title: The Aesthetic Surgery Literature: Do Plastic Surgeons Remain at the Cutting Edge?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aesthetic surgery arena has become a competitive marketplace. Recognition as an authority in aesthetic surgery remains a powerful marketing tool for plastic surgeons, but have significant inroads been made by other specialties? The aims of this study were to analyze publication trends relating to the top five most commonly performed aesthetic surgical procedures, and to assess the origins (i.e., source specialty, authorship, institutions, and countries) of published aesthetic surgical research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the seventeenth annual multispecialty data set provided by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the top five most commonly performed aesthetic surgical procedures were selected. A temporal analysis of publication and citation rates, source institution and country, publishing journal, funding agency trends, and level of evidence was undertaken from 1970 to 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the search criteria, 7762 articles were identified. There was an 8.8-fold increase in publication volume when the first decade (n = 375) was compared with the last decade (n = 3326). Over the past four decades, 52.2 percent of publications (n = 4053 of 7762) originated from plastic surgery research institutions, with varying contributions from other specialties. Competition was greatest in relation to authorship of blepharoplasty- and rhinoplasty-related publications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although plastic surgeons continue to maintain a center-stage presence in terms of authorship of aesthetic surgical literature, significant contributions are now made by other specialties. Plastic surgeons must continue to foster high-quality, peer-reviewed research and innovations to maintain their visibility as leaders in the aesthetic surgery literature and sustain a competitive advantage in aesthetic surgery practice.
authors.affiliation: Dublin, Ireland; and Cleveland, Ohio.|From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Roisin T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.affiliation: Dublin, Ireland; and Cleveland, Ohio.|From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zins
authors.affiliation: Dublin, Ireland; and Cleveland, Ohio.|From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic.
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D001319:Authorship; D004954:Esthetics; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D066231:Surgeons / Q000592:standards*