A study of the outcome of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery research grant program.

Since 1974, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has funded a competitive research grant program jointly administered by the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation. The grant program was initiated to provide "seed money" to researchers in aesthetic surgery. A written survey of all recipients over a 6-year period from 1985 to 1990 was conducted to assess the productivity of the grant program. The survey suggests that seed money grants are effective and that there is a high rate of peer-reviewed publication and national presentation of completed projects. Suggestions for improvement of the grant program are also presented.