AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY INC

What AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY INC does

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc. (d/b/a "The Aesthetic Society") is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional trade association founded in 1967 and headquartered in Garden Grove, California. It serves as a membership and credentialing body for board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons in the United States, Canada, and international markets, with over 4,000 active members who must hold certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or an equivalent international board. The society also serves secondary constituencies including plastic surgery residents and fellows, prospective patients seeking procedures, international aesthetic surgery societies, and industry partners such as device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.

The society's core offerings combine a digital platform with traditional professional society services. These include the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) and ASJ Open Forum — peer-reviewed publications ranked #1 among aesthetic and plastic surgery journals (ASJ Impact Factor 3.9); the Aesthetic Society Academy on-demand learning platform; patient-facing tools such as Find-a-Surgeon, Ask-a-Surgeon Q&A, and a before-and-after photo gallery featuring work from over 2,200 member surgeons; a 12-month Endorsed Aesthetic Fellowship program coordinated through SF Match; and the Global Alliance Partner Program connecting 50+ international aesthetic surgery societies. Patient education content spans body, breast, genital, head/face, and skin/hair procedures.

The organization generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues from its 4,000+ active members, registration fees for educational meetings and symposia (e.g., The Aesthetic MEET), subscription and open-access revenue from ASJ publications, advertising and sponsorships from industry partners such as Allergan Aesthetics, and fees associated with fellowship program coordination. Despite operating globally through its alliance program, it functions with a lean staff of approximately 10 employees led by CEO Mark Theis and COO Frank Im.

Name

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY INC

Legal name

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc.

Website

https://surgery.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (The Aesthetic Society) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional society founded in 1967 that serves over 4,000 board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons through membership, the #1-ranked Aesthetic Surgery Journal, fellowship programs, and the 50+ society Global Alliance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Association

akta.pro primary industry

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (ENT) (HLAKAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Plastics / Cosmetic & Dermatologic Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAK)

Keywords

• Professional medical society
• Continuing medical education
• Aesthetic surgery membership
• Medical journal publishing
• Physician professional development

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 dues from over 4,000 Active Members certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, plus International Active Members
2. Educational Meetings and Symposia: Registration fees for The Aesthetic MEET and Society Symposia, with discounted rates for residents and fellows ($100 resident rate)
3. Endorsed Fellowship Program: 12-month endorsed aesthetic fellowships at various institutions across the United States, some offering salary and malpractice coverage to fellows
4. Journal Publications: Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) and ASJ Open Forum (ASJOF) with stated impact factors of 3.9 and 1.9 respectively; ASJ ranked #1 among aesthetic and plastic surgery journals
5. Industry Partner Advertising and Sponsorships: Partnerships with companies in aesthetic medicine industry including Allergan Aesthetics, Applied Medico-legal Solutions RRG for member discounts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (The Aesthetic Society) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional medical society that serves over 4,000 board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons worldwide. It delivers professional membership services, continuing medical education (CME), peer-reviewed journal publications (Aesthetic Surgery Journal and ASJ Open Forum), endorsed fellowship programs, annual meetings and symposia, international collaboration through a Global Alliance Partner Program, and patient-facing resources including a surgeon directory, photo gallery, and educational content.

Product overview

The Aesthetic Society operates primarily as an educational and professional membership organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include: the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) and ASJ Open Forum as premier publications; the Aesthetic Society Academy for on-demand education; endorsed 12-month fellowship programs through SF Match; the Global Alliance Partner Program for international collaboration; and patient-facing resources including Find-a-Surgeon, Photo Gallery, Ask-a-Surgeon, and the Beyond The Before & After docuseries. The organization also publishes Aesthetic Society News as a newsletter for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) Peer-reviewed scientific journal featuring clinical techniques and scientific developments in aesthetic surgery, distributed via Oxford Academic.
• ASJ Open Forum Open-access publication platform for emerging research, case studies, and innovative approaches in aesthetic surgery education and practice.
• Aesthetic Society Academy On-demand learning platform providing educational content for medical professionals including non-CME content, webinars, and virtual learning resources.
• Endorsed Fellowship Programs 12-month aesthetic surgery fellowship programs endorsed by The Aesthetic Society, participating in SF Match for placement and following a standardized curriculum.
• Residents and Fellows Program Program providing residents and fellows with complimentary educational and support services, including journal access, discounted meetings, and networking opportunities.
• Aesthetic Society News (ASN) Society newsletter including news, events, practice management insights, and updates for members.
• Global Alliance Partner Program International collaboration program connecting The Aesthetic Society with over 50 partner societies worldwide for shared knowledge, ethical practice, and continuous learning.
• Find-a-Surgeon Directory Surgeon search directory allowing patients to find aesthetic plastic surgeons in their area who specialize in specific procedures.
• Photo Gallery Before-and-after photo gallery featuring results from over 2,200 member surgeons, organized by procedure type.
• The Aesthetic MEET Annual conference providing continuing education, symposia, and professional networking for aesthetic plastic surgeons.

Quantifiable outcome

• ASJ ranked #1 among all aesthetic and plastic surgery journals (Impact Factor 3.9)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Arab Association of Surgical and Medical Aesthetics (AASMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner program connecting aesthetic surgery organizations worldwide for shared education, best practices, and professional exchanges
• Asociación Argentina de Cirugía Estética (AACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner program for international collaboration in aesthetic surgery education and practice
• British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner with ASJ serving as official English-language journal
• International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing international aesthetic plastic surgeons
• Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (SBCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner with testimonials supporting alliance value
• Societa Italiana di Chirrurgia Plastica Ricostruttiva-rigenerativa ed Estetica (SICPRE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner with testimonials supporting alliance value
• Allergan AestheticsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlliance Partner providing endorsement for fellowship programs; Allergan Aesthetics logo displayed on endorsed fellowship page
• Applied Medico-legal Solutions Risk Retention Group, Inc (AMS RRG) / Preferred AestheticsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlliance Partner providing medical liability coverage tailored to aesthetic fellowship training programs; offers 7.5% discount on medical liability coverage for Aesthetic Society members
• Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing Australia and New Zealand
• Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (CSAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner; ASJ serves as official journal
• European Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ESAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing Europe
• Indian Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (IAAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing India
• Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing South Korea
• Chinese Medical AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing China
• IMCAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner for international aesthetic medicine conferences
• SF MatchcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for fellowship match services; residents apply through SF Match for Endorsed Aesthetic Fellowships
• Emirates Plastic Surgery Society (EPSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing UAE
• Association of German Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (VDÄEPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing Germany
• The Rhinoplasty SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner; ASJ serves as official journal
• French Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (SOFCEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing France
• Tongji University School of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Alliance Partner representing academic institution

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• European Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ESAPS): European regional society for aesthetic plastic surgeons; Global Alliance Partner with similar meeting, education, and member service model but serving European geography.
• Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS): Australia/New Zealand aesthetic plastic surgery society and Global Alliance Partner. Comparable member profile, journal affiliations, and patient-facing services, but operating primarily in ANZ region rather than competing directly in North America.

Broad incumbents

• American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS): Specialty society for dermatologic surgeons with overlapping scope in cosmetic/aesthetic procedures (Botox, fillers, lasers). Competes for members performing aesthetic procedures and industry sponsorship tied to the same aesthetic pharmaceutical/device vendors.
• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): Larger dermatology specialty society whose members perform a growing share of aesthetic procedures. Represents competitive threat from dermatologists expanding into surgical aesthetic territory historically dominated by plastic surgeons.

Direct peers

• International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS): Global society for aesthetic plastic surgeons; both an active Global Alliance Partner and a peer serving internationally practicing aesthetic surgeons with overlapping educational content, fellowship recognition, and practice resources.
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons: The broader parent specialty society for board-certified plastic surgeons in the US. Directly competes for aesthetic plastic surgeon membership and offers overlapping journals (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery), meetings, and educational programs serving the same member base.
• British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS): UK-based aesthetic plastic surgery society serving a similar member profile (board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons). Both a Global Alliance Partner and a direct peer offering audit, fellowship, and patient-facing Find-a-Surgeon equivalents.
• Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (CSAPS): Canadian national society for aesthetic plastic surgeons; Global Alliance Partner with ASJ as official journal. Comparable member profile (board-certified plastic surgeons), educational meetings, and patient-facing surgeon directory.

Emerging players

• The Rhinoplasty Society: Sub-specialty society for rhinoplasty surgeons with Global Alliance Partner relationship to ASJ. Represents the trend toward sub-specialization that could fragment The Aesthetic Society's general aesthetic membership into focused societies.

Others

• American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS): Certification body whose ABPS board certification is the gating credential for Aesthetic Society membership. While not a direct peer, ABPS controls the supply of eligible members and shapes the society's addressable population.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AestheticSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-society-for-aesthetic-plastic-surgery-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/theaestheticsoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY INC