The transforming training pathway of plastic and craniofacial surgery in China.

The history of plastic surgery in China dates back to about 17 centuries ago when Chinese ancestors documented a case of cleft lip repair, whereas the concepts of modern plastic surgery were imported from the West. In the last 50 years, the Chinese plastic surgeons have thrived and, through their hard work and even harder-gained experiences, witnessed the emergence of microsurgery in the 1960s, the development of craniofacial surgery during the 1970s, and cosmetic surgery becoming a trend since 1980s.With the fast renovation of treatment methods and the broadened spectrum of indications, more specialists with solid basic science knowledge and adequate clinical experience are needed for providing plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic treatment. Attempts and efforts have been made to establish a suitable training system in China for plastic surgeons and plastic subspecialists recently, which led to the transformation of pathway for one to become a plastic surgeon and provoked thoughts upon the upcoming challenges.