Amelia Aesthetics
Amelia Aesthetics Evansville opened in the spring of 2024 as a plastic surgery practice and medspa, run by women, for women. The sign in the lobby states, “The world needs more women like you.” Dr. Kate Kottwitz is the owner, surgeon, and visionary. The practice hit over a million in revenue in 2024, mostly during the last 6 months of the year. And they are not slowing down anytime soon.
But let’s back up a second. Kate was one of those people who always wanted to be a doctor. She worked hard through school to continually chase her dream. She completed a 6-year plastic surgery residency after med school as well as a one-year aesthetic fellowship. She loved the feel of a private practice in her fellowship and benefited from a great mentor during this time.
Kate and her husband both work in healthcare, so when it was time to settle down after training, they looked favorably at Evansville’s robust healthcare systems and made the move. Kate took a job at Deaconess, which she enjoyed, but she always longed to be in her own practice, making her own decisions.
Thus began her journey of learning how to run a small business, and as with most, she started with a podcast. In this case, a podcast called Private Practice MBA. This led her to an organization called Amelia HQ which is a licensing agency offering resources and support, giving doctors the freedom to create and own their own practice with the comfort of not doing it alone. Amelia HQ offers marketing, web, and infrastructure support, but each office is unique given that they are independently owned and operated.
In the spring of 2023, she was in discussions with German American Bank for a business loan to open her practice. They suggested she reach out to the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for assistance in this process. Kate was matched with her business advisor, Doug Claybourn, and was able to receive the help she needed to develop a great business plan. Grant Glackman, another advisor on the team, also worked with her extensively on her cash flow projections, helping her to truly understand the numbers behind her business.
After months of work on her business plan, the building lease, and the agreement with Amelia, she was finally able to close on the loan in September and begin renovations.
The feel of the practice was very important to Kate, so she created the layout of the office, picked out the paint colors, and chose the furniture. The practice officially opened in February 2024, but Kate had a baby in April, so they officially held their Grand Opening and ribbon cutting on May 30, 2024. Their membership with the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) provided them the support needed for a successful launch.
Along with the feel of the space, Kate wants the client experience to be pleasant and straightforward. “Healthcare is so hard to navigate,” she comments. “But here, patients don’t have to wait on hold or jump through hoops. They can schedule their own appointments on our website and look at surgical pricing online without having to book a consultation. They can also text us directly. We believe in making it easy to be a patient.”
The team was also important for the whole feel of the office. “That was my biggest fear in opening my practice. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find the right people to join my team. Luckily, I ended up finding a team of women who have surpassed my expectations.” she says. “My team really believes in what we’re doing, and patients see that. We are helping women, especially moms, feel good in their own skin. We are breaking down the barriers to plastic surgery. For our patients, their physical results build confidence and impact every aspect of their lives.”
Offering advice to others, she says, “If you want to start your own business, plan carefully, get support, and go for it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I saw a way to make things better and did it, and I love that my kids witnessed that. It’s incredible to see a place you’ve created, and that brings a ton of satisfaction.”
“I’m still learning and growing every day. This is a quality I have found important as a plastic surgeon but I am finding it is also important in growing a small business.”
To find out more about Amelia Aesthetics, go to askamelia.com or visit them at 111 South Green River Road next to Pangea. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram!