Reasons for aesthetic and plastic surgeons selecting branches and working relationships

This thesis aims to explore the reasons behind aesthetic and plastic surgeons' specialty choices and their professional relations. The transformation of modern medicine, the implementation of neoliberal policies in the healthcare sector, the spread of consumer culture, and the media's reproduction of beauty ideals are key societal dynamics influencing physicians' specialization decisions. Aesthetic and plastic surgery has emerged not only as a medical field but also as one shaped by market-based factors such as economic gain, prestige, patient profile, and opportunities for private practice. This study investigates how physicians' preferences for this specialty are shaped by both individual motivations and structural-social conditions. Using a qualitative research method, in-depth interviews were conducted with aesthetic and plastic surgeons selected through purposive sampling. Findings reveal that beyond professional interest and satisfaction, factors such as high income expectations, the possibility of working in the private sector, patient selection freedom, flexible working conditions, autonomy, and prestige significantly affect specialization choices. Moreover, elements like the artistic dimension of aesthetic surgery, the opportunity for direct patient interaction, and social visibility also play a crucial role. The study concludes that aesthetic and plastic surgery is not solely a medical specialty, but a professional field intertwined with economic, cultural, and symbolic capital. It also highlights the need to address legal gaps in aesthetic procedures and to implement structural regulations to prevent potential ethical issues arising from market-driven medical practices. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of individuals making informed decisions about undergoing aesthetic interventions by considering these structural factors. By adopting a sociological perspective, this study offers original contributions to the literature on the impact of neoliberal healthcare policies on medical labor and the reflection of beauty ideals on professional preferences.