Health · Mental Health · 2 hrs ago
Body dysmorphic disorder can fuel repeated cosmetic surgery in Japan
Two women in Japan describe the effects of body dysmorphic disorder, a condition that can make people intensely preoccupied with their appearance.
One woman in her 30s has had several cosmetic procedures and says she still wants more.
Social media images of influencers made her feel uneasy about how she looked, and she was diagnosed with the disorder about a year ago while seeking care for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Another woman’s appearance concerns kept her from school and going out, and could distract her during classes and job interviews.
She received medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, which helped her find it somewhat easier to walk through crowds.
Treatment can ease distress, but appearance concerns may remain, and some people may not realize their preoccupation is a disorder.
Body dysmorphic disorder can lead people in Japan to undergo repeated cosmetic procedures while remaining distressed about their appearance.
A woman in her 30s from the Kanto region has had several procedures and was diagnosed with the disorder about a year ago.
A woman in her 20s treated at the same Tokyo clinic said appearance concerns once kept her from attending high school and still affect her attention.
Psychiatrist Hiroaki Harai said many patients are still searching for the goal of the appearance they want.
- Who
- People with body dysmorphic disorder in Japan, including two women treated at a Tokyo clinic.
- What
- The article describes how appearance-related distress can drive repeated cosmetic surgery and disrupt daily life.
- When
- One patient was interviewed on Aug. 24, 2026; she said she was diagnosed about a year earlier.
- Where
- Japan, including the Kanto region and a clinic in Tokyo's Chuo Ward.
- Why
- The disorder can cause people to become preoccupied with their appearance to the point that it interferes with daily life.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The woman in her 30s underwent a series of cosmetic procedures, including double-eyelid surgery, nose cartilage insertion and liposuction.
Her interest in cosmetic surgery faded for a time, then returned.
She visited Hiroaki Harai's clinic in Tokyo for OCD treatment and was also diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder.
The woman in her 20s began attending the clinic at her parents' urging.
- First patient
- Woman in her 30s, from the Kanto region
- Procedures
- Double-eyelid surgery, artificial cartilage inserted into her nose, and liposuction
- Clinic
- Psychiatrist Hiroaki Harai's clinic in Tokyo's Chuo Ward
- Second patient
- Woman in her 20s, who received medication and cognitive behavioral therapy
What people are saying
I'm always thinking about which part I should 'update' next
I can't bear the idea of living with this face for the rest of my life.
I come here for treatment so I can survive in this world
Many patients who come to see us are still searching for the goal itself -- what kind of person they want to become