Created for expats living in Japan

Plastic Surgery Tokyo: English-Speaking Surgeons

There are a number of plastic surgery clinics in Tokyo that have English-speaking staff and are well-accustomed to dealing with international clients. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most popular plastic surgery clinics in Tokyo as well as common procedures available in Japan.

Where to Find English-Speaking Plastic Surgeons in Tokyo

Kojimachi Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Clinic

Nestled in the heart of Minato-ku, the BIOTOPE CLINIC and Kojimachi Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Clinic stand as beacons of excellence in the world of cosmetic and regenerative treatments. Boasting a diverse team of specialists, including dermatologists, plastic surgeons, physicians, psychologists, and orthopedicians, this esteemed facility ensures top-tier care. Each doctor has attained at least an associate professor level at prestigious institutions like the University of Tokyo or Juntendo University, guaranteeing unparalleled expertise and service. While the staff's English proficiency may vary, there's no need for an interpreter as the doctors themselves are fluent in English, ensuring clear and effective communication for all patients. Experience the pinnacle of personalized care and transformative results at these premier Tokyo clinics.


Akai Medical Clinic

With locations in Omotesando and Yokohama, Akai Medical Clinic is staffed by skilled bilingual doctors, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. Conceptualized on a foundation of “evidence-based medicine” with scientific basis, this clinic offers all of Japan’s most popular and proven cosmetic treatments.


Azabu Skin Clinic

With services designed for women’s cosmetic and health-related needs, Azabu Skin Clinic’s specialties include non-incisional facelift and eyelid surgery, augmentation, dermatology, and cosmetic gynecology. Azabu Skin Clinic serves clients from around the world, and its doctor speaks English fluently.


Jiyugaoka Clinic

Located in Meguro, Jiyugaoka Clinic is an acclaimed surgical provider known for offering a high level of quality in cosmetic treatments. There are a range of doctors on staff, all of whom have achieved a minimum level of associate professor status at a university research hospital or director level at a beauty clinic. This allows the clinic to provide the best services possible to its customers. It is recommended to bring an interpreter if you do not speak Japanese well or at all, as not all staff speak English.


Otsuka Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery

Otsuka Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery has over 200 staff members and has treated thousands of patients, giving it a strong surgical background in cosmetic procedures. The clinic focuses on “minimally invasive procedures,” and consults to find the least invasive yet still effective solution possible that best addresses the client’s issues. There is also a focus on acknowledging individual differences and tailoring solutions to suit individual issues, face structures, and face shapes.


Plaza Clinic

Located in Hiroo, Plaza Clinic is reputed as the only plastic surgery clinic in Japan operated by a U.S. Board-certified plastic surgeon who also practiced for 18 years in the United States, serving celebrities among his clientele. The clinic specializes in both same-day laser treatments and plastic surgery procedures, including liposuction, rhinoplasty, facelift surgery, eye surgery (blepharoplasty), non-incisive eyelid surgery, and breast augmentation. Walk-in services for non-surgical treatments, such as Botox and Restylane, are also available.


Shinjuku Biyou Geka Clinic

Shinjuku Biyou Geka Clinic (Japanese-language website) has branches located in Tokyo and Yokohama. The key focus is on making patients feel comfortable and at ease when consulting about plastic surgery procedures, as it can be a difficult process. The clinic has a number of well-qualified doctors who are able to address a variety of cosmetic issues, primarily around the face, but also including the body.


St. Luke’s International Hospital

St. Luke’s International Hospital is well-known in Tokyo’s expat community as a hospital with a high level of quality along with reliable English support. The plastic surgery department focuses on reconstructive surgery and quality-of-life improvement. “Quality of life” can include aesthetic improvements and so is not limited to reconstructive procedures.


Takadanobaba Dermatology & Plastic Surgery

Takadanobaba Dermatology and Plastic Surgery is located in Shinjuku, making it very convenient for residents of Tokyo and surrounding areas. As it is a combined dermatology and plastic surgery clinic, the main focus of treatments is on skin issues, including wrinkles, moles, skin texture, and more.


Takako Clinic

Located in Dolce Shibuya, Takako Clinic (Japanese-language website) is operated by Dr. Takako, who specializes in breast formation and reconstruction, especially for breast cancer patients. She also provides laser therapy for skin rejuvenation and eye and ear procedures. While the website is not available in English, the clinic employs English-speaking staff.


Tokyo Skin & Plastic Surgery Clinic

Serving over 30,000 national and international patients each year, Tokyo Skin & Plastic Surgery Clinic was founded in 2000 on the concept of affordable cosmetic treatments. It is staffed by a team of English-speaking male and female doctors who specialize in non-incisional eyelid surgery. Located in Ginza, the clinic is a three-minute walk from Exit A13, Ginza Station.


How Common is Plastic Surgery in Japan?

Plastic surgery has long been a quiet, yet widely accepted practice, and is only becoming more commonplace as time goes on. While women typically make up the majority of plastic surgery patients, the number of men seeking services and even children opting for corrective procedures are on the rise.

Most Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures in Japan

As part of a culture that places great importance on appearance, Tokyo looks to raise its profile as an international hub for plastic surgery. The city will likely see an even bigger boom in plastic surgery demand as its prominence in this field becomes more visible on the global stage.

Cosmetic Eye Surgery

Eyelid Surgery

Japan’s most popular and safest form of plastic surgery uses a non-incisional, scar-free technique to create cosmetic double eyelids (commonly requested among Asian patients) or to correct sagging upper eyelids. The improved double suture twisted (DST) technique uses double sutures and twists on each upper eyelid, takes 60 minutes to complete, and rarely requires total sedation.

Eye Bag Removal (Liposuction)

Eye bags are commonly considered to be the tired, puffy undereye area that can often develop with age, tiredness, and stress. It is a common concern among a range of demographics. Eye bag removal with liposuction involves making a small incision under the eye and removing or repositioning the fat inside. A small amount of skin may also be removed to allow for a “tighter” appearance after healing. This is considered one of the most effective ways to address eye bags.

Forehead or Brow Lift

A brow lift, or forehead lift, is used to help improved the appearance of the brow area, upper eyelids, and forehead. It is used to help create a youthful appearance by lifting the brow area and reducing sagging and swelling of the upper eyelids.

In Japan, where a double eyelid is very desirable, this surgery can also help emphasize an already existing double eyelid fold.

Cosmetic Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

Otoplasty, or cosmetic ear surgery, can help improve issues with the ear’s appearance. This can include protruding ears, unbalanced ears or asymmetrical ears, ears affected by a previous injury, and more. This surgery does not affect the ability to hear, simply the appearance.

Cosmetic Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)

This surgery reshapes bone and cartilage to create a straighter, sharper profile. Rhinoplasty corrects breathing problems and disfigurements. The procedure uses either general or local anesthesia to partially or fully sedate the patient. Recovery usually takes at least two weeks, with the nose fully normalizing after six months.

Hair Transplant

Hair transplants are an increasingly popular procedure especially for men. It involves taking already existing hair follicles and transplanting them to an area of thinning or balding hair. This is often done by taking hairs from the back of the head, where the hair is thicker and moving them to the temples or front hairline, which are some of the first areas to show balding/thinning hair.

Facial Contouring Surgery 

Facial Bone Surgery

Facial bone surgery is a procedure often used for reconstructive surgery as well as general appearance improvement surgery. It involves manipulating and changing the structure of the bones in the face to enhance one’s facial profile. This can be done by building up bones using grafts or shaving down bones. Due to the intensive nature of this surgery, it is usually done under general anesthesia.

Facelift

This popular procedure has three variations in Japan, ranging from the Mini Lift (tightening targeted portions of the face) to the Full Facelift (tightening the face from forehead to chin). The operation can take up to six hours to complete, and the effects of the procedure last up to 10 years.

Cosmetic Breast Surgery

Breast Augmentation (Silicone Implants / Filler)

Breast augmentation is a very popular plastic surgery procedure that involves increasing the breast size or changing the breast appearance. Most breast augmentations use silicone implants, which are placed under the breast tissue to increase the size.

Another option is hyaluronic acid fillers instead of silicone implants, which can increase the size of the breasts and improve the feel. This procedure is often a way to experiment with increasing breast size before taking the more serious step of silicone implants.

Breast Cosmetic Surgery

There are certain other plastic surgery procedures that can be done to improve or change breast appearance. These include breast reduction, which reduces the size of the breasts, and can be useful for women who suffer from back pain, headaches, and other issues due to their breast size. There is also a breast lift, which helps address the issue of skin stretching and sagging breasts due to age.

Body Contouring Surgery

Fat Grafting

Fat grafting is a cost-efficient alternative to more permanent facelifts, and uses liposuction to transfer tissue from fatty areas of the body (thighs, midriff, or buttocks) to the face, filling in sunken cheeks, shallow scars, thin lips, and laugh lines.

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty tightens the abdomen, removes loose skin and stretch marks, and strengthens wall muscles unaffected by dieting and exercise. This incisional surgery spans from hip to hip, and refashions the abdominal muscles like a girdle, resulting in a narrower waist, and firmer thighs and buttocks.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a skin-smoothing procedure that can be compared to exfoliation, but significantly more intense. It involves using a rotating machine to “sand” the outer layers of skin away. This allows the skin to regrow and often results in smoother, younger-looking skin. This procedure is often done to improve appearance of wrinkles, age spots, sun damage, and other skin-related issues.