Dr. Tōru Asō, Who Once Said 'Get a Breast Augmentation If You're Buying a Birkin,' Now Claims 'Clinics Offering Aquafilling Are Sh*t'? Warns of 'Nightmare Correction Surgeries' as Injected Material 'Moves to the Back'

A YouTube channel titled 'Women Pursuing Beauty - Experiencer × Specialist Doctor Podcast,' operated by Kirei Repo, a major media platform for aesthetic medicine, has sparked attention with a recent dialogue episode featuring a candid statement from a breast augmentation specialist.

"Let me be honest. Clinics that offer Aquafilling? They're sh*t."

— This blunt remark comes from Dr. Tōru Asō (MD, PhD, Founding President of the Japan-Korea Society of Aesthetic Medicine), the so-called "pioneer of breast augmentation" and Chief Medical Director at Tokyo Beauty Surgery, known previously for his controversial slogan "Get a breast augmentation if you're buying a Birkin." Overseeing more than 110 clinics under the Tokyo Beauty Surgery group, Dr. Asō developed minimally painful same-day breast augmentation procedures and has handled numerous corrective cases from other clinics. Now, he is sounding the alarm over the quietly growing trend of injection-based breast augmentation.

Why Dr. Asō, the Pioneer of Breast Augmentation, Spoke Out So Forcefully

Dr. Asō strongly criticizes so-called "non-absorbable" injectable breast augmentation procedures like Aquafilling, which gained popularity for a time.

"Hyaluronic acid was originally meant to dissolve and be reabsorbed by the body. But materials like Aquafilling were marketed as 'non-absorbable.' From the standpoint of a board-certified plastic surgeon, injecting such substances was unthinkable from the start, and I've been warning about this for years."

This is a warning born from over two decades of specializing in breast augmentation and personally handling countless corrective surgeries from other clinics.

The Reality of Correction Surgery: "The Injected Material Moves All the Way to the Back"

Dr. Asō's primary concern is that injected substances can migrate within the body.

"With injection-based augmentation, the material moves around inside the body, distorting the breast shape. It can even travel as far as the back. Right now, I'm dedicating most of my efforts to correcting these cases, but it's extremely difficult."

While such procedures may seem inexpensive and convenient at first, corrections require significant time and expense. Dr. Asō warns, "If patients undergo unnecessary treatments and fall into a 'correction spiral,' they end up spending double the time and money."

"Even Doctors Who Don't Understand Anatomy Can Do It" — The Pitfall of the Injection Boom

Why did these procedures become so widespread? Dr. Asō points to structural issues behind the recent "injection boom."

"Many people are hesitant about surgical procedures involving scalpels. That's where 'easy' injections come in. But injection augmentation only increases volume, so even doctors who don't understand human anatomy can perform it."

The result, he says, is "many patients left in tears." These are complications that could have been avoided with proper knowledge.

"That's exactly why I'm speaking out—to reach those who are suffering and tell them, 'Please come to us.' I want people to understand that making a hasty choice can lead to regret."

In an Era Where '1 in 3 People Get Cosmetic Surgery,' How to Avoid Regret

The show is hosted by Harutamu, a public figure who has spent over 20 million yen on cosmetic procedures. Drawing from his own experiences with numerous treatments and failures, he poses real, pressing questions to medical experts.

"Nowadays, one in three people gets cosmetic surgery. I want to deliver honest, realistic stories that people usually can't ask about," says Harutamu.

The candid insights from a leading authority in breast augmentation, drawn directly from clinical experience, could serve as a crucial reference for anyone considering aesthetic medicine.

※The views expressed in this article are those of Dr. Tōru Asō alone and do not constitute a blanket condemnation of any specific treatment or medical institution. The suitability of any procedure should be determined individually through consultation with a qualified physician.

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<Video Information>

Channel Name: "Women Pursuing Beauty - Experiencer × Specialist Doctor Podcast"

Release Date: May 22, 2026 (Fri)

Episode Link: https://youtu.be/y-3FB7MxkbI?si=txlYal7PLZeL00MZ

<Guest Profiles>

Tōru Asō (Asō Tōru): Chief Medical Director, Tokyo Beauty Surgery; Chairman, Higashibi-kai Medical Corporation. Earned his PhD from the Graduate School of Medicine at Keio University. Recognized as the "pioneer of breast augmentation" for developing minimally invasive same-day procedures, with numerous academic presentations and international lectures. Founding President of the Japan-Korea Society of Aesthetic Medicine.

https://www.instagram.com/asoutoru

Harutamu: Charismatic influencer and former member of Japan's top 'kuro gyaru' (black glam) idol unit, who also gained attention on the entrepreneurship reality show 'Nontitle'.

https://www.instagram.com/harutamu02/

<Content Provider>

Company: XIAN, Inc.

Representative: Takashi Yabumoto, CEO

Address: Ceravi Gotanda Building 2F, 2-13-6 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0031

Business: Aesthetic medicine platform services, clinic support services

Corporate URL: https://xian.inc/

Service Operated: "Kirei Repo" https://kireireport.com/

※Comments featured in this release are personal opinions and views expressed by participants in the YouTube program and do not represent official statements from the company.