In Australia and everywhere else in the world, the demand for surgeons is high. After all, it takes at least sixteen more years of training and staggering expenses to become a highly qualified surgeon.
But not all surgeons enjoy the same high demand and salary once they become hospital residents. Certain specialized surgeons earn more than their colleagues. These surgeons are on the top of salary rankings because of their specialties.
In this article, you will learn which surgeons are in demand, including the surgical procedures that they commonly perform.
Neurosurgeons
Neurosurgery involves the most complicated and delicate procedures in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Therefore, neurosurgeons go through intense training and education, making their careers higher up the demand charts.
Neurosurgeons operate on patients afflicted by stroke, infections in the nervous system, tumors, and trauma. Most of the time, these surgeons use microscopes to handle brain tissues that are only a few millimeters thin.
These are the procedures that neurosurgeons usually perform:
- In a brain biopsy, neurosurgeons take out a sample from the patient’s brain. They will inspect this tissue for lesions, infections, or tumors.
- A craniotomy is a complicated surgery where neurosurgeons remove parts of the skull and expose the brain.
- Brain aneurysm repair involves coiling a blood clot in the brain.
- In an endonasal endoscopy, a neurosurgeon inserts a tube into the patient’s nose to access the front and base of the brain. This surgery removes the imminent need for craniotomy.
In Australia, neurosurgeons earn over $620,600 (AUD) every year.
Ophthalmic surgeons
According to the American Academy of Opthalmology, over two million eye injuries happen annually. These unfortunate cases usually come from trauma, chemical exposure, abrasions, foreign objects, and bleeding.
The eyes also degrade over time due to old age and diseases. The latter includes diabetes, reduced color perception, glaucoma, and vision fluctuation.
Because of this, ophthalmic surgeons— surgeons who operate on the eyes— are in demand.
Equipped with both time-tested techniques and modern innovations in eye care, ophthalmic surgeons conduct sensitive eye treatment. These include:
- In blepharoplasty, ophthalmic surgeons remove excess skin and fat on droopy, severely sagging eyelids common among older people.
- A corneal transplant involves replacing the protective layer of the eyes.
- In trabeculectomy, the eyes are relieved from the excessive pressure that causes optic nerve damage and glaucoma.
- Laser eye surgery (another term for laser in-situ keratomileusis or LASIK) corrects the shape of the cornea, treating astigmatism, short-sightedness, and far-sightedness.
Australian ophthalmic surgeons receive $201,000 (AUD) each year.
Cardiothoracic surgeons
The World Health Organization reports that ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.
In developed countries, millions suffer from diseases like coronary arteriosclerosis (the buildup of fats in the arteries), heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and atrial fibrillation (irregular yet quick heartbeats).
Chronic pulmonary diseases, respiratory infections, and cancers in the respiratory system are among the top ten causes of death across the globe.
These statistics reveal the need for cardiothoracic surgeons worldwide. Surgeons who specialize here treat the organs in the chest cavity—the lungs, heart, esophagus, and trachea.
The operations and procedures cardiothoracic surgeons perform include:
- Angioplasty involves removing a blockage in coronary arteries and restoring the flow of blood to the heart.
- Carotid surgery also removes the plaque in the carotid artery, the blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood to the brain. This procedure reduces the likelihood of stroke.
- Coronary artery bypass grafting diverts blood flow from clogged vessels in the heart.
- Heart valve surgery corrects the disorders and diseases in the heart valves.
Every year, cardiothoracic surgeons earn over $252,300 (AUD).
Plastic and reconstructive surgeons
The survey released by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reveals that demand for plastic surgery continues to increase worldwide.
As social media sets beauty standards and preferences for both men and women, cosmetic surgeries have become popular more than ever.
This trend makes plastic and reconstructive surgeons much more needed in these times. These are the typical procedures that these surgeons regularly perform:
- Breast augmentation is the surgery where saline and silicone implants are inserted into the breasts to increase their size.
- Gynecomastia surgery means the removal of excess fat in the male patients’ chest.
- In buttock lift surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgeons transfer fats to make the buttocks look more firmand full.
- Liposuction removes body fat from the abdomen, thighs, arms, and other parts of the body.
- Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, is the reconstruction of the nose to improve its appearance.
- Abdominoplasty makes the abdomen thinner by taking out fat and excess skin. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons also tighten the patient’s abdominal muscles in this procedure.
- In a hair transplant, surgeons transfer hair into bald portions of the patient’s head.
The base annual salary of plastic and reconstructive surgeons is over $540,500 (AUD).
Otorhinolaryngologist surgeons
Otorhinolaryngologist surgeons treat and operate on the nose, ears, sinuses, mouth, voice box, and throat. They also specialize in performing surgery on the neck and facial structures.
Given how the sensory organs and vocal organs are complex and prone to illnesses, there is a high demand for otorhinolaryngologist surgeons.
Only these specialized surgeons can treat ear infections, balance disorders (such as vertigo), and diseases related to hearing. Otorhinolaryngologist surgeons also repair issues in the nasal cavity, sinuses, and cartilage.
Furthermore, surgeons in this specialization surgically treat allergies, cleft palate, difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, and facial pain.
The typical procedures otorhinolaryngologist surgeons conduct include:
- Tonsillectomy is the removal of the tonsils once it is infected or inflamed. This surgery also treats obstructive sleep disorders.
- Tympanostomy means surgically opening the eardrums to drain infections and expose the middle ear to air. Moreover, this procedure brings back full hearing from infections.
- Otorhinolaryngologist surgeons perform parathyroidectomy to remove one of the parathyroid glands from the patient. This operation stops the excessive production of the parathyroid hormone.
- Parotidectomy takes out the parotid gland (the largest salivary gland) because of a neoplasm or a tumor inside.