Clearstate’s recent assessment of surgical procedures performed in Japan estimates 4 million surgeries conducted in 2010.

Illnesses related to aging contribute to a large proportion of the surgeries, especially eye related surgeries. Over 900,000 cataract surgeries were performed in 2009, farming one of the largest surgical procedures in Japan. Compared to other developed nations, Japan sees a high incidence of cataract removal surgeries. The Japanese diet and lifestyle has significantly lowered the risk of heart disease, leading to relatively lower volumes of heart bypass surgery in the country. Fewer than 250,000 coronary artery surgeries were conducted in Japan in 2009. Bone health amongst the Japanese is also relatively good, leading to higher bone density for the aged Japanese, who generally see a lower incidence of arthroplasty surgeries.