What does it actually take to build and operate your own ambulatory surgery center (ASC)?

In Episode 3 of The Business of Surgery, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Lauren Umstattd shares the realities of designing, building, and running a physician-owned surgery center—from navigating state regulations and construction delays to sourcing equipment, building the right team, and creating an exceptional patient experience.

Rather than focusing on theory, Lauren walks through the practical lessons she learned while opening her own ASC, including the mistakes, unexpected challenges, and decisions she would make again.

In this episode:

• Should you open your own ambulatory surgery center?
• The advantages of physician-owned ASCs
• Building an operating room from the ground up
• State regulations and accreditation
• Construction challenges and project management
• How to save money on surgical equipment
• When it's worth investing in premium equipment
• Designing a luxury surgical experience
• Hiring your first surgery center team
• The realities of owning and operating an ASC

The Business of Surgery is a 12-part summer series on FEM, MD, where Dr. Lauren Umstattd shares the lessons she learned building a thriving physician-owned cosmetic surgery practice—from startup through long-term growth.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com