Earning a medical degree involves hard work over a long period of time. Once aspiring plastic surgeons are fully licensed to practice independently, they must decide what direction to take their career. Opening a private practice to perform plastic surgery can be a great option.

1. Specialization

When creating a plastic surgery practice strategy, it is important to consider specialization. It is difficult for a small practice to encompass all aspects of the field. Plastic surgeons with their own practices can be more selective about what type of cases they select, whether they prefer handing breast reductions or implants, facial reconstruction surgery or rhinoplasty. Specializing in one particular area can allow the plastic surgeon to focus on honing their skills and develop a reputation for proficiency. Specialists may be able to control their rates and command a higher rate of pay for procedures.

2. Schedule

Working for a hospital or another doctor’s private practice usually means working on their schedule. Working with a hospital often means regularly schedule hours in addition to time spent on-call. Plastic surgeons who decide to open their own practice are able to set their own hours of operation and determine when they will be closed for renovations, vacations or other reasons. If necessary, they can hire other doctors to cover any gaps and ensure patients receive excellent care at all times.

3. Flexibility

A good plastic surgery practice strategy can vary drastically depending on the patient demographics. Owning a private practice gives plastic surgeons the chance to create a unique marketing strategy and business plan. They can establish themselves as experts using social media accounts, blogs or online videos, or stick to traditional methods such as television or newspaper advertisements.

The atmosphere of the clinic can be customized to give off the right impression. Patients judge a facility based on their first impression, and the décor can be arranged to indicate the level of patient care they will experience.

Opening a private practice should only be done after careful considerations of all aspects of running a business. The plastic surgeon should be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort to make the business profitable. However, the ability to become an established specialist working on a flexible schedule can make the effort worthwhile. By remaining open to changes and working to anticipate and meet the needs of patients, plastic surgeons can increase their chances of success.