What does it actually take to build a successful surgical practice—and a life outside of it?

In this episode of FEM, MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Lindsey Pennington to talk about the realities of modern surgical careers: from patient red flags and pricing decisions to working with your spouse, motherhood, and building a business that’s actually sustainable.

They get candid about the “era of yes” early in your career, why learning to say no is critical, and how protecting your time can completely change your practice—and your life.

Dr. Pennington also shares:

• The biggest patient red flags (and why ignoring them backfires)
• How she built and scaled her private practice
• What it’s really like working with your husband in the OR
• The tradeoffs between revenue, time, and family
• Why she stopped focusing on money—and what happened instead
• Leadership, burnout, and the shift from surgeon to CEO

This is a conversation about ambition, boundaries, and building a career on your own terms.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Lindsey Pennington, MD

Connect with Lindsey: @penningtonfacialplastics

https://penningtonfacialplastics.com/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com