Plastic Beauty Review: What It Gets Right About Japan’s Cosmetic Surgery Boom

Netflix's latest Japanese original series, Plastic Beauty, has quickly captured the attention of viewers, ranking at the top of Netflix Japan's Top 10 list. The eight-episode show delves into the provocative world of cosmetic surgery, offering a raw and shocking exploration of the subject matter. Early episodes showcase surgical procedures, questionable celebrity choices, explicit recovery scenes, and unsettling stories, including an elderly woman with cancer opting for full-body cosmetic surgery.

However, as the series progresses, its focus shifts from its initial critique of society's obsession with physical perfection to a more melodramatic family politics saga. By the finale, the central thesis appears muddled, evoking a sense of confusion in the way it concludes. While the drama struggles to establish a clear narrative direction, its true strength lies in its unvarnished reflection of contemporary Japanese society.

The series provides a stark depiction of the rapid growth and visibility of cosmetic surgery in the country. Gone are the days when such enhancements were performed secretly; now, they are prominently displayed across Japanese media and urban environments. From billboards advertising aesthetic clinics to the casual discussion of procedures on reality shows, the normalization of cosmetic surgery is evident.

This transformation is reflected in the character of Takeru, a middle-school-aged boy who yearns for double-eyelid surgery, demonstrating that cosmetic procedures are no longer limited to older individuals seeking age-related changes but are also sought by teenagers.

Plastic Beauty also highlights how specific professional environments in Japan often demand physical perfection, intertwining surgery with fame, entertainment, and nightlife. The show suggests that in many cases, cosmetic surgery is seen as a calculated business decision rather than a purely vanity-driven choice. This is exemplified by an aspiring voice actress who undergoes surgery to enhance her chances of securing an audition based on her appearance.

Moreover, the series explores the harrowing story of a model who undergoes a secret breast implant procedure only to die by suicide after the implant is discovered to have cancerous cells.

Moeno, an elementary school influencer, further exemplifies the relationship between plastic surgery and Japan's nightlife scene. She is coerced into livestreaming invasive cosmetic procedures to boost her popularity and engagement. Hostess culture and plastic surgery are closely intertwined in contemporary Japan, with top-earning hostesses often doubling as beauty influencers.

The show uncovers the hyper-commercialized nature of high-end aesthetic medicine, showcasing how clinics exploit vulnerable clients to profit from expensive treatments. The central narrative revolves around "God's Hand" clinic, where the head doctor, Rin Tohyama, claims to have inherited her surgical skills from her father and is often featured on television programs, reflecting real-world practices where celebrity doctors command premium fees.

While Plastic Beauty attempts to balance the harsh realities of Japanese beauty standards with the sense of empowerment that people may derive from undergoing procedures, it raises concerns about the seamless transition of cosmetic surgery from a personal choice to a mainstream norm. In a society that values social conformity, this shift poses a significant danger, as more individuals may feel compelled to undergo procedures in order to conform to rigid beauty standards.

The real danger lies in the fact that cosmetic surgery has become so normalized, the pressure to conform to societal beauty ideals places an increasing number of people in a vulnerable position.