What American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery does

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, operating as "The Aesthetic Society," is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 1967 and headquartered in Garden Grove, California. The organization serves board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons as its primary members, with 2,200+ surgeons represented across its platform, alongside patients seeking aesthetic procedures as a secondary audience. The society functions as the credentialing and standards body for the aesthetic surgery specialty, requiring board certification and surgical privileges at accredited facilities for membership. It operates a charitable arm, The Aesthetic Foundation, focused on education, research, and patient safety initiatives.

The society's core product is an integrated digital ecosystem comprising the public consumer website (theaestheticsociety.org), a member portal (members.theaestheticsociety.org), the Aesthetic Society Academy on-demand learning platform, the AestheticConnect professional community, and two peer-reviewed journals — Aesthetic Surgery Journal (Impact Factor 3.9, #1 ranked in the field) and ASJ Open Forum (Impact Factor 1.9). Supporting products include a Photo Gallery featuring work from 2,200+ member surgeons, a Find-a-Surgeon directory, Ask-a-Surgeon Q&A, an online store selling branded merchandise and patient brochures, and the "Beyond The Before & After" docuseries.

The revenue model combines recurring membership dues, journal publication and subscription revenue, meeting and symposia registration fees (anchored by The Aesthetic MEET), merchandise sales, and industry partnership/sponsorship programs. The society extends its reach globally through the Global Alliance Partner Program, which connects it with 50+ international aesthetic surgery societies across all continents, with 23 new partners added in 2025. Free Residents and Fellows programs in the US/Canada and select international markets serve as a pipeline-building mechanism for future members. Leadership comprises CEO Mark Theis and COO Frank Im, supported by an elected Board of Directors drawn from the surgeon membership.

Name

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Legal name

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc.

Website

https://theaestheticsociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Aesthetic Society is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association serving 2,200+ board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons with education, peer-reviewed journals, community tools, and patient-facing resources, while operating a Global Alliance of 50+ international society partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Association Services

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Cosmetic Dermatology (Aesthetic Injectables) (HLAKACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Beauty & Personal Care Skills (Makeup, Skincare, Hair Styling) (EDAAAGAM)

Keywords

• Aesthetic plastic surgery
• Professional medical association
• Continuing medical education
• Peer-reviewed surgical journals
• Physician membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Garden Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for active surgeons, international members, and affiliated specialists. Members receive access to journals, education, meetings, and member-only resources.
2. Publications and Journals: Revenue from the Aesthetic Surgery Journal and related publications, including subscription access and article publication fees.
3. Educational Programs and Meetings: Registration fees for The Aesthetic MEET, symposia, webinars, and educational events. Residents and fellows receive discounted or complimentary access.
4. Online Store - Merchandise: Sales of branded merchandise including consultation folders, membership certificates, plaques, scarves, ties, and personalized mailing labels exclusively to members.
5. Patient Brochures: Sales of procedure brochures (Abdominoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, etc.) in packs of 50 to members for patient education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Aesthetic Society is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association that serves board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons through membership, continuing medical education, peer-reviewed publications, professional networking events, and an online store. It also serves consumers via patient education resources and a Find-a-Surgeon directory that connects patients with member surgeons.

Product overview

The Aesthetic Society operates a comprehensive digital platform serving aesthetic plastic surgeons and patients. The core offering consists of a membership-based website with patient education resources, surgeon finder functionality, and procedure information organized across Body, Breast, Genital, Head & Face, and Skin & Hair categories. Supporting products include The Aesthetic Society Academy (an on-demand educational platform with webinars and Master Classes), AestheticConnect (professional community), two peer-reviewed journals (Aesthetic Surgery Journal and ASJ Open Forum), and an Online Store offering member merchandise including brochures, certificates, and plaques. Additional programs serve residents and fellows, and a Global Alliance Partner Program facilitates international collaboration with 50+ societies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aesthetic Society Academy: The organization's on-demand learning platform offering educational content, webinars, master classes, and professional development resources for aesthetic plastic surgeons.
• AestheticConnect
• The Aesthetic Foundation
• The Aesthetic MEET
• Global Alliance Partner Program

Products and services

• Aesthetic Society Membership Annual membership for board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons providing access to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Academy, The Aesthetic MEET, committees, and member-only resources.
• Aesthetic Society Academy On-demand learning platform offering masterclasses, webinars, AlliedPro forums, symposia, and conference recordings for aesthetic plastic surgeons seeking CME and professional development.
• Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) Peer-reviewed monthly journal publishing clinical studies and innovative techniques in aesthetic surgery; ranked #1 in the field with an Impact Factor of 3.9.
• ASJ Open Forum Open-access peer-reviewed international journal for emerging research, case studies, and innovative approaches in aesthetic surgery, with an Impact Factor of 1.9.
• The Aesthetic MEET Annual conference and educational event bringing together aesthetic plastic surgeons for CME, networking, and professional development.
• Global Alliance Partner Program International collaboration network with 50+ plastic surgery societies across all continents offering education exchange, research sharing, co-branding, and professional networking.
• Find-a-Surgeon Directory Searchable directory allowing patients to locate board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon members by location and procedure specialty, with surgeon profiles and before/after galleries.
• AestheticConnect Community Online community platform for members to network, collaborate, and participate in committee work and professional discussions within the aesthetic surgery specialty.
• Patient Procedure Brochures Educational brochures covering popular aesthetic surgical procedures (Abdominoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction, Eyelid Surgery, Facelift, Liposuction, Nose Surgery) sold exclusively to members for use in patient consultations.
• Aesthetic Society Online Store Member-exclusive e-commerce store offering membership certificates, plaques, consultation folders, logo merchandise (ties, scarves), personalized mailing labels, and patient procedure brochures.
• Residents and Fellows Program Free enrollment program for plastic surgery residents and fellows in accredited U.S./Canadian and international training programs, providing journal access, educational resources, networking, and discounted meeting registration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aesthetic Surgery Journal ranked #1 among aesthetic and plastic surgery journals with Impact Factor of 3.9
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Global Alliance Partner Program (50+ International Societies)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Global Alliance Partner Program connects The Aesthetic Society with 50+ international plastic surgery societies across all continents. The program provides educational opportunities, collaborative learning, research sharing, and professional networking. Partners gain access to ASJ Open Forum, co-branding opportunities, and member exchanges. In 2025, 23 new partners joined the program.
• Arab Association of Surgical and Medical Aesthetics (AASMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership with Arab Association representing aesthetic surgery professionals in Middle East region.
• Asociación Argentina de Cirugía Estética (AACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Argentine Association of Aesthetic Surgery for regional collaboration and education exchange.
• Asociación Española de Cirugía Plástica Estética (AECEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Spanish Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
• International Master Course on Aging Science (IMCAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with IMCAS for international conferences and educational programs in aesthetic medicine and surgery.
• International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ISAPS, a leading global organization in aesthetic plastic surgery education and standards.
• British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UK-based BAAPS for European collaboration and best practices exchange.
• Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Australasian society for Pacific region collaboration.
• Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (SBCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery for Latin American collaboration.
• Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (KSAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Korean society for Asia-Pacific regional collaboration.
• Indian Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (IAAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Indian association for South Asian regional collaboration.
• Chinese Medical AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CMA for Chinese market collaboration and education exchange.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS): UK-based national society for aesthetic plastic surgeons, listed as a Core Global Alliance partner of ASAPS. Operates as the same specialty-association model serving British aesthetic surgeons, with comparable journal, patient education, and surgeon finder offerings.
• International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS): The global professional society for aesthetic plastic surgeons, with which ASAPS maintains a Core strategic partnership. ISAPS runs international congresses, fellowship training, and aesthetic surgery education that directly overlap with ASAPS's mission and member value proposition.
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS): The closest direct peer: the leading US-based professional society for board-certified plastic surgeons, with overlapping member base (many surgeons hold dual memberships) and parallel offerings including journal (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery), Plastic Surgery The Meeting, and patient education resources.

Broad incumbents

• American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS): Larger, broader specialty society representing facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons. While not exclusively aesthetic, its members overlap with ASAPS on facial aesthetic procedures (facelift, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery), competing for surgeon membership and meeting attendance in a directly adjacent niche.
• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): Larger specialty society whose dermatology members increasingly perform aesthetic procedures (Botox, fillers, lasers) that overlap with ASAPS members. AAD's larger membership base (20,000+) and broader training programs make it a competitive threat in the injectables/non-surgical aesthetics space.

Regional players

• Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS): Regional society covering Australia and New Zealand aesthetic plastic surgeons; shares the ASAPS acronym and is a Core Global Alliance partner. Same specialty-association model but serving the Australasian Pacific region rather than the Americas.
• Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (KSAPS): National aesthetic plastic surgery society in South Korea, listed as a Core Global Alliance partner. Comparable specialty-association structure with similar journal, education, and credentialing functions but operating primarily in the Korean market, where K-beauty and K-plastic surgery drive significant procedure volume.
• Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (SBCP): Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, listed as a Core Global Alliance partner. Comparable national specialty-association model serving one of the world's largest aesthetic procedure markets, with overlapping educational and credentialing missions in the Latin American region.

Emerging players

• International Master Course on Aging Science (IMCAS): For-profit international congress and education platform for aesthetic medicine and surgery, listed as a Core Global Alliance partner of ASAPS. IMCAS represents the commercial model that competes with traditional specialty societies on continuing education delivery and event revenue.

Others

• The Aesthetic Foundation: Wholly-owned nonprofit charitable affiliate of The Aesthetic Society, focused on funding education, research, and patient safety initiatives in aesthetic plastic surgery. Functions as the research-grant and patient-safety extension of ASAPS's mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AestheticSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theaestheticsociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/theaestheticsoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery