Commentary on: Who is Publishing in Facial Cosmetic Surgery? A Citation Analysis Across Specialties Over Five Decades.

Abstract

“But then science is nothing but a series of questions that lead to more questions, which is just as well, or it wouldn't be much of a career path, would it?”1 I enjoy an article that generates more questions and discussion than it answers. Such is the case with “Who is Publishing in Facial Cosmetic Surgery? A Citation Analysis Across Specialties Over Five Decades.”2 The authors seek to answer whether increased competition in the marketplace for cosmetic facial surgery procedures by otolaryngology, dermatology and ophthalmology is mirrored in the frequency of citations in facial aesthetic surgery in the peer reviewed literature of those same specialties. They found that plastic surgery had the highest percentage of citations across five decades in all aspects of facial aesthetic surgery, with the exception of rhinoplasty, which has favored otolaryngology since the year 2000. Additionally, all of the other specialties studied generally showed increasing percentages of citations with the passage of time. Thus, the increased competition for facial aesthetic procedures by these specialties seen in the marketplace is indeed mirrored by the frequency of similar journal publications. So, what does this …