Japanese doctors are moving into cosmetic medicine at a rate that has caught the attention of health officials and the broader medical community. Job postings in the cosmetic medicine field reached 2,627 in April 2026, representing a 6.2-fold increase from just 421 postings in April 2019, according to data compiled by recruitment firm Frog. This figure includes positions for doctors, nurses, and administrative staff, reflecting the sector’s rapid expansion.
The financial incentive is clear. Full-time doctors working in cosmetic medicine earn an average monthly salary of 1,411,523 yen (approximately 12,000 euros), roughly 420,000 yen more than the 987,736 yen average for doctors in other medical fields. On an annual basis, this gap exceeds 5 million yen, a substantial difference that is reshaping career decisions among medical professionals.
The cosmetic medicine market in Japan has grown considerably since the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical institutions listing cosmetic surgery as a specialty numbered 2,016 in 2023, up 44% from 2,020, according to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare data. Procedures such as Botox injections have become routine services, and demand continues to rise.
Boston Consulting Group forecasts the global aesthetic medicine market will expand from approximately $20 billion in 2024 to $27 billion in 2028, indicating that this trend extends beyond Japan’s borders. However, the concentration of cosmetic practices in major Japanese cities, particularly Tokyo, has created new challenges for the country’s healthcare system.
Beyond higher salaries, working conditions play a significant role in attracting doctors to cosmetic medicine. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare estimated that 15% of salaried doctors were on track to log 960 or more hours of overtime in 2025, the regulatory ceiling. In high-intensity specialties such as surgery, emergency medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology, that share rose to between 19% and 25%.
A phenomenon known as “chokubi” has emerged, in which doctors take positions at cosmetic medical institutions after completing only the two-year initial clinical training that follows medical school, without pursuing specialty training. This pattern means young doctors who would otherwise build experience in essential medical fields are choosing different paths early in their careers.
The shift toward cosmetic medicine is raising concerns about staffing shortages in essential healthcare fields and rural areas. Tokyo already has 358.6 doctors per 100,000 population, while Aomori Prefecture has only 194.4. In cosmetic surgery specifically, Tokyo has 3.5 aesthetic surgeons per 100,000 population, 3.5 times the national average of 1.0.
| Medical Field | Average Monthly Salary (Yen) | Overtime Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic Medicine | 1,411,523 | Lower |
| Other Medical Fields | 987,736 | 15% exceed limit |
| Surgery/Emergency/OB-GYN | 987,736 | 19-25% exceed limit |
Similar patterns have appeared in South Korea, where general practitioners without specialist credentials increasingly move into dermatology and cosmetic treatments. First-year residency positions in 2024 were filled at a rate of just 30.9% in pediatrics, 47.6% in cardiothoracic surgery, and 71.0% in obstetrics and gynecology, according to a study by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Popular specialties such as dermatology, ophthalmology, and plastic surgery recorded 100% fill rates.
The Japanese government is pursuing measures to secure essential medical staff, including training allowance programs. About 4,000 residents and fellows in essential specialties currently receive monthly training allowances, though the effectiveness of these programs in countering the financial appeal of cosmetic medicine remains to be seen. The concentration of medical talent in urban cosmetic practices, while reflecting individual career choices, poses questions about how healthcare systems can maintain staffing in fields that serve immediate and often life-saving needs.
