Bibliometric analysis of research trends and emerging hotspots in plastic surgery publications

Abstract

Aim: The field of plastic surgery has experienced substantial growth in annual publications over the past decades. A comprehensive analysis of global publication trends is needed to map the evolving research landscape and identify future directions.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on publications affiliated with global plastic surgery institutions from 2001 to 2025, sourced from the PubMed database. Analyses of publication trends, geographic distributions, journal preferences, and research hotspots were performed using R (Bibliometrix) and CiteSpace.

Results: A total of 117,084 articles were identified, showing an 8.8-fold increase in annual publications from 2001 to 2025. China demonstrated the most rapid growth, with its share of global publications rising from 5.5% to 25.2%. Analysis of Journal Citation Reports (JCR) Q1 publications revealed similar growth, with China’s share increasing to 34.3% in 2025. Research hotspots have evolved from reconstructive techniques (e.g., perforator flaps) to molecular biology (e.g., nerve regeneration, targeted cancer therapy) and, most recently, artificial intelligence.

Conclusion: Plastic surgery research is dynamically evolving, characterized by increasing volume, a shifting global contribution led by China, and a transition towards molecular biology, regenerative medicine, and data science. Future efforts should focus on addressing methodological challenges and leveraging emerging technologies to advance personalized and regenerative treatments.

Keywords

Plastic surgery / bibliometric analysis / visual analysis

References

[1] 2024 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report. Available from: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2024/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2024.pdf. [Last accessed on 15 Jun 2026].

[2] ISAPS. Global survey 2024: full report and press releases. Available from: https://www.isaps.org/discover/about-isaps/global-statistics/global-survey-2024-full-report-and-press-releases/. [Last accessed on 15 Jun 2026].

[3] Aesthetic Medicine Market (2026 - 2033). Available from: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/medical-aesthetics-market. [Last accessed on 15 Jun 2026].

[4] Chartier C,Alhalabi B,Davison P.“Locoregional perforator flaps in breast reconstruction: an anatomic review & quadrant algorithm”.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg2022;75:1328-41

[5] Berkane Y,Saget F.Parasacral perforator flaps for buttock enhancement.Aesthet Surg J2023;43:NP64-5

[6] Rohrich RJ,Savetsky IL,Chung KC.Evidence-based medicine in plastic surgery: from then to now.Plast Reconstr Surg2021;148:645e-9

[7] Efanov JI,Ghazawi N,Borsuk DE.Publication rates and author characteristics from 3 Plastic Surgery Journals in 2006 and 2016.Ann Plast Surg2018;81:128-36

[8] Ma C.Trend and hotspots of plastic surgery guidelines: a bibliometric and visualization analysis.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg2024;93:242-5

[9] Zeng H,Lai C.Global and Chinese publications in plastic surgery journals between 2010 and 2020: a bibliometric analysis.Ann Transl Med2022;10:535 PMCID:PMC9201117

[10] Aria M.bibliometrix: an R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis.J Informetr2017;11:959-75

[11] Chen C.Searching for intellectual turning points: progressive knowledge domain visualization.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A2004;101:5303-10 PMCID:PMC387312

[12] Sukato DC,Ferzli G,Gordin EA.Systematic review of supraclavicular artery island flap vs free flap in head and neck reconstruction.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg2019;160:215-22

[13] Hartl DM,Silver CE.Minimally invasive techniques for head and neck malignancies: current indications, outcomes and future directions.Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol2011;268:1249-57

[14] van Rooij JAF, Bijkerk E, van der Hulst RRJW, van Kuijk SMJ, Tuinder SMH. Replacing an implant-based with a DIEP flap breast reconstruction: breast sensation and quality of life.Plast Reconstr Surg2023;152:293-304

[15] Parmeshwar N,Piper ML.Evaluation of pre-pectoral direct-to-implant breast reconstruction with post-mastectomy radiation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Med2025;14:5004 PMCID:PMC12295042

[16] Rusby JE,Gui GP.Nipple-sparing mastectomy.Br J Surg2010;97:305-16

[17] Ismail T,Kurlander DE.Profunda artery perforator flap tongue reconstruction: an effective and safe alternative to the anterolateral thigh flap.Plast Reconstr Surg2024;153:1191e-200

[18] Goh TLH,Cho JY,Hong JP.The search for the ideal thin skin flap: superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap--a review of 210 cases.Plast Reconstr Surg2015;135:592-601

[19] Nakagawa T,Kataoka-Sasaki Y.Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells promotes the survival of random pattern flaps in rats.Plast Reconstr Surg2021;148:799-807

[20] Matsui A,Winer JH,Frangioni JV.Predictive capability of near-infrared fluorescence angiography in submental perforator flap survival.Plast Reconstr Surg2010;126:1518-27 PMCID:PMC2974176

[21] Philandrianos C,Mordon S.Comparison of five dermal substitutes in full-thickness skin wound healing in a porcine model.Burns2012;38:820-9

[22] Mrigpuri S,Sendhil Kumaran M,Srivastava N.Four compartment method as an efficacious and simplified technique for autologous non-cultured epidermal cell suspension preparation in vitiligo surgery: a randomized, active-controlled study.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol2019;33:185-90

[23] Cubo N,Del Cañizo JF,Jorcano JL.3D bioprinting of functional human skin: production and in vivo analysis.Biofabrication2016;9:015006

[24] Abbas OL,Uysal ÇA.Adipose-derived stem cells enhance axonal regeneration through cross-facial nerve grafting in a rat model of facial paralysis.Plast Reconstr Surg2016;138:387-96

[25] Cho G,Maharajan N,Kim M.Effect of pre-induced mesenchymal stem cell-coated cellulose/collagen nanofibrous nerve conduit on regeneration of transected facial nerve.Int J Mol Sci2022;23:7638 PMCID:PMC9318960

[26] Zhang CH,Lu Y,Ma H.Exploration of rich-club reorganization in facial synkinesis: insights from structural and functional brain network analysis.Cereb Cortex2023;33:11570-81

[27] Vermorken JB,Rivera F.Platinum-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab in head and neck cancer.N Engl J Med2008;359:1116-27

[28] Machiels JP, Haddad RI, Fayette J, et al.; LUX-H&N 1 investigators. Afatinib versus methotrexate as second-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck progressing on or after platinum-based therapy (LUX-Head & Neck 1): an open-label, randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2015;16:583-94.

[29] Soulières D,Mesía R.Buparlisib and paclitaxel in patients with platinum-pretreated recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (BERIL-1): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial.Lancet Oncol2017;18:323-35

[30] Ho A,Hanna G.LBA47 A phase II study evaluating tipifarnib in mHRAS, recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)(AIM-HN study).Ann Oncol2023;34:S1286-7

[31] Burtness B, Harrington KJ, Greil R, et al.; KEYNOTE-048 Investigators. Pembrolizumab alone or with chemotherapy versus cetuximab with chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE-048): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study. Lancet. 2019;394:1915-28.

[32] Ferris RL,Fayette J.Nivolumab for recurrent squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.N Engl J Med2016;375:1856-67 PMCID:PMC5564292

[33] Yang W,Chen G.A dual encoder network with multiscale feature fusion and multiple pooling channel spatial attention for skin scar image segmentation.Sci Rep2025;15:22810 PMCID:PMC12217583

[34] Ren LJ,Chen LL.Artificial intelligence assisted identification of newborn auricular deformities via smartphone application.EClinicalMedicine2025;81:103124 PMCID:PMC11905851

[35] Ayuso SA,Zhang Y.Predicting rare outcomes in abdominal wall reconstruction using image-based deep learning models.Surgery2023;173:748-55

[36] Kim DY,Kim EK.Feasibility of anomaly score detected with deep learning in irradiated breast cancer patients with reconstruction.NPJ Digit Med2022;5:125 PMCID:PMC9399246

[37] Qiu X,Dai L.Assessment of an artificial intelligence mandibular osteotomy design system: a retrospective study.Aesthetic Plast Surg2022;46:1303-13

[38] Toesca A,Maisonneuve P.A randomized trial of robotic mastectomy versus open surgery in women with breast cancer or BrCA mutation.Ann Surg2022;276:11-9

[39] Yang R,Wu S.HOXB6 down-regulation induced by retinoic acid pathway repression leads to chondrocyte proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in microtia.Genes Dis2025;12:101367 PMCID:PMC11786823

[40] Terzis JK.Analysis of 100 cases of free-muscle transplantation for facial paralysis.Plast Reconstr Surg1997;99:1905-21

[41] Ross BG,Nedzelski JM.Development of a sensitive clinical facial grading system.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1996;114:380-6

[42] Schreiber JE,Garfein ES,Tepper OM.A novel approach to surgical markings based on a topographic map and a projected three-dimensional image.Plast Reconstr Surg2016;137:855e-9

[43] Zötterman J,Farnebo S.The use of laser speckle contrast imaging to predict flap necrosis: An experimental study in a porcine flap model.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg2019;72:771-7

[44] Pusic AL,Klassen AF,Cano SJ.Patient-reported outcome measures in plastic surgery: use and interpretation in evidence-based medicine.Plast Reconstr Surg2011;127:1361-7

[45] Cano SJ,Scott AM,Pusic AL.The BREAST-Q: further validation in independent clinical samples.Plast Reconstr Surg2012;129:293-302

[46] Jiang J,Ye Y.Stem cell secretome armed magneto-actuated micromotors as spatio-temporal manipulators for wound healing acceleration.Nat Commun2025;16:6754 PMCID:PMC12284248

[47] Li JY,Zhang WJ.Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells and their paracrine factors promote wound healing by inhibiting heat stress-induced skin cell apoptosis and enhancing their proliferation through activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.Stem Cell Res Ther2019;10:247 PMCID:PMC6688220

[48] Zhou X,Li T.Enhanced tissue infiltration and bone regeneration through spatiotemporal delivery of bioactive factors from polyelectrolytes modified biomimetic scaffold.Mater Today Bio2023;20:100681 PMCID:PMC10250921

[49] Wang Y,Yuan Z,Luo X.Identifying potential drug targets for keloid: a mendelian randomization study.J Invest Dermatol2025;145:77-84.e6

[50] Wang J,Tan X.Targeting PIM1 by Bruceine D attenuates skin fibrosis via myofibroblast ferroptosis.Redox Biol2025;82:103619 PMCID:PMC11993190

[51] Rocans RP,Bine E.Early postoperative increase in transforming growth factor beta-1 predicts microvascular flap loss in reconstructive surgery: a prospective cohort study.Medicina2025;61:863 PMCID:PMC12113236

[52] Shi G,Zhang L.Endocytosis-associated patterns in nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve injury.J Orthop Translat2021;31:10-9 PMCID:PMC8551787

[53] Shores JT,Lee WPA.Hand and upper extremity transplantation: an update of outcomes in the worldwide experience.Plast Reconstr Surg2015;135:351e-60

[54] Lin CH,Anggelia MR.Combined anti-CD154/CTLA4Ig costimulation blockade-based therapy induces donor-specific tolerance to vascularized osteomyocutaneous allografts.Am J Transplant2016;16:2030-41

[55] Huang CH,Chen RF,Liu KF.Cell therapies and its derivatives as immunomodulators in vascularized composite allotransplantation.Asian J Surg2024;47:4251-9

[56] Petit F,Hettiaratchy SP,Randolph MA.New trends and future directions of research in hand and composite tissue allotransplantation.J Am Soc Surg Hand2003;3:170-4