OasisLMS

This course reviews how burnout can affect plastic surgeon well-being—especially mental health—and why even excellent surgical care cannot fully prevent the emotional toll that can follow complications (eg, guilt, sadness, anxiety, and stress). The paper introduces mindfulness meditation as a practical, present-focused skill set and highlights “letting go” of negative thoughts, emotions, and maladaptive behaviors as a cornerstone of resilience across career stages, while recognizing that some individuals may benefit from individualized treatment tailored to their situation. It concludes that cultivating these skills can help mitigate stress and burnout, support surgeon performance, and strengthen overall well-being—benefiting surgeons, patients, and the healthcare system.

Intended Audience
This educational activity is intended for all CME-related persons including plastic surgery practitioners, residents, and other healthcare professionals.

Learning Objectives

After viewing this course, the participant should be able to:

1. describe burnout in plastic surgery—including common risk factors and the Maslach Burnout Inventory dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment) and why burnout can compromise patient care.
2. Define mindfulness meditation and “letting go,” and explain how mindfulness-based practices (eg, breathing, auditory focus, emotional release) can build mental flexibility and support surgeon well-being across career stages.
3. Identify practical pathways to support mental health, including recognizing maladaptive patterns and understanding common barriers to seeking care (eg, licensure concerns), and outline when individualized treatment and professional support may be appropriate.

Editor-in-Chief: Jeffrey E. Janis, MD

Co-editors: Amanda Gosman, MD, FACS, Albert Losken, MD, FACS

Wellness editor: Ibrahim Khansa, MD

Katie Egan, MD

Ines Lin, MD

• Systems-based Practice
• Practice-based Learning and Improvement

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM: 1.0
Media:Journal Article
Release Date: 1/10/2026
Expiration Date: 1/10/2029*
Estimated time to complete this course: 1 hour
*Course access ends on course expiration date

Disclosure Policy
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) requires all faculty, authors, planners, reviewers, managers, staff and other individuals in a position to control or influence the content of an activity to disclose all relevant financial relationships or affiliations. All identified conflicts of interest must be resolved and the educational content thoroughly vetted by ASPS for fair balance, scientific objectivity and appropriateness of patient care recommendations. The ASPS also requires faculty/authors to disclose when off-label/unapproved uses of a product are discussed in a CME activity or included in related materials.

Disclaimer: All relevant financial relationships for planners, faculty, and others in control of content (either individually or as a group) are reviewed by the ASPS Continuing Education Committee and have been mitigated, if applicable. 

The following planners/faculty members/reviewers have no relevant financial relationships or affiliations to disclose:

David H. Kim, MD

Simran K. Chandawarkar, BS

Aleksandra Krajewski, MD

Danielle DeLuca-Pytell, MD

Ronald K. Akiki, MD

Opeyemi A. Asanbe, MD

Sameer A. Patel, MD

Katie Egan, MD

Ines Lin, MD

Recognition Statement

The Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits offered by this activity are enhanced by ASPS Learner Credit Reporting for learners who have opted into this reporting. Successful completion of this CME activity enables active American Board of Surgery (ABS) members the opportunity to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the ABS's Continuous Certification program when claimed within 30 days of completion of the activity.

Participants in ASPS-accredited education who want their CME credits reported to certifying and state licensing boards must opt-in to reporting and add their NPI as well as state license ID and/or collaborating board ID(s) before claiming credit.

Directly provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS®)