Choosing a career in medicine and becoming a surgeon takes years of education, training, skill development, and hands-on practice. However, some surgical specialties are considered easier than others based on factors like length of residency, technical complexity, physical demand, and lifestyle. When considering the “easiest” path to becoming a surgeon, it’s important to weigh all the pros and cons of each specialty.
What Makes a Surgical Specialty Easier?
Here are some of the key factors that contribute to a surgical specialty being considered “easier” than others:
- Shorter residency program – A shorter residency means less time spent in intensive, demanding training before becoming an attending surgeon.
- Fewer years of medical school – Some surgical pathways allow entry with fewer years of prerequisite medical school.
- Less technically complex procedures – Specialties with more straightforward, routine procedures involving less delicate anatomy.
- Better lifestyle – Specialties allowing more regular work hours, less time on call, and more control over schedule.
- Less physical demand – Procedures requiring less standing and fine motor skills and less training to build stamina.
- Broadly applicable skills – Exposure to a wide range of common conditions and procedures vs. a narrow subspecialty.
- High demand – Specialties with greater need for practitioners may offer more opportunities and job security.
Of course, an “easy” specialty also needs to align with one’s interests and ambitions. The ideal surgical career matches natural abilities to day-to-day work responsibilities.
General Considerations for a Surgical Career
While some specialties may be less demanding than others, a career in surgery is challenging across the board. Here are some realities of surgical training and practice:
- Long hours – 80+ hour work weeks are common during residency training.
- Demanding technical skills – Significant time must be dedicated to developing manual dexterity and mastering procedures.
- Stress management – Surgeons deal with high-stakes situations and make rapid critical decisions.
- Problem-solving abilities – Must apply vast medical knowledge to each patient’s unique circumstances.
- Physical stamina – Procedures often require many hours standing and precise hand movements.
- Competition – Residency and post-residency jobs attract large numbers of top applicants.
The sacrifice and rigor required for a successful surgical career should not be underestimated. Identifying the “easiest” surgery specialty is a relative distinction, not an absolute one. However, balancing lifestyle concerns and natural strengths and weaknesses can lead to a rewarding career fit.
Shorter Residency Programs
One key factor making a specialty easier is a shorter residency program. The following surgical fields have shorter training programs:
| Specialty | Length of Residency |
|---|---|
| Family Medicine | 3 years |
| General Surgery | 5 years |
| Neurosurgery | 6 years |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 5 years |
| ENT (Otolaryngology) | 5 years |
| Plastic Surgery | 6 years |
| Urology | 5 years |
Doctors who match into these specialties can finish their residency training more quickly and enter attending surgeon practice sooner than those in longer programs. Fields like family medicine and general surgery offer the fastest routes to becoming a fully board-certified surgeon.
Options With Less Medical School
For some students, the long path through 4 years of medical school and 3+ years residency is a daunting one. Certain surgical careers provide options to enter practice sooner:
- Podiatric Medicine – With only 3 years of podiatry school and 3 year residency, DPMs can perform foot and ankle surgical procedures.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – After dental school, a 4 year oral surgery residency enables procedures involving the mouth, jaws, and face.
- Optometry – Optometrists can do laser eye procedures with 2 years master’s degree training after 4 years optometry school.
For those eager to begin hands-on clinical work, these alternatives to the MD pathway allow you to start operating in as little as 6-7 years after high school.
Less Complex Specialties
Some surgical fields are known for less technically demanding routines and procedures involving more superficial or accessible anatomy:
- General Surgery – Broad training makes procedures like appendectomies, gallbladder removal, and bowel resections routine.
- OB/GYN – Routine C-sections, hysterectomies, and lapsoscopic procedures on easily accessed anatomy.
- Ophthalmology – Precise microsurgical procedures on the delicate eye, but less complexity than deeper anatomy.
- Dermatology – Minor excisions and reconstruction of skin lesions and superficial skin anatomy.
Developing fundamental operating skills in these areas can set the foundation for tackling more complex surgery later if desired. Alternatively, a full career can be built performing more straightforward routine procedures.
Specialties Offering Better Lifestyle
Another major consideration is the impact of a surgical specialty on personal lifestyle. Some options are known for more reasonable hours and more control over schedule:
| Specialty | Average Hours/Week | Flexibility/Control |
|---|---|---|
| General Surgery | 60-80 | Moderate |
| Neurosurgery | 65-80 | Little |
| ENT | 50-60 | Moderate |
| Ophthalmology | 40-60 | High |
| Dermatology | 40-50 | High |
| Plastic Surgery | 50-70 | Moderate |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 50-70 | Moderate |
Fields like ophthalmology and dermatology are generally seen as offering the best lifestyle among surgical specialties while still providing a fulfilling and lucrative career.
Less Physically Demanding Fields
Surgery inevitably involves significant physical rigor, though some specialties are relatively less demanding:
- Radiology – Interventional radiology allows procedures under imaging guidance with minimal standing.
- Anesthesiology – Requires stamina but avoids finer motor skills needed by surgeons.
- Pathology – No direct patient procedures, but allows surgery-related diagnoses.
- Ophthalmology – Precision procedures on delicate anatomy but avoids heaviest physical demands.
- Dermatology – Fine motor skills for skin procedures but usually less enduring stamina needed.
For those who wish to operate but have limitations on extended standing, gross motor skills, or other physical demands, these specialties allow for a surgery-related career.
Broadly Applicable Specialties
Some surgery skills translate well across different settings and situations:
- General Surgery – Broad training makes general surgeons adaptable to different practice types.
- Emergency Medicine – Exposure to wide array of acute surgical issues provides broad-based skills.
- Family Medicine – Training in common ambulatory procedures adaptable to many clinical settings.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology – Foundational skills in women’s health issues and procedures in high demand.
Specialties like these allow surgeons to stay flexible in their career options and avoid narrow subspecialization. The skills developed are applicable across hospital, clinic, and private practice settings.
High Demand Specialties
Looking at workforce shortages and projected demand can also help identify surgical careers that may offer security and flexibility. Some of the highest demand surgical specialties include:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- General Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Surgery Subspecialties (Colorectal, Thoracic, Vascular)
- Urology
Early career surgeons in these specialties are likely to find abundant opportunities, negotiating leverage, and flexibility to find a favorable practice situation.
Most Promising Options
Based on the above criteria, here are some of the most promising surgical specialties to consider from an “ease” perspective:
| Specialty | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmology | – Shorter training – Reasonable hours – Highly technical but delicate – Less physical demands – Strong job market |
| Dermatology | – Shorter training – Very flexible hours – Minor procedures – Little physical demands – Strong job market |
| General Surgery | – Broad-based training – Solid job prospects – Accessible procedures – Median lifestyle for surgery |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | – Routine procedures – Strong job market – Median lifestyle for surgery – Very high demand |
| Orthopedic Surgery | – Shorter training – Median lifestyle for surgery – Very high demand – Does not require finer microsurgical skills |
These specialties rise to the top when weighing length of training, technical complexity, physical demands, lifestyle, and job market. They are all still highly demanding but considered among the more manageable surgical career paths.
Best Personality Traits for an “Easier” Surgery Career
Beyond the structural factors that make certain surgical paths relatively easier, individual personality traits and abilities also play a major role. Those best suited for an easier route often have:
- Moderate technical aptitude – enough to master routine procedures, but avoids most delicate microsurgery challenges.
- Patience and discipline – taking extra years for training and skill-building is worthwhile investment.
- Cooperative spirit – willingness to work as part of healthcare team for best patient outcomes.
- Satisfaction with helping average patients – not driven to competitive cutting-edge discoveries or procedures.
- Comfort following established protocols – less desire to buck conventions or blaze new trails.
- Reasonable expectations – understanding of the rigor needed to become and remain a competent surgeon.
The right personal make-up allows someone to thrive in an “easier” surgical career path without becoming quickly bored or dissatisfied.
Conclusion
While no surgical specialty is truly “easy,” certain pathways offer shorter training, more routine procedures, better lifestyle, and strong job prospects. Ophthalmology, dermatology, general surgery, OB/GYN, and orthopedics tend to rise to the top as easier surgical careers based on these factors. However, succeeding in any surgical field still demands commitment to intensive training and career-long excellence. Finding the right match between abilities, interests, and day-to-day work is key to satisfaction as a surgeon. With realistic expectations and aligning natural strengths to a surgical field, it is possible to pursue a top medical career with manageable rigor and lifestyle.