within the system and also with the environment. The study of physiology helps to understand the various mechanical, physical and biochemical processes within the human body and their interaction’s with the environment. The organ systems are studied in greater detail in the anatomy paper along with the many clinical conditions that could occur as a result of organ failure. Thus opting for biology major would help me learn the make-up and functioning of the human body (The Scope of Biology). One of the major influences that made me choose biology as my field of study was my father who is a practicing dermatologist and gynecologist. Also two of my six siblings have opted for a career in medicine. One of my brothers, who is living in Chile, is a renowned plastic surgeon and another brother placed in Florida is working as an obstetrics and gynecology specialist. Hence it was an easy option for me when it came to selecting my major field of study. Their work and successes have been a huge inspiration on me and has instilled within me a strong urge to pursue a career in medicine specializing in plastic surgery (The Scope of Biology). With one of my brothers being a plastic surgeon, I had developed an interest in the field as it has the potential to bring about a visible change in the lives of many people and help them lead a normal life. Though the concept of surgically changing the physical features of a person was initially restricted to burn victim’s the more recent advances has resulted in using plastic surgery for other ailments such as breast reconstruction following cancer treatment, treatment of cancerous skin, repair of cleft lip and palate and for facial reconstruction surgeries. There is also a misconception that plastic surgeons are simply cosmetic surgeons. Scientific reports has estimated about 80% of the surgeries carried out to be reconstructive in nature as they mainly help to create a visibly pleasing appearance following burns or scaring of body tissues (Freedlander). With an increasing demand for plastic surgeons in recent times the field offers immense challenges and opportunities for learning as well as research. I believe that being a plastic surgeon is also a highly rewarding profession as it helps transform the way people look and their lives. Moreover, such surgeries are not restricted to a particular gender or age group as anybody who is in need of changes to their physical appearance can go under the knife. In addition, this medical specialty also requires inputs from medical personal specializing in other fields such as ear, nose, throat, orthopedics, neurologists, dermatologist’s etc. as performing plastic surgery is a collaborative effort. Though these inputs are required a plastic surgeon should also possess adequate knowledge about the composition and functioning of human anatomy. They are also expected to regularly update themselves with the latest technological advances in the subject given the highly competitive nature of the field. The need for plastic surgeons has increased worldwide as people today are more self-conscious and willing to go the extra mile in order to have a pleasing appearance. These surgeons now constitute an integral part of most hospital’s and there has been a considerable demand for reconstructive surgery in the past few decades. Hence career opportunities in this field are gaining a lot of momentum. However, the competition is high and it is vital to make the best use of every single opportunity. In addition, a good sense of aesthetics, attention to details, being meticulous in the work, good management of time and the ability to handle stress are some of the attributes that need to be developed in order to be a successful plastic surgeon (Freedlander). I strongly believe that given my interest in the subject as well as the experiences shared by my father and brother would help me develop these skills and be a competent surgeon in the near future. Also I would like to explore research opportunities in this field as several advances such as the development of micro-surgical techniques has helped to refine the surgery process, thus making it less painful and tedious for the patient and the surgeon respectively. Tissue engineering has also opened up several exciting new avenues for research as it is an important tool for plastic surgeons that will help in recreating the tissue type of an individual. Thus through plastic surgery it is now possible to replant most parts of the body ranging from whole limbs to the tips of the fingers. It constitutes an important part of the overall recovery process of an individual who has suffered an injury. Most kinds of major injuries to the skin or other organs within the body can be given a new lease of life with the aid of plastic surgery. In the most recent development reported, nearly 80% of the face was transplanted in a surgery done in the US (Freedlander). Thus I believe that a career in plastic surgery will definitely be a rewarding experience and I want to put my skills to best use. With my aptitude for research I hope to explore interesting facets in plastic surgery and hope to have an exciting career in this field. I would also like to emphasize that this work will help me to serve the world community at large. Victims of natural and man-made calamities such as earthquakes and bomb blasts who have suffered tissue and organ injuries can be benefitted through such reconstructive surgeries. Reference 1. “The Scope of Biology.” NEWSdial. n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. http://www.newsdial.com/science/biology/scope-of-biology.html 2. Freedlander, Eric. “Careers in Plastic Surgery.” Careers.bmj. BMJ Publishing Group Limited. 19 Aug. 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=20000322 Read More