Though it's hardly talked about in public, cosmetic surgery appears to be an increasingly popular option in Japan for people trying to enhance their looks and defy the signs of aging.
According to statistics released last December by the International Society of Plastic Surgeons, Japan ranked fourth in the number of cosmetic-surgery procedures performed annually, trailing the United States, Brazil and China. Doctors in Japan carried out an estimated 525,790 procedures in 2010, which ranged from liposuction to nose jobs, eyelid modifications and breast implants, in descending order of popularity. The same survey also noted that there were 1,831 plastic surgeons in Japan.
The 35th annual meeting of the Japan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (JSAPS), held earlier this month at a Tokyo hotel offered an intriguing look into this booming and diverse industry. During the 50 seminars, symposiums and panel discussions, as well as another 50 or so oral presentations given over two days, practitioners shared numerous case studies of patients, showing before and after — and mid-procedure — images and information.