Exercising is a good thing to do over and over, but you have to get a program of physical fitness that fits your lifestyle. You can damage yourself if you don’t pay attention.
Dr. Mark Filstein, Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon, is an experienced surgeon and business owner who has had a successful practice for over twenty years. In 1992, with the experience he accumulated, he ultimately decided to open his private practice in Manhattan, New York.
Dr. Filstein trained in General Surgery at the Montefiore – Einstein Combined Program in the Bronx. He trained in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Albany Medical Center located in Albany, New York. In addition to the core training in Plastic Surgery, Dr. Mark Filstein completed two additional fellowships: Reconstructive Microsurgical Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts and in Craniomaxillofacial Surgery at EVGSM in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to his education as well as residency, Dr. Mark Filstein became board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and maintains his membership with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the State of New York.
Dr. Mark Filstein also volunteers his time working with “Operation Smile,” which is a worldwide charitable organization whose mission is to assist children with cleft lip deformities and palate. He has been working alongside Operation Smile for well over 2 decades. He plans to continue his Manhattan private practice in cosmetic surgery.
Where did the idea for your company come from?
After 4 years of practicing general plastic surgery, I came to realize that I enjoyed cosmetic surgery the most and made the decision to specialize in that field.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
We begin our day very early in the morning. We always schedule surgery first thing in the morning just to get the started and feel prepared for the long day ahead of us. I spend the rest of the afternoons consulting with new cases for new procedures and follow up with postoperative patients.
How do you bring ideas to life?
If I have an idea I would like to research, I have the best office manager who I rely on very much. She would do the preliminary research thoroughly and we would discuss our plan of action together before reaching an agreement. If the idea makes sense, we go forward with it and make sure that it comes to fruition.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I have been doing facial feminization surgery over the past twenty years. I am very glad that others are recognizing this to be a unique field in cosmetic surgery. It is also a major aspect of gender affirmation surgery and many transgender patients seek out facial feminization surgeries. The surgery helps out a lot of individuals in the LGBTQ community and being able to help them out gives me great joy.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I would say what makes me productive as an entrepreneur and doctor is that in my business, my strength is in my attention to detail. I focus on each individual patient from the time of the first consultation to the ultimate completion of their procedure. I make sure everything is done perfectly so my patients can feel valued when they spend time at my clinic.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell younger Dr. Mark Filstein to become more educated in the business aspect of medical practice. More specifically, I would tell my younger self to be more educated on various business aspects of running one’s own office practice. As a doctor and cosmetic plastic surgeon, there are many details to address. They do not teach you that in medical school. I believe anyone who has a business should educate yourself in business administration.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
No one agrees with me on this viewpoint: everyone should exercise. They get all sorts of fancy memberships and vitamins and workout packages. You can accomplish more for your body with rubber workout bands than some of the workout machines. I say cancel your gym membership and exercise at home.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Exercising is a good thing to do over and over, but you have to get a program of physical fitness that fits your lifestyle. You can damage yourself if you don’t pay attention. Our bodies were designed for complex body activities. If you are a bodybuilder, it is one thing to lift weights for specific bodybuilding. But it would not be right for someone trying to simply lose weight.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
The strategy that we most use in the office that has been very successful is internal marketing. We keep in close touch with our patients after their procedure. Sometimes they will return for another procedure. Sometimes they will recommend us to their friends. By doing this internal marketing, we have been successful in expanding our operations.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
One failure that I had was in 2008 when the market crashed. People don’t tend to get cosmetic work done during bad economic times. I did not anticipate the loss of income during that year. Now, since the 2008 market crash, I now make sure to have a cushion to fall back on during harsh economic downturns.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
It would be very helpful if patients have a medical card with your medical history that can be scanned. It would contain all medications and immunizations and medical history. I think you can make it secure. It would be very helpful in saving time and improving emergency treatments.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I love spending time with my daughter. I would say anytime I spend money with my daughter is the best way to use $100.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Practice Fusion and software for practice to pharmacy prescription. Practice Fusion is an online and web-based electronic health record company that is based in San Francisco. This handy software provides physicians and medical professionals like myself with advertising-supported EHR and medical practice management technology.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
12 Rules of Life. By Jordan Peterson, a brilliant man and a Canadian professor of psychology at the University of Toronto.
What is your favorite quote?
There are 2 quotes that are my absolute favorite. “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you” – Matthew 7:12 and “Without music, life would be a mistake”. by Friedrich Nietzsche.
Key Learnings:
– I believe anyone who has a business should educate yourself in business administration.
– Make sure to have a cushion to fall back on during harsh economic downturns.
– Exercising is a good thing to do over and over, but you have to get a program of physical fitness that fits your lifestyle.
Connect:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.