American Academy Of Cosmetic Surgery, Inc.

Name

American Academy Of Cosmetic Surgery, Inc.

Legal name

American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

Website

https://www.cosmeticsurgery.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) is a 501(c)(3) professional membership association founded in 1985 that operates the only certified post-residency cosmetic surgery fellowships and provides continuing education, certification pathways, and professional resources for cosmetic surgeons, residents, and allied health professionals in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Professional Association

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Plastics / Cosmetic & Dermatologic Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAK)

Keywords

• Cosmetic surgery education
• Medical fellowship programs
• Professional medical association
• Continuing medical education
• Surgical training certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships & Advertising: Corporate sponsorships for the Annual Scientific Meeting, corporate partnership programs, and advertising opportunities through the organization's platforms and publications.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from multiple tiers: Fellow ($1,200/year), Physician ($1,000/year), Allied Health ($275/year), New Surgeon ($450/year), and Resident ($0/free). Revenue is recurring on an annual basis.
3. Annual Scientific Meeting Revenue: Revenue from attendee registration fees, exhibitor booth fees ($4,300-$5,500 per 10'x10' booth), and sponsorship packages at various levels including Platinum, Gold, Silver tiers.
4. Foundation Donations: Tax-deductible donations to the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation at various levels: Webster Society ($1,200), Leader ($750), Ambassador ($500), Advocate ($250), Supporter ($25-$100), and named research grants ($5,000/year).
5. Continuing Medical Education: Revenue from CME-accredited educational programs including Annual Review Course, WebClinics, webinars, and in-person courses and workshops for medical professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) is a nonprofit professional medical association that provides post-residency fellowship training, continuing medical education, board certification pathways, and an annual scientific meeting for cosmetic surgeons and allied health professionals. It operates membership tiers, a digital library of educational content, and a Find-a-Surgeon directory connecting consumers with member surgeons across the United States.

Product overview

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) is a professional medical association, not a commercial product company. Its core offerings consist of educational and professional development services for cosmetic surgeons: AACS Fellowship Programs (General and Facial Cosmetic Surgery), the Annual Scientific Meeting, WebClinics & Webinars, Digital Library, Annual Review Course, and In-Person Courses & Workshops. Supporting services include Find a Surgeon (member directory), Membership Programs (Fellow, Physician, Allied Health, Resident, New Surgeon tiers), American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery (peer-reviewed journal), Career Center (job board), and the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation (research/education arm). The organization focuses on physician education, training certification, professional standards, and patient safety in cosmetic surgery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AACS Fellowship Programs Post-residency clinical training programs in General Cosmetic Surgery and Facial Cosmetic Surgery, providing hands-on training under expert mentors to prepare physicians for careers in cosmetic surgery. These are the only certified cosmetic surgery fellowships fully preparing graduates for the specialty.
• Annual Scientific Meeting Annual multidisciplinary conference held each winter focusing on current issues, controversies, and advances in cosmetic surgery. Includes the annual business meeting with officer installations and draws 60+ exhibitor companies.
• WebClinics and Webinars Live online educational sessions hosted by cosmetic surgery experts offering CME credit and contact hours for medical professionals. WebClinics offer CME Credit while Webinars offer Contact Hours.
• Digital Library On-demand educational platform providing access to hundreds of original videos, recordings of past live workshops, lectures, webinars, and surgical videos covering all aspects of cosmetic surgery.
• Cosmetic Surgery Annual Review Course Three-day online course teaching best practices for popular cosmetic surgery procedures and newest techniques, designed for intermediate to advanced cosmetic surgeons and as preparation for American Board of Cosmetic Surgery exams.
• In-Person Courses and Workshops Limited-capacity hands-on training workshops including cadaver labs, body procedures workshops, and rhinoplasty cadaver workshops providing in-depth instruction on cosmetic surgery procedures and techniques.
• Find a Surgeon Searchable directory of AACS member surgeons searchable by primary surgical specialty, area of focus, city, postal code, country, and state/province to help patients find qualified cosmetic surgeons.
• Membership Programs Professional membership tiers including Fellow ($1,200/year), Physician ($1,000/year), Allied Health ($275/year), New Surgeon ($450/year), and Resident (Free) categories providing access to education, networking, certification, and Academy resources.
• American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery Peer-reviewed medical journal featuring articles on state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery procedures, topics, and breakthroughs written by distinguished experts in the field.
• Career Center Job board and career resources for cosmetic surgery professionals including residency and fellowship career resources and practice management resources.
• Cosmetic Surgery Foundation 501(c)(3) organization serving as the research and education arm of AACS, funding research grants, scholarships, patient safety initiatives, and training programs. Has awarded over $1 million in research and educational grants since its formation in 2000.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million awarded in research and educational grants since 2006
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Sono BellocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSono Bello serves as the Platinum Meeting Sponsor and 2026 Sustaining Sponsor of AACS, providing significant financial support for the Annual Scientific Meeting and ongoing organizational initiatives. This is the highest tier of corporate sponsorship.
• Allergan AestheticsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Meeting Sponsor for the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, participating in Satellite Symposiums and Industry Stage presentations. Allergan provides aesthetic product education and corporate support.
• CareCreditmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Meeting Sponsor and supporter of the Webster Society Gala Dinner. CareCredit provides patient financing options relevant to cosmetic surgery patients.
• Doctor.comminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred partnership providing digital marketing and patient acquisition services for AACS member practices.
• American College of SurgeonsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint provider for CME credits for the Annual Scientific Meeting, providing accreditation for continuing medical education programs.
• American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary board certification body for cosmetic surgeons, AACS encourages members to become board certified through ABCS and supports the certification pathway.
• American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery (ABFCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard certification body for facial cosmetic surgeons, AACS encourages members to pursue certification through ABFCS as part of professional development.
• Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState-of-the-art simulation facility in downtown Tampa hosting pre-meeting cadaver workshops for the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons: The largest U.S. professional society for plastic surgeons. Directly comparable as a specialty medical membership organization serving cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons, with overlapping CME, fellowship, and advocacy offerings, though AACS represents a broader multi-specialty constituency.
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery: Larger specialty society serving dermatologic surgeons who perform cosmetic procedures. Comparable as a professional membership organization with annual meetings, fellowships, and CME, with significant overlap on the cosmetic/aesthetic side of practice.
• International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: Global society for board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons. Comparable in offering annual scientific meetings, fellowship education, and certification pathways in cosmetic surgery, but with international rather than U.S.-centric scope.
• American College of Surgeons: Major general surgery professional organization that partners with AACS on joint CME accreditation for the Annual Scientific Meeting. Comparable as a large surgical membership/education body, though much broader in surgical specialty coverage.
• American Academy of Dermatology: Large professional society for dermatologists, many of whom perform cosmetic procedures (Botox, fillers, laser). Comparable as a U.S. specialty medical membership organization with annual meetings, fellowship training, and CME that overlaps AACS's cosmetic procedure scope.

Direct peers

• The Aesthetic Society: Specialty society for board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons. Closely comparable to AACS in mission (advancing cosmetic/aesthetic surgery education and standards), membership model, annual meeting, and CME programming, but with a plastic-surgery-only focus.
• American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Specialty society for facial plastic surgeons, overlapping with AACS's Facial Cosmetic Surgery fellowship track. Comparable as a membership organization offering fellowship directories, CME, and annual meetings targeting cosmetic surgeons of the face and head.

Emerging players

• American Board of Cosmetic Surgery: Board certification body closely allied with AACS (members encouraged to certify through ABCS). Comparable in the cosmetic surgery specialty ecosystem but focused on credentialing rather than the broader membership, fellowship, and meeting portfolio AACS operates.

Regional players

• American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Professional society for oral/maxillofacial surgeons, one of the source specialties feeding into AACS's multi-specialty fellowship model. Comparable in operating as a membership society with CME, meetings, and advocacy for a defined surgical specialty.

Others

• International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery: Global umbrella organization coordinating national plastic/aesthetic surgery societies. Comparable as an adjacent professional society serving the same surgeon community through international congresses, though broader and more federation-like than AACS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AACS_News
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_a1kvQ6folrY9E0Z2HPvyg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AACS1985
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-academy-of-cosmetic-surgery
• Instagraminstagram.com/aacs_cosmeticsurgery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Academy Of Cosmetic Surgery, Inc.