A woman in her 30s in Japan regards minor cosmetic surgery as casually as a trip to the hairdresser. She is one of the patients bringing into focus the difficulties of identifying body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in the country.
According to experts, BDD is a psychological disorder characterised by an excessive obsession with one or more minor or imagined flaws in the body. People with the condition often seek cosmetic surgery repeatedly in the hope of correcting the perceived defect, yet the sense of dissatisfaction persists, and can even intensify after each procedure.
The case of the woman in her 30s illustrates how hard BDD can be to detect. She treats cosmetic surgery as an everyday habit, unaware that she has a psychological disorder that requires treatment. This reflects the situation in Japan, where BDD is often overlooked or mistaken for an ordinary desire to look better.
Doctors and psychologists say that a lack of awareness of BDD, combined with social pressure over appearance, leads many patients to pursue cosmetic interventions rather than seek psychological help. This is not only costly but can also lead to complications for both physical and mental health.
Identifying BDD requires in-depth psychological assessment, because patients often do not acknowledge that their problem is a mental disorder. Experts are therefore calling for additional measures to raise public awareness and to train medical staff to detect BDD early, helping patients access appropriate psychological treatment instead of overusing cosmetic surgery.
