Tatsuro Kamakura, Director of Sacred Heart Beauty Clinic

Creating an environment that brings you closer to your goals is important

Director of Sacred Heart Beauty Clinic　Tatsuro Kamakura(Kamakura Tatsuro)

■ Profile

Originally from Miyazaki Prefecture, he is a director of the Japanese Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (JSAS). He oversees all 10 Seishin Cosmetic Clinics. In 2007, he performed the world's first adipose stem cell breast augmentation procedure. In 2016, he became the first Japanese cosmetic surgeon to receive the Best Paper Award from the prestigious American journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has also given numerous lectures overseas, including in the United States, France, and China.

With the motto "Cosmetic medicine with utmost sincerity," Seishin Cosmetic Clinic has been providing high-quality medical care since it opened in 1993. General Director Kamakura says it is important for everyone to have the awareness to play as a team. This way of thinking was apparently cultivated through sports during his student days. We spoke to the director, who oversees 10 clinics across the country, about the appeal of his job and the goals he is aiming for.

In 1, I entered the Faculty of Medicine at Miyazaki Medical College (now the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Miyazaki), but until I became busy with the national exams, I focused my life on basketball. My experience in middle school paid off, and I became captain, and we even won two consecutive tournaments. Basketball is a sport where one person's hard work alone is meaningless; it requires the entire team to act with a sense of ownership and consideration. Through this experience, I learned the joy of achieving something as a team. I believe that this experience has led me to think about results as a team, even when I work.

◾️Contributing to improving quality of life through cosmetic medicine

After graduating from university, I joined the Kyushu University Medical Department and worked in the Second Surgery Department for six years. At the time, the Second Surgery Department was rumored to be more rigorous and difficult than the First Surgery Department, but I thought, "If I'm going to work, I want to devote myself to learning while facing obstacles and struggling." In hindsight, it was because I was affiliated with that department that I later encountered the opportunity to become interested in cosmetic medicine. I would encourage everyone to adopt the mindset of "when in doubt, choose the difficult path rather than the easy one."

After working at a university hospital, I began working as a cosmetic surgeon. There are two crucial differences between cosmetic medicine and other medical specialties. The first is that anyone can objectively assess the results of the procedure by looking at the appearance. While only doctors with specialized knowledge can judge the results of internal organ surgery, including cancer surgery, cosmetic medicine is different in this respect. Whether the surgery was successful can be determined at a glance not only by the patient themselves, but by everyone around them. Because it's so easy to understand, patients' ideal visions of what they want to become become increasingly specific and complex. This is why those who provide medical care must constantly hone their skills.

The second point is that "cosmetic medicine is something you go to because you want to." Most of the reasons for going to the hospital are negative, such as not feeling well or to hear the results of detailed examinations. However, patients who visit cosmetic medicine are all people who come with the hope that "maybe I can achieve my ideal figure" or "maybe my worries can be solved."

Although the motivations for undergoing cosmetic medical treatment may differ from person to person, everyone shares the same desire to be reborn and improve their quality of life. I want to be a doctor who can meet those expectations. I believe that the satisfaction and sense of satisfaction felt by patients who have undergone treatment is an effective measure of our skills as doctors.

◾️Aiming to contribute to the industry through human resource development

Since 2004, I have been in the position of general director, supervising 19 doctors in 10 hospitals across the country, but it is not easy because each doctor has a different background and the sensibilities that have formed as a result. In addition, because surgery is a kind of "craftsmanship," I make every effort to maintain a high level of skill overall while making use of the "particularities" of each doctor.

Specifically, this means not unilaterally imposing methods for improving skills or ways of working, but rather concentrating on creating an environment that allows each doctor to move closer to their goals. I want to develop human resources who can accept differences in values, maintain a high perspective, and, when unsure of a choice, return to the criteria of "Is this the best choice for the patient?" and "Is this appropriate behavior for a member of Seishin Cosmetic Clinic?" I believe this sense of accomplishment will only be achieved when their leaps lead to the development of the aesthetic medical industry, so that may still be a while away (laughs).

Cosmetic medicine has been expanding since the 1980s, but the industry has changed dramatically in the 40-odd years since then. We are now in an era where the brand power of a major organization and the communication power of individual doctors are combined. In the future, we may see an increase in specialized clinics that specialize in a single field, as well as an increase in convenient clinics that are extremely committed to low prices. In this environment, Sacred Heart Cosmetic Clinic wants to continue to be a place where "you can come here and reduce any worries to as close to zero as possible, and turn your dreams into reality." We believe that a sense of security and trust are essential to achieving this.

◾️message

Considering the current climate, it seems nonsensical to draw a line just because you're a student. Increase your opportunities to interact with adults from a young age, and instead of hoarding the knowledge you gain, try practicing it through trial and error. When you enter society, you may be overwhelmed by the shift from "predetermined answers" to "things you create yourself." However, the experience of trial and error you gained through facing obstacles will surely support you. Cherish every moment and act with a spirit of inquiry.

Student Newspaper Special Edition, July 1, 2022 Issue, Japan Women's University, 7th year student, Kanda Rien