We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Susan Lovelle a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Susan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

The early days of starting my own practice came right after completing my residency training in plastic surgery. I was full of energy, ambition, and the desire to create the perfect space—one that reflected the high standards I’d held myself to throughout training. That mindset led me to overspend in ways that, looking back, just weren’t necessary. I leased brand-new medical equipment, not realizing that much of it could have been purchased used—equipment that often lasts forever if properly maintained. On top of that, I splurged on high-end furniture and décor, wanting everything to be beautiful and polished from the start. Those choices locked me into long-term payments that put unnecessary pressure on the business during its most fragile phase.

Another early misstep was in hiring. I chose staff based on credentials, assuming that degrees and experience would translate into trust and alignment. Unfortunately, one of those hires—our business manager—embezzled from the practice, going so far as to have insurance checks sent directly to his home. That painful chapter taught me to hire not just for skill, but for heart, values, and character. Now, I build my teams with people who believe in the mission as much as I do.

I also made the classic new-doctor mistake of trying to serve everyone. I thought I had to help anyone who asked, regardless of whether they were the best candidates for the procedures I offered. But I quickly learned that working with the right patients made all the difference. For example, a tummy tuck patient who was already at an optimal weight would heal faster, experience fewer complications, and ultimately be happier with the outcome than someone whose body wasn’t quite ready. Trying to force good results in the wrong context only made my work harder and the results less satisfying—for both of us.

If I could advise a young professional launching their practice, it would be this: Start smart, not flashy. Buy what you need, not what looks good. Focus on people and processes, not perfection. Surround yourself with those who share your vision and integrity and whose values mirror yours. Last, be clear about who you serve best—it’s not about turning people away, it’s about creating the best outcomes possible for everyone involved. Your practice will thank you for it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Dr. Susan Lovelle, and I often say I’ve lived many lives: professional ballet dancer, plastic surgeon, wellness entrepreneur, speaker, and now medical director and founder helping high-achievers finally feel at home in their bodies again.

I knew I wanted to be a doctor at age six—but life took a few beautiful detours. I spent 14 years dancing professionally around the world before attending Columbia University for medical school and becoming an award-winning plastic surgeon. For two decades, I performed intricate procedures to help people feel more confident in their skin. But after facing my own health challenges, I began to ask deeper questions—not just about beauty, but about inner strength and vitality.

That journey led me to create Balanced Performance, a holistic, data-driven health platform for busy, mission-driven executives—especially women in midlife navigating changes in energy, weight, hormones, and mental clarity. Through personalized programs, keynote talks, executive retreats, and wellness services like bioidentical hormone therapy, IV hydration, and mindset coaching, I help clients stop guessing and start thriving.

What sets my work apart is that it lives at the intersection of science and soul. I bring the rigor of traditional medicine, the wisdom of holistic healing, and the clarity of real-life experience—both as a physician and as a woman who’s been through it. Whether supporting a CEO struggling to sustain energy through back-to-back meetings or a woman frustrated by stubborn weight gain and brain fog, my goal is always the same: activate the body’s innate intelligence so healing and performance can rise together.

As my work evolved, I knew I wanted to expand my reach—beyond individual transformation and into organizational change. That’s why I developed Thrive By Design™, our proprietary, biologically-informed wellness strategy for executives and their teams. We’ve talked a lot about burnout, but I want to be clear: it’s not just a mindset or motivation issue. Burnout is deeply physiological. The high blood pressure, blood sugar issues, sleep disruption, chronic inflammation—even the blood clots I’ve personally experienced—can all be downstream consequences of a high-stakes, sedentary, high-cortisol lifestyle. Burnout wears many masks, and when it’s allowed to persist, it does more than sap creativity and drive—it erodes physical health.

Thrive By Design™ helps leaders and their organizations reverse these trends by addressing the root biological factors that impact performance, resilience, and longevity. We’ve had the privilege of working with powerhouse companies like Liberty Mutual, DWEN (Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network), and Cigna to help inspire and transform leadership—because when executives are well, their companies thrive. And yes, the results show up not just in well-being but in measurable ROI: reduced absenteeism, stronger engagement, better decision-making, and a culture where excellence is sustainable.

I’m most proud of all the women I’ve helped reclaim their health and power—especially those who’ve been dismissed or told, “This is just part of getting older.” It’s not. You can feel vibrant again. You can lose the weight, regain your edge, and stop living in survival mode.

If there’s one thing I want you to know—it’s this: your well-being isn’t optional. It’s the engine behind your leadership, your impact, and your legacy. Let’s make sure it’s designed to last.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe my reputation has been shaped by a combination of compassionate persistence, deep knowledge, and a commitment to truly seeing people—not just their symptoms or struggles, but their potential. My personality is warm and welcoming, but also firm—I meet people exactly where they are, without judgment, and then help them envision where they could be. Even when it’s hard at first, I don’t give up on them. I keep digging until we uncover the real issue, whether it’s physiological, hormonal, or rooted in lifestyle patterns that have been overlooked for years.

That tenacity, paired with my medical training and personal experiences, gives clients the confidence that they’re in capable hands. But it’s not just about expertise—it’s about how I make people feel. I’ve been told that I bring inspiration, fun, and even a little lightness to topics that can feel heavy or overwhelming. That matters, especially when someone feels frustrated, discouraged, or like they’ve tried everything.

At the end of the day, I think people trust me because I offer a rare blend: someone who can interpret their lab results and also truly listen to what’s going on underneath. That balance of science, intuition, and genuine care is what I believe sets me apart—and why people stick with me on their journey, even when it’s not a straight line.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

For years, I thought I was the picture of resilience. I was a busy plastic surgeon, working long hours, seeing patients back-to-back, and juggling all the responsibilities that came with running a high-performing medical practice. But then, over the course of a single year, I was hospitalized three separate times for deep vein thromboses (DVTs) and pulmonary embolisms—serious, life-threatening events.

Each time, I did what I thought strong people do: I pushed through. I went back to work within days and even had a couch placed near my exam rooms so I could lie down between patients and conserve just enough energy to keep going. But let me be clear—that wasn’t resilience. That was stubbornness. That was me overriding my body’s warnings, believing that being “tough” meant being unstoppable, even if it was slowly breaking me down.

It wasn’t until the third hospitalization—when I truly wasn’t sure I’d make it out—that everything shifted. I had to confront the hard truth: this wasn’t just bad luck. My body was inflamed, depleted, and overloaded from years of chronic stress. The long hours, the constant pressure, the emotional weight of caregiving… it all had a cost. That near-death experience was the wake-up call I needed to step out of traditional medicine and into the world of lifestyle and root-cause healing.

That was the moment I began to understand what real resilience looks like. Not just bouncing back—but bouncing back better. I learned how to lower the inflammation, reset my hormones, support my body’s ability to heal, and create a life that was sustainable, not just successful on the surface.

Now, it’s the foundation of how I care for others. I teach my clients—especially high-performing women—that pushing through isn’t strength. Listening, adapting, and building a body and life designed to thrive? That’s resilience. And it’s a skill we can all learn—preferably before the wake-up call comes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.balancedperformance.pro
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsusanlovelle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsusanlovelle/
• Youtube: @BalancedPerformancewithDrSusan