A new television series has shed light on the bizarre Japanese trend for 'bagel heads'.
The extraordinary look, which is created by injecting saline into the forehead, then pressing in the centre of the swollen area with a thumb, is a hit on the country's underground body modification scene.
The dramatic results of the two-hour treatment last just 16-24 hours, after which the saline is absorbed by the body and the forehead reduces back to its normal size.
The process is revealed on National Geographic's Taboo, where three people are seen undergoing the treatment in Tokyo.
The trend was initially sparked by the artist Keroppy, according to an interview in Vice last year.
He told the magazine how he came across it in Toronto, Canada, at the extreme body modification convention Modcon in 1999.
'I happened to meet Jerome, who was the person who pioneered saline infusions,' he explained. 'We stayed in contact, then eventually I experienced saline with him in 2003 and he gave me permission to bring it to Japan.
'I set up a team in Tokyo to administer infusions for other people. That’s been going since 2007.'
He said fans of the procedure enjoy 'saline parties' about twice a year, though some people will take their 'bagel head' to clubs and fetish parties.
The saline injections can be done on any part of the body - some people have even had 'scrotal infusions', he revealed - but for the most part, it is just the forehead.
On its (thankfully) short-term effects, Keroppy joked: 'We enjoy being freaks for the night!'
最新播放的一部电视纪录片曝光了日本正在兴起的一种人体变形美容潮-额头整“面包圈”。
接受这种时髦怪癖的人会在额头上注射盐水,然后用拇指按压鼓起的溶液包中间,额头上就像长出一个“面包圈”。这种变形美容在日本地下人体变形领域中很受欢迎。
整个过程需要两个小时,但效果仅能维持16到24个小时,之后额头中的盐水会完全被身体吸收,额头就会恢复原样。
美国《国家地理杂志》的《禁忌异域》节目揭秘了整个过程,节目拍摄了三名日本人在东京接受这种美容的全程。
根据去年Vice杂志刊登的一次采访,艺术家Keroppy最先开启了这种潮流。
他告诉该杂志,1999年在加拿大多伦多参加极端人体变形大会Modcon时,他曾经见过这种方式。
他解释说:“我碰巧遇到了杰罗姆,他是盐水美容的先驱。我们一直保持联系,最终我在2003年和他一起体验了一把,他允许我把这中方式推广到日本。”
“从2007年开始,我在东京组建了一支团队,来为大家注射盐水美容。”
他说,这种美容术的粉丝每年举办两次“盐水美容派对”,还有些人会带着这种“面包圈”去俱乐部和恋物派对。
他还说,盐水可以注射在身体的任何部位,一些男性甚至注射在生殖器。但大多数人都是注射在额头。
针对盐水美容的短期效果(幸好只有短期效果),Keroppy开玩笑说:“我们喜欢在晚上扮怪胎!”