Takumi Yasumoto, Special Supervisor at TCB Tokyo Central Cosmetic Surgery Clinic and Director of Sendai Ekimae Clinic

Special Supervising Doctor at TCB Tokyo Central Cosmetic Surgery Clinic Director of Sendai Ekimae Clinic Takumi Yasumoto(Takumi Yasumoto)

After graduating from Yamagata University School of Medicine, he worked in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at the university's affiliated hospital before becoming a cosmetic surgeon. He has been working as a doctor at TCB's first clinic, the Fukushima Clinic, since 2015. Drawing on the skills he developed in cardiovascular surgery, he provides beauty to patients as a TCB "special instructor" and plays a central role in group management as a member of the "TCB Management Committee."

TCB Tokyo Central Cosmetic Surgery has expanded to 72 clinics nationwide (including those scheduled to open) in just a few years since its founding in 2014, making it one of the top clinics in the beauty industry. Director Yasumoto, who has supported this clinic's rapid growth amid the highly competitive beauty medical industry, originally worked as a cardiovascular surgeon. We spoke to him about how he later became a cosmetic surgeon and the appeal of cosmetic surgery.

I spent my student days in Yamagata Prefecture. I was physically weak as a child, and hospitals were always close by, so I had always wanted to become a doctor. I entered the Faculty of Medicine at Yamagata University and studied there for six years. Yamagata Prefecture gets a lot of snow, so I rented a house within walking distance of the campus and lived alone. All my friends also lived near the university, so I remember hanging out with each other, studying together, and drinking together. The medical school is strict about credits, and I was filled with lectures from morning to night for six years, plus practical training, so I basically just studied by commuting back and forth between the university and home.

After graduating, I joined Yamagata University Hospital and worked in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery. I've always loved making things with my hands, so I was drawn to creative treatments that didn't simply involve removing organs, but instead involved connecting new blood vessels and repairing heart valves. The heart is a vital organ for the human body, and many of the patients who are brought in require emergency surgery. This means there are no days off in this job. I can't travel far, and I only get about two weeks off per year. Of course, the job is fascinating and rewarding, and I have great respect for those who are determined to pursue it. However, when I thought about my family and children, something happened that made me question whether I was truly making them happy and whether my life was right. This led me to consider a career change after five years of working in this field.

◼️Changing jobs to cosmetic surgery

While I was searching for a new job, I met Dr. Aoki, the current owner of TCB, and learned that he was looking for a cardiovascular surgeon to open a new varicose vein clinic. I applied, hoping to move into the field of varicose veins, which was my specialty, but the position had already been filled by another doctor, so at Dr. Aoki's recommendation, I decided to visit a cosmetic surgery clinic.

At that time, I had the opportunity to observe Dr. Aoki's double eyelid surgery, and the smile on the patient's face when they looked in the mirror for the first time after the procedure was so striking that it made me feel attracted to the job of a cosmetic surgeon. By performing the procedure myself, both the patient and I can see the results immediately, which is something that is common to my previous job, and I found it interesting, so I ultimately decided to pursue this job.
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the joy on my patients' faces and hearing their words of gratitude. For example, let's say a patient has undergone double eyelid surgery. Medically speaking, it's just another line added to their eye, but the double eyelids eliminate the complexes they've had for years and resolve the issues they've been carrying inside. Just one line can make you feel brighter and happier. This in turn gives patients more confidence and brightens their expressions. It also changes their way of thinking, making them more positive. They may try new makeup, try a different hairstyle, start studying fashion, or improve their relationships with friends, and little by little, they'll change.
When I meet patients one month after double eyelid surgery, their expressions, smiles, and hairstyles are noticeably cuter. I hope to be able to provide cosmetic medical care that can positively change the inner side of patients by changing their appearance in this way, and I believe that this is the greatest attraction and joy of cosmetic surgery.

◼️It is important to convey information correctly

In this day and age, some people are undergoing double eyelid surgery or laser hair removal even as young as elementary school students. The patient demographics and size are completely different from five or ten years ago, and we now live in an age where cosmetic surgery is more accessible and more readily accepted by a wider range of people. However, as it is surgery, there are of course risks. I want to fully explain these points and ensure everyone is satisfied before offering cosmetic surgery, so I believe it's important to provide information, including about the less casual aspects of this procedure, even though it has become more commonplace. For this reason, I also try to provide negative information. It's important for people to fully understand the risks, and I think it's okay for some people to decide not to undergo it. I want everyone to make the right choice for themselves after fully understanding the risks.

◼️Message

You can only get a block of free time during your student years, so I hope you will use it not only for studying but also for hobbies and travel. Also, it would be great if you could realize that who you are today is the result of the choices you have made in your life up to now, and become someone who can carve out your own path in life. Even if you think in hindsight that a choice may have been a mistake, it will serve as the foundation for moving forward. Whatever choice you make, whether it is a success or a failure, it would be great if you could continue to try various things. You can change direction at any age. If you are healthy, you can do anything in life.

I believe that being part of society means not blaming others, society, or the times, but rather accepting responsibility for all the choices you make.

Student Newspaper Special Edition July 1, 2022 Issue Chiaki Hata, 3rd year student at Tokyo University of Agriculture