‘Alice in Borderland' Star Riisa Naka, ‘Shoplifters' Actor Mayu Matsuoka to Face Off in Netflix Cosmetic Surgery Drama ‘Plastic Beauty'
The 2026 series marks the latest collaboration from the creative team that produced 'Tokyo Swindlers' and 'The Queen of Villains.'
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Naka, known for her role in Netflix's hit series 'Alice in Borderland' and films including 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,' plays celebrity plastic surgeon Rin Tohyama, who believes beauty offers a path to salvation. She'll clash with Matsuoka's character Fumi Numata, a dedicated doctor who reluctantly transitions from life-saving general surgery to the aesthetic medicine world.
Matsuoka, whose film credits include the Palme d'Or winner 'Shoplifters' and 'Tremble All You Want,' portrays a physician whose medical ideals are tested when forced into cosmetic surgery practice.
The series explores themes of transformation and self-perception through the lens of Japan's booming aesthetic medicine sector. Patients seeking physical perfection become caught between the conflicting philosophies of the two medical professionals, creating a backdrop for examining societal beauty standards and personal identity.
Yuki Saito will helm the project, bringing experience from the medical drama 'Unmet: A Neurosurgeon's Diary.' Junya Ikegami penned the original screenplay, continuing his collaboration with Netflix Japan following 'The Queen of Villains.' His previous work includes 'The Blood of Wolves.'
The production team features several veterans from recent Netflix Japan hits. Harue Miyake, who produced 'Tokyo Swindlers,' returns alongside Katsuhito Motegi, director of 'The Queen of Villains.' Shinichi Kudo serves as development producer, with K2 Pictures handling production duties.
'This story explores both the light and dark sides of the increasingly popular world of plastic surgery,' Saito said. 'By depicting the inner conflicts behind the pursuit of beauty, I hope we can present a broader spectrum of values. Having two actors as distinct as Mayu Matsuoka and Riisa Naka face off, challenge each other, and ultimately find mutual understanding — if we can capture even the subtlest emotional shifts in their performances, I believe it will deeply resonate with our viewers.'
The creative team conducted extensive research into Japan's contemporary cosmetic surgery landscape to develop authentic storylines that reflect current industry practices and patient experiences.
Producer Miyake said: 'Today, plastic surgery is no longer a rare choice. The possibility of becoming more beautiful can be both empowering and imprisoning. Rather than glorifying cosmetic surgery, this series focuses on the emotional struggles that lie in the space between what can be changed and what cannot. It is told from both the doctor's and the patient's perspectives. The story also explores the unspoken pressures and difficulties of living in a society with rigid expectations. At its core, it is a tale of sisterhood — women coming together and finding strength in one another.'
Netflix's investment in 'Plastic Beauty' continues the streamer's strategy of tackling controversial social topics through Japanese original content. Previous series have examined the adult entertainment industry in 'The Naked Director' and real estate fraud in 'Tokyo Swindlers.'
Shinichi Takahashi, Netflix's director of live action creative for Japan, said: 'What is beauty, really? That fundamental question became the starting point for 'Plastic Beauty.' Through rigorous research, this series explores the often untold realities of the glamorous plastic surgery industry, including the procedures many are curious about but hesitant to try. Together with Mayu Matsuoka, Riisa Naka, and director Yuki Saito, we delve into the complex, deeply personal, yet universally relatable pursuit of beauty.'
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