Reimagining <i>Aesthetic Surgery Journal</i> as We Celebrate Its 30th Anniversary

We know where we’ve been these past 30 years and now it's time to use empiric data to determine our path forward. ASJ is in a position of abundant strength, thanks to the Editors in Chief who’ve come before me as well as the many others who have contributed to its success. We recently made it through a global pandemic, which gave authors more time to write, resulting in a huge increase in submissions, work, and publications that continue to grow year over year. Our goal is to reimagine ASJ in our ever-evolving digital environment, so we can maximize the benefits of marketing and advertising innovations. We now live in a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence (AI) and it is yet to be determined what may and may not be applicable and reproducible in our specialty. The number of submissions to ASJ about AI has skyrocketed, and our journal quickly became the go-to home for them. We intend to capitalize on technology, tools, and resources that will streamline processes, increase speed, maintain our high-quality standards, and fuel the next chapter of our flourishing journal. The time to innovate is now, and we intend to lead this charge in the coming years. It's January 2026, the beginning of a full year of celebration in honor of Aesthetic Surgery Journal's (ASJ) 30th anniversary. As we write, ASJ is the number one journal in both plastic and aesthetic surgery based on its Impact Factor—3.9. It began as The Aesthetic Society's quarterly newsletter—Aesthetic Surgery Quarterly—and now ranks 23rd of 321 journals published in the category Surgery, with a 2024 CiteScore of 6.5. ASJ continues to be a leader and innovator, never resting on its laurels and always placing emphasis on quality and white-glove service. From the inaugural publisher Mosby (Maryland Heights, MO) to Elsevier (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Sage (Thousand Oaks, CA), and now Oxford University Press (Oxford, UK), ASJ has progressed and matured under its editors-in-chief: Dr Robert Bernard (1991-1997, Figure 1), Dr Stanley Klatsky (1998-2008, Figure 2), Dr Foad Nahai (2009-2023, Figure 3), and Dr Jeffrey M. Kenkel (2024-present, Figure 4). Please join us as we wax poetic about the role we have played as its editors-in-chief, along with Dr Stanley Klatsky (deceased), and those who’ve contributed in significant ways to the Journal's success. Dr Robert Bernard, Aesthetic Surgery Journal editor-in-chief, 1991-1997. Dr Stanley Klatsky, Aesthetic Surgery Journal editor-in-chief, 1998-2008, presenting at The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s (now known as The Aesthetic Society) annual meeting in 2005. Dr Foad Nahai, Aesthetic Surgery Journal editor-in-chief, 2009-2023, photographed at The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s (now known as The Aesthetic Society) annual meeting in 2009. Dr Jeffrey M. Kenkel, Aesthetic Surgery Journal editor-in-chief, 2024-present. Our first duty is to thank The Aesthetic Society (the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, ASAPS) emphatically for its ongoing support and unwavering commitment to growing ASJ. Through the service of society members as authors, reviewers, and ambassadors, ASJ has enjoyed a wealth of accomplishments. We’d like to offer all members who’ve contributed throughout the years our sincere appreciation. Thank you to Bob Stanton, Sue Dykema, and Mark Theis, our talented executive leaders of The Aesthetic Society, each of whom has been a true partner and advocate of ASJ, along with attorneys Bob Aicher and Chris Nuland who have been a north star of ethics and legal opinion when we were in need. Scholarly publications cannot function without their most valuable contributors: section editors and editorial board members. They offer their service freely and without expectations beyond the improvement and expansion of the plastic surgery literature, which leads to improved patient outcomes and safety. We thank and salute all of you who’ve come and gone (and some who’ve remained for long stints!) throughout the years. You’ve made ASJ what it is today, and we will continue to make you proud in the years that follow. Each editor-in-chief has brought a distinct style, finesse, and expertise that has complemented ASJ in constructive ways. The “How I Do It” section, launched in 1996, allowed younger surgeons to learn clinical techniques from the “masters” and became a much-anticipated resource. In 1997, under the leadership of Dr Robert Bernard, ASJ increased its frequency from 4 to 6 issues per year, making it even more competitive and offering more content to readers, Figure 5.1 In 1999, the covers began to include original artwork, a feature that was maintained for some time, giving ASJ a new look and feel. Dr Foad Nahai (left) and Dr Robert Bernard (right) photographed at The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s (now known as The Aesthetic Society) annual meeting in 2009. By 2001, it became apparent that our international journal needed to devote even more resources to the global community to strengthen its submissions and cross-collaborations. Outreach began with the appointment of Dr Antonio Fuente del Campo as the first international editor and the creation of a new International Contribution heading for articles from authors outside the United States, which eventually included society logos to highlight member contributors from partner affiliates. This led to our international affiliate program, which started in 2002 when the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery adopted ASJ as its official publication. Growth continued and, by 2005, 4 other societies were partnering with ASJ. At that time, Dr Claudio Cardoso de Castro declared in an editorial: “… there is a new world leader among aesthetic journals.”2 This validation was rewarding and the editors pushed even harder to develop relationships around the world. Dr Klatsky created an interspecialty section of the editorial board and invited “cores” (non–plastic surgeon physicians who have completed accredited residency programs and are certified to perform aesthetic and reconstructive procedures) to partner with ASJ. These partnerships and affiliate society relationships continue to be a staple of ASJ today. Through the years, ASJ has been affiliated with more than 2 dozen international society affiliates and is the official English-language journal of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and The Rhinoplasty Society. Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) articles brought tremendous value to the Journal and helped ASJ remain competitive, offering additional avenues of learning and education. As the Journal and specialty continued to grow and hot topics emerged, new sections launched including Genital Rejuvenation (renamed Aesthetic Genital Plastic Surgery), Social Media (SoMe) and Behavioral Science, Research, and most recently in 2023, Aesthetic Breast Reconstruction and Artificial Intelligence. When ASJ turned 10 years old in 2006, an online manuscript submission system was introduced, improving the pace with which manuscripts were submitted and processed. These were the growing years, and the editors began to expand the editorial board, appoint new section editors, and more effectively promote ASJ at domestic and international meetings. The times were changing! In January 2006, ASJ published its first industry-sponsored supplement: “Restylane SubQ in Aesthetic Facial Contouring,” sponsored by Q-Med (now Galderma; Uppsala, Sweden). The contributions and financial support of industry in the form of advertising and sponsorships have kept ASJ financially robust, allowing it to continue to grow. In 2008, ASJ earned PubMed/Medline (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD) indexing, and in 2011, received its very first Impact Factor score: 1.469. A total of 95 articles were published that year, a number that ASJ now exceeds in submissions within a mere month. Having an Impact Factor allowed ASJ to compete better for submissions on the domestic and international stage since many academic institutions require papers to be published in a peer-reviewed journal with an Impact Factor. Dr Foad Nahai succeeded Dr Klatsky in 2009 (Figure 6), serving as editor-in-chief until 2023 (the longest-standing editor of ASJ). During his tenure, Dr Klatsky also appointed Dr Jeffrey Kenkel to serve in the newly created associate editor position. Dr Kenkel remained in that role until his ascension to editor-in-chief in 2024 and Dr. Julius Few became Associate Editor. Dr Foad Nahai (left) and Dr Stanley Klatsky (right) photographed in 2008. As manuscript submissions increased over time, more submissions required more editorial staff. Until then, only 3 staff were employed: Executive Editor Elizabeth Bernard (1996-2009), succeeded by Melissa Berbusse (2009-2014), and Managing Editor Hunter Alexander (2010-2020). By 2014, Phaedra Cress joined their ranks, succeeding Melissa as executive editor, and is now the senior director, publishing and global partnerships (2014-present, Figures 7 and 8). Other staff making up the ASJ team throughout the years include: Kyleigh Vrettos, Lexy Stang, Arza Seidel, Vicki Tedeschi, Laura Simpson, Bryan Nyary, Abby Pugh, Anastasia Cyzewski, and Matt Harris (Figures 9 and 10). Julia Sciortino and other part-timers have all assisted the journal in a myriad of ways. ASJ is indebted to them all for their contributions in making ASJ what it is today. In 2010 ASJ's publisher, Sage, upgraded the ASJ website, improving the reader experience so that the site was more readable and there was easier access to articles as well as a much-improved search function. This streamlined website precipitated a growth in readership and citations through the broader dissemination of content.1 Additionally, it was now possible to view videos on the site. Aesthetic Surgery Journal team at The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s (now known as The Aesthetic Society) annual meeting in 2014. Pictured left to right: then managing editor Hunter Alexander; then executive editor, now the senior director of publishing and global partnerships, Phaedra Cress; and then editor-in-chief, now editor emeritus, Dr Foad Nahai. Phaedra Cress, senior director of publishing and global partnerships, photographed in Gothenburg, Sweden at the European Association of Societies of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ESAPS) in September 2024 Aesthetic Surgery Journal team at The Aesthetic Society’s annual meeting, The Aesthetic MEET 2024. Pictured left to right: Abigail (Abby) Pugh, senior managing editor of ASJ; Phaedra Cress, senior director of publishing and global partnerships; Dr Foad Nahai, former editor-in-chief of ASJ and current editor emeritus, Dr Foad Nahai; Anastasia Cyzewski, managing editor of ASJ; and Matthew Harris, managing editor of ASJ Open Forum. Aesthetic Surgery Journal team at The Aesthetic Society’s annual meeting, The Aesthetic MEET 2025. Pictured left to right: Dr Jeffrey M. Kenkel, ASJ editor-in-chief; Phaedra Cress, senior director of publishing and global partnerships; Abigail (Abby) Pugh, ASJ senior managing editor, Anastasia Cyzewski, ASJ managing editor; Matthew Harris, ASJ Open Forum managing editor; and Dr Ryan Austin, ASJ Open Forum associate editor. In 2011, ASJ increased its publication frequency from 6 to 8 issues annually, permitting the journal to keep pace with the submissions. Also that year, the journal turned its focus to evidence-based medicine (EBM), now a permanent component of all articles, assigning each one a Level of Evidence from 1 to 5. In 2015, Dr Monte Eaves and Dr Achilles Thoma became co-editors of the EBM Hub, a new section that provided videos and articles on EBM and assessed ASJ articles to encourage the use of best practices and improve standards of high-quality evidence for statistical analysis, study design and methods, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the overall scientific rigor and validity of the work. Pointing out weak study designs that were poorly controlled or based on observational studies, for example, helped guide future ASJ authors to perform studies at a higher level, leading to stronger submissions. In 2024, 10% of all published articles were Level 1 or Level 2 studies. In 2015, Dr Bob Bernard wrote an ASJ editorial reminding readers of the adage “adapt or die.”3 Although the editorial was directed to practicing plastic surgeons, his advice is equally relevant to the continued success of ASJ and to ensuring it does not suffer the same fate as the Nigerasaurus, the ill-fated dinosaur described in his editorial, that became extinct. He advised: Remain relevant. Understand your demographics and make certain that you are providing the aesthetic services that your patients really want. Remain competitive. Know what your community peers are doing and the kinds of services they are offering. Don’t necessarily copy them but at least explore the success of their methodologies. Remember, competition is good and will keep you on your toes. Conduct patient surveys. Find out, from time to time, what your new and established patients do and don’t like about you and your practice.2 In 2016, Dr Nahai described his vision for ASJ's future as follows: The vision I hold for the Journal is that it will continue to be the most effective vehicle for bringing recognition to the clinical and scientific achievements within our field. We will never relent in our pursuit of quality or our demand for scientific integrity. We will stay on top of technology that enhances the educational experience. Perhaps most important, we will remain centered on aesthetic surgery patient care, safety and the quality of life.4 In 2016, ASJ began embedding videos in many of its articles, a much-needed tool for learning new techniques, earning CME credit, and educating readers about potential safety issues. Residents and fellows were especially interested in this format, often turning to RADAR Resource, where they could quickly find and save their favorite videos. ASJ created a YouTube channel where clinical technique videos along with author highlights and ASJ Journal Club videos were all readily available. ASJ has therefore created a vast historical repository of aesthetic plastic surgical and nonsurgical techniques and viewpoints, highlighting the approaches of key opinion leaders and innovators. Also that year, the Journal began publishing 10 issues per year and finally, in 2018, ASJ became a monthly publication—a major milestone in scholarly publishing. When ASJ Journal Club launched in 2008, it was led and moderated by its first lead next-generation editor, Dr Jason Roostaeian. A few years later, he was succeeded by Dr Cindy Wu and then Dr Ryan Austin and Dr Mark Albert (Young Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons moderator), and Dr Maryam Zamani and Dr Deniz Sarhaddi (discussion curators). Dr Zamani became lead next-generation editor and co-moderator in 2025 and Dr Sarhaddi became her co-moderator. A Social Media Ambassador section of the editorial board was created to respond to and facilitate more activity and conversations on social media and further expand ASJ's reach and global engagement. Phaedra launched the Journal's social media program in 2014, creating Twitter (now known as X; X Corp., Bastrop, TX), Instagram (Meta, Menlo Park, CA), and LinkedIn (Sunnyvale, CA) accounts and enhancing the existing Facebook (Meta) account. Today, social media is a critical vehicle by which ASJ is promoted both at the journal and article level. The ASJ Journal Club has become an anticipated feature of ASJ that helps highlight quality research and leaders in our field. The Journal’s social media efforts have been rewarded with both APEX and min's Editorial and its role in scholarly thanks to the of the ASJ In ASJ began content to that and articles, social and for 1 in Cress A and a to the ASJ's highlights the beginning of those efforts from to The Journal continues to be for its authors, and the Journal to a higher recognition is not In ASJ's Aesthetic Surgery a of ASJ, an from the American Society of Association a of which the honor in the category of annual The competition more than in In at the annual ASJ about the of a new access and began in with our publisher, Oxford University of those in leadership were of the to the and with the support of The Aesthetic Society, ASJ's editorial board, and the Society's publications ASJ Open Forum launched in January It has many years to our and editorial board members about the for and of an aesthetic access journal. 7 years of publication and our first Impact Factor under our the of ASJ Open Forum has been Impact Factor was it number out of journals in It has been number one in aesthetic surgery for the past 2 years. submitted to the journal and submissions from ASJ continue to grow. first editor-in-chief was Dr Foad Nahai, succeeded by Dr Kenkel, its current editor-in-chief is Dr with Dr Ryan Austin serving as Associate Editor. When ASJ turned we published an editorial like this on our were published in 6 from then, this like a based on the technology and was with the among scholarly In articles now online in about 1 and in their form which is the of ASJ's a new with a was and was included on each first throughout the year. We were to have a of papers in of very standards for we know that even more content was about to the It was a and time as were all to from home for what we be a few The started in and in CA) became to keep what become a at top were in to the for educational Our authors and editors contributed educational content on so that and domestic and international could continue to Dr and Dr both from Plastic Surgery in launched ASJ and Dr Nahai his time and expertise to educational as well as the ASJ Journal Phaedra Cress the ASJ ASJ continues with Phaedra as and the has an APEX for the quality of its The throughout the in an increase of ASJ articles, new and with the international It was to from and We also created a of ASJ Open to highlight our international In their they they and in the which created a global of the Journal and an for us to highlight and Also the pandemic, we out articles and in for ASJ, and for both ASJ and ASJ Open including and other continued until 2024, in an to and with our around the world. ASJ Open videos were to the ASJ YouTube in their and key from their published work. As it is with in a ASJ turned At that time, it an Impact Factor of it out of among all journals in the category of in 2026, the current Impact Factor is making ASJ the journal in both aesthetic and plastic In 2024, 10% of all published content were Level 1 and Level 2 studies, which an goal years The quality of submissions and the rigor of our has this have been some of the most achievements of The in Figure our most of major with a to a long will ASJ remain in a The of publication in academic publishing has the digital as a of content is and Our online have that publication has become most readers who the of the Aesthetic Society access ASJ In Oxford University Press of journal issues outside the United and all These are all that the for issues of ASJ is The of our advertising is to the to keep or do not online and digital is In a Scholarly article from us that publishing is to and will continue to issues until it is financially to do it is to continue by some who’ve us to It that the of of ASJ are but what that number may be This our de offering our readers a view of the of ASJ. It has been our sincere to serve The Aesthetic Society as its official publication. As we continue to reimagine our we readers to their with as is what helps make ASJ the best journal it can This is your journal as as it is and we remain and indebted to who has ASJ over the past 30 years. are better than we In of and with thanks to Dr Stanley Klatsky for his many contributions to Aesthetic Surgery Journal as editor-in-chief from to 2008. He is The authors declared potential of with to the and publication of this The authors received financial support for the and publication of this

Récupéré en direct depuis OpenAlex et désinversé. Les résumés ne sont pas conservés dans cette base de données : les index inversés représentent 8,6 Go des 9,3 Go de texte de la base, et le serveur dispose de 13 Go libres.