{
  "id": 17498160,
  "title": "In Japan, body dysmorphic disorder can drive repeated surgery, daily distress",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/in-japan-body-dysmorphic-disorder-can-drive-repeated-surgery-daily",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-01T00:00:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20261030/p2g/00m/0li/031000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Japan, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) can lead individuals to undergo repeated cosmetic surgery and suffer daily distress, according to patients and mental health professionals. One such patient is a woman in her 30s who treats cosmetic surgery like a routine hair salon visit. She has had various procedures, including double-eyelid surgery, nose cartilage insertion, and liposuction. Another patient, in her 20s, experienced problems attending school and social situations due to appearance concerns, eventually seeking help at a Tokyo clinic run by psychiatrist Hiroaki Harai. BDD causes patients to be preoccupied with their appearance to the point of interfering with daily life, leading some to keep having surgery without feeling satisfied. Harai, who treats many BDD patients, emphasizes the pursuit of perfection and the need for better awareness and cooperation between psychiatry and cosmetic surgery clinics to identify and help those with the disorder.",
  "summary": "TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A woman in her 30s who sees cosmetic surgery as casually as a trip to the hairdresser is among patients highlighting the difficulty o",
  "key_points": [
    "Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) drives repeated cosmetic surgeries in Japan.",
    "Patients suffer daily distress and preoccupation with appearance.",
    "Psychiatrist Hiroaki Harai highlights need for better awareness and cooperation."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The cycle of repetitive cosmetic procedures highlights a critical need for better coordination between psychiatric specialists and surgical clinics to prevent patients from pursuing unattainable physical perfection.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}