The Looming Future of Private Equity in Plastic Surgery.

Private equity acquisition of independent private practices has dramatically increased in the recent decade, with a greater emphasis by private equity firms to invest in surgical specialties that practice in outpatient ambulatory centers. This trend has slowly started to creep into plastic surgery; therefore, understanding the concepts of private equity ownership in health care and its benefits and risks is critical. In this article, we provide a fundamental economic background on private equity, describe its current state in healthcare, including trends in plastic surgery, and provide recommendations for plastic surgeons considering private equity acquisition.