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Perceptions of Plastic Surgery Training in the United Kingdom: A Mixed-Methods Trainee Survey
Areej-Noor Y Shah1, Mohammad Anwar2
1Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, GBR.
Cureus
|January 13, 2026
Summary
UK plastic surgery trainees report moderate satisfaction, citing concerns with research opportunities and work-life balance. Key issues include limited operative exposure and inconsistent mentorship, impacting training quality.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Training
- Plastic Surgery
Background:
- UK plastic surgery training is competitive and undergoing reforms.
- Trainee perspectives on evolving training standards are underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess UK plastic surgery trainees' perceptions of training quality.
- Evaluate trainee satisfaction and preparedness for independent practice.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional online survey of UK plastic surgery trainees.
- Collected demographic data, views on training duration/fellowships, and satisfaction ratings.
- Thematic analysis of free-text comments to identify qualitative themes.
Main Results:
- Overall satisfaction was moderate (3.2/5), with concerns in research (2.9/5) and work-life balance (3.0/5).
- High scores for supervisor involvement and case variety (3.5/5).
- Qualitative themes: limited operative exposure, inconsistent mentorship, regional variation, restricted research, and COVID-19 impact.
Conclusions:
- UK plastic surgery trainees express moderate overall satisfaction.
- Significant concerns exist regarding research access and work-life balance.
- Mentorship and operative opportunities require attention to align with national trends.
Keywords:
plastic surgeryplastic surgery trainingpostgraduate trainingsurgical educationtrainee satisfactionuk
