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Reconstructive scientist

Female taking clinical photos of patient

A day as a reconstructive scientist

You're based at your local NHS hospital, and begin work at 9am. Your first task is to meet a recovering patient who had to have their nose removed because of nasal cancer.

It is your job, as part of a team, to restore the patient's nose and face shape. You explain exactly what you need to do to construct an artificial nose, how long it will take and what needs to be done. You take an impression of the face and rebook the patient for a second appointment on your clinic later in the week.

In the afternoon, you are called by the doctor in accident and emergency to construct some special splints to be used in theatre that evening for a patient who was in a car accident. You meet the patient and doctor and then construct the splints in your prosthetics laboratory. It's very rewarding working with surgical colleagues to restore people's appearance and body function, and you're always developing new skills and abilities.