The decision to sell your plastic surgery practice is a major milestone. You have built a valuable asset in a growing field. National trends show a 5% year-over-year increase in cosmetic procedures, a wave of demand that is also felt here in Maine. Capitalizing on this market requires more than just clinical skill. It demands a clear understanding of your practice’s true value and a strategy to achieve your personal and financial goals.
Market Overview
The current market for plastic surgery is strong, driven by consistent patient demand. While specific transaction data for Maine is proprietary, the national trends paint a clear picture of opportunity for practice owners. This is not a time of stagnation.
Here is what the latest data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows:
- Sustained Procedural Growth. The demand for cosmetic procedures is not slowing down. Minimally invasive treatments grew by 7% last year, showing that new and existing patients are continually seeking services.
- Top Surgical Procedures. The most requested surgical procedures remain high-value services like Liposuction, Breast Augmentation, and Abdominoplasty (tummy tucks).
- Top Minimally Invasive Procedures. High-margin, repeatable treatments like Neuromodulators (Botox), Soft Tissue Fillers, and Skin Resurfacing continue to lead the non-surgical category, providing a stable revenue base for many practices.
This sustained interest across different service types makes a well-run plastic surgery practice a highly attractive asset for buyers.
Key Considerations
Beyond the market data, selling your practice involves unique factors. How do you accurately value a business where patient loyalty and your personal brand are so intertwined? Sophisticated buyers look past the basic profit and loss statement. They want to understand the story and the future potential.
They will ask about patient retention, your referral sources, and the potential for growth. Is your service mix tailored to current demand? Is the practice dependent on you, or can it thrive with a new owner? Answering these questions requires careful preparation. You need to build a compelling narrative that demonstrates the stability and upside of your practice long before it goes to market. This is how “fine” practices become elite, highly valued acquisition targets.
Market Activity
The demand for plastic surgery is not only growing; it is also broadening. Understanding these shifts can help you position your practice to attract the widest range of potential buyers.
The Gen X and Millennial Engine
Patients aged 30 to 54 are a powerful force in the market. This group is actively seeking both surgical and non-surgical solutions. They are often at the peak of their earning potential and are invested in maintaining their appearance. A practice that effectively serves this demographic is particularly well-positioned.
The Rise in Male Procedures
The stigma around cosmetic procedures for men is fading. In fact, growth in men’s body and facial procedures recently outpaced that of female procedures. If your practice has a growing male clientele or the potential to attract one, this is a significant value driver that buyers recognize.
Cross-Generational Appeal
From Gen Z’s interest in breast augmentation to Boomers focusing on facial procedures, demand spans every adult age group. This diverse patient base provides stability and multiple avenues for growth, reducing the risk for a potential new owner.
The Sale Process
A successful sale does not happen by accident. It follows a disciplined, confidential process designed to protect your interests and maximize value. We believe a premature exit is a mistake, but we also know that preparation is key. Starting the conversation 2 to 3 years before your target exit date allows you to sell on your terms, not a buyer’s.
A professional M&A process typically involves these key stages:
- Preparation and Strategy. This is where we work with you to clean up financials, develop a compelling growth story, and define your personal goals for the transition.
- Valuation. We conduct a thorough analysis to determine your practice’s market value, based not on rules of thumb, but on what qualified buyers are actually paying.
- Confidential Marketing. We do not just “list” your practice. We run a confidential process, approaching a curated list of qualified strategic buyers and private equity groups from our proprietary database.
- Negotiation and Offer Selection. We generate competitive tension to secure multiple offers, giving you the leverage to choose the partner and terms that best fit your goals.
- Due Diligence and Closing. We manage the intensive due diligence phase to prevent surprises and guide you and your legal team through to a successful closing.
Valuation
What is your practice really worth? The answer usually starts with a metric called Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization). This is not the same as the net income on your tax return. It is a measure of your practice’s true cash flow. We calculate it by taking your reported profit and adding back owner-specific personal expenses and any above-market owner salary.
This Adjusted EBITDA figure is then multiplied by a number, or “multiple,” to arrive at your practice’s enterprise value. That multiple is not random. It is determined by a range of factors that signal quality and reduced risk to a buyer.
| Valuation Factor | Why It Matters to a Buyer |
|---|---|
| Scale & Profitability | Larger practices with higher EBITDA are seen as less risky and command higher multiples. |
| Provider Model | A practice with associate surgeons is more valuable than one solely reliant on the owner. |
| Procedure Mix | A healthy balance of high-margin cosmetic cash-pay services and stable reconstructive work is attractive. |
| Growth Profile | Demonstrable year-over-year growth earns a premium valuation. |
Getting this calculation right is the foundation of a successful sale strategy.
Post-Sale Considerations
Selling your practice is not just a financial transaction. It is a decision that affects your legacy, your staff, and your own future. A common fear is losing control. However, modern deal structures are designed to align interests, not just transfer ownership. Thinking about these points early is critical.
Here are a few things to consider for your life after the sale:
- Your Legacy and Staff. The right buyer will want to protect what you have built. We help you find a partner who respects your clinical culture and is committed to retaining your valued team members.
- Your Future Role. Do you want to continue practicing for a few years, or are you ready to retire? The structure of the sale can be tailored to your timeline, often with options to reduce your administrative burden while continuing clinical work.
- The “Second Bite of the Apple.” Many owners choose to “roll over” a portion of their sale proceeds into equity in the new, larger company. This allows you to benefit from the future growth of the platform and get a second, often larger, payout when that company is sold again.
- Tax-Efficient Structures. How your sale is structured has massive implications for your net, after-tax proceeds. Planning this in advance can save you a significant amount of money.
These are not afterthoughts. They are core components of a transition strategy that should be designed around your specific goals from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current market outlook for selling a plastic surgery practice in Maine?
The market for plastic surgery practices in Maine is strong, driven by a consistent national increase in patient demand for cosmetic procedures—growing about 5% year-over-year. Minimally invasive treatments and high-value surgical procedures remain highly sought after, making well-run practices attractive assets for buyers.
How is the value of my plastic surgery practice determined?
Valuation typically starts with calculating Adjusted EBITDA — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, adjusting for owner-specific expenses and salaries. This figure is multiplied by a multiple influenced by factors such as practice scale, profitability, provider model, procedure mix, and growth profile to determine enterprise value.
What should I consider to maximize the sale price of my practice?
Preparation is key: optimize your financials, build a compelling growth story, and demonstrate practice stability beyond revenue, such as patient retention, referral sources, and diverse procedure offerings. Also, consider positioning to appeal to a broad demographic and potentially growing male clientele to increase attractiveness to buyers.
What is the typical process involved in selling a plastic surgery practice?
Selling your practice involves a confidential, professional M&A process including: 1) Preparation and strategy development, 2) Valuation, 3) Confidential marketing to qualified buyers, 4) Negotiation to secure competitive offers, and 5) Due diligence leading to closing, all designed to protect your interests and maximize value.
What are the important post-sale considerations I should plan for?
Post-sale planning should address your legacy, staff retention, and your future role, whether continuing clinical work or retiring. You may consider options like rolling over proceeds into equity in the buyer’s company and structuring the sale tax efficiently to maximize your after-tax proceeds and align with personal goals.