Home Plastic Surgeon Resume template
Plastic Surgeon resume template
A clean starting structure with example content grounded in what plastic surgeons actually do day to day, not generic filler. Download and replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details.
Which resume format should you use?
Reverse chronological
You have a steady work history. This is the format almost every recruiter and ATS expects by default.
Functional
You're changing fields or have gaps in your employment. Leads with skills rather than a job-by-job timeline.
Combination
You're early career or have worked consistently but for only a few employers. Blends a skills summary with a shorter chronological history.
This template uses the reverse chronological format: the one most plastic surgeons should default to, since most Australian recruiters and ATS software expect it.
Professional summary
Plastic Surgeon with fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, experienced in reconstructive and cosmetic procedures across public and private hospitals. Skilled in microsurgical free flap transfers, breast reconstruction and facial trauma repair, with a strong commitment to patient-centred care, surgical training and clinical governance. Holds current registration with the Medical Board of Australia and works across both elective and emergency surgical settings.
Key skills
- Clinical assessment and treatment
- Patient care and support
- Infection control and hygiene
- Epic
- Sectra PACS
- Materialise ProPlan CMF
- Crisalix
- DICOM viewing software
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving
- Written communication
- People leadership
- Time and deadline management
Experience: example bullet points
- Performed over 150 reconstructive procedures each year, including breast reconstruction, skin grafting and cleft lip and palate repair, consistently achieving functional and aesthetic outcomes that met patient goals.
- Led microsurgical free flap transfers for head and neck reconstruction, coordinating a multidisciplinary team to reduce flap failure rates through meticulous postoperative monitoring.
- Streamlined wound care protocols across a 24-bed surgical unit, cutting unplanned readmissions by earlier detection of complications.
- Supervised and mentored six plastic surgery registrars annually, with all trainees progressing to the next stage of RACS training.
- Contributed to surgical audit and research, presenting findings at departmental meetings that informed changes to antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines.
Education
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or Doctor of Medicine (MD), followed by internship and residency, then specialist training through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons leading to Fellowship in Plastic Surgery (FRACS Plast).
Keywords an ATS is likely to scan for
Applicant tracking systems match your resume against terms in the job ad before a person ever sees it. Only include the ones that actually apply to your experience, but if a term below matches something you've done, use the same wording the job ad uses.
- FRACS
- RACS
- AHPRA
- Medical Board of Australia
- Medicare
- DICOM
- Epic
- Sectra PACS
- microsurgery
- free flap
- breast reconstruction
- cleft lip and palate
- skin grafting
- facial fracture
- infection control
- surgical audit
- registrar supervision
Getting past ATS screening
- Match the specific skills, certifications and terms used in the job ad, not just your own wording for the same thing.
- Keep formatting simple: no tables, text boxes, columns, headers/footers or graphics. Parsers frequently drop content placed in these.
- Submit as .docx or PDF unless the job ad specifies otherwise.
- Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) rather than creative alternatives.
- List your core skills and technical competencies in their own section so a keyword scan can find them instantly.
This is a starting point, not a guarantee of interviews. Tailor every bullet point to your own real experience and the specific job ad.