ENT, Plastic Surgery, or Ophthalmology?

DISCUSSION

Hi everyone!
I’m currently an Internal Medicine resident in a European country, and I’ve been thinking about switching specialties. I’m considering ENT, Plastic Surgery, or Ophthalmology because I would like to pursue a surgical specialty, but ideally one that still allows for a reasonable work-life balance and some time for yourself.
Which specialty would you recommend between ENT, Plastic Surgery, and Ophthalmology?
I’d also like to know how difficult it is to pursue a fellowship in facial aesthetics/facial plastic surgery after completing ENT training. I’m particularly interested in aesthetic procedures involving the face and neck, and I would love to eventually perform procedures such as injectables, blepharoplasty, facelifts, neck lifts, rhinoplasty, and otoplasty.
I’m not particularly interested in cosmetic procedures involving other areas of the body, which is one of the reasons why ENT combined with further training in facial plastic surgery seems appealing to me.
I’d really appreciate any opinions or experiences regarding these specialties, especially in terms of lifestyle, surgical exposure, career opportunities, and how realistic it is for an ENT specialist to transition into facial aesthetic surgery.
Any advice or insight would be very helpful.
Thank you in advance!

Posted Sep 2, 2026, 12:42 PM UTC

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