The journal's editor-in-chief is Foad Nahai (Emory University School of Medicine).

Aesthetic Surgery Journal evolved from an earlier publication that focused primarily on association news for the plastic surgeon membership of ASAPS and gradually grew to incorporate articles of clinical interest in aesthetic surgery.

Beginning in 1995, with an additional issue per year, the name was changed to Aesthetic Surgery Quarterly.

It was not until 1996, when ASAPS entered into a publishing agreement with Mosby, that a significant portion of this periodical was designated as the "Clinical Journal" devoted to peer-reviewed original articles.

Beginning in January 1997, publication was increased to six issues per year, and the name was changed to Aesthetic Surgery Journal.