What Is The Islamic Take On Cosmetic Surgery In These Instances:?

1) breast reconstruction in the case of a woman with a mastectomy?
2) breast mastopexy and augmentation in the case of a woman with significant droop, skin stretch, and breast tissue loss after multiple pregnancies or after massive weight loss?
3) scar removals?
4) skin rejuvenation procedures: such as chemical peels and microdermabrasion for sun damage?
Thanks in advance.

Comments (8)

Ø, zero, nil, cipher, voidMay 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

Those procedures are not only done as purely cosmetic, they also have medical necessity in the situations you describe. You’re a nurse, so you understand there is a lot of emotional problems that can be associated with a person who has a physical disfigurement or abnormality, whether it be something congenital or acquired. Correcting these problems with plastic surgery can greatly improve a person’s quality in life by allowing them to have normalcy which allows them to function in society and feel better about themself.
I guess, Islamically, I would say it comes to intention and reason for having it done. In the situations you describe, it seems like they are being done for medically valid reasons and not shallow, superficial ones, so I think it’s OK according to that religion. I don’t have sources or links, this is just my thoughts/opinions on what I do know.

ѕнαнку ⇦ gнαууαтн ⇨ яαмα∂αη ➲May 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

Cosmetic surgery may be divided into two categories:
1 – Essential surgery:
These are operations that are done to remove faults, such as those that result from sickness, traffic accidents, burns, etc. or to remove congenital defects with which a person was born, such as to remove an extra digit or separate fused digits, etc.
This kind of operation is permissible. There is evidence in the Sunnah to indicate that they are permissible and that the one who does them does not intend to change the creation of Allaah.
(i) It was narrated from ‘Arfajah ibn As’ad that he lost his nose in the battle of al-Kulaab during the Jaahiliyyah, so he wore a nose made of silver but it became putrid, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him to wear a nose made of gold. Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1770; Abu Dawood, 4232; al-Nasaa’i, 5161. This hadeeth was classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 824.
(ii) It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursing those women who pluck their eyebrows and file their teeth for the purpose of beautification and change the creation of Allaah. Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim.
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2 – The second type of cosmetic surgery is that which is done for the purpose of beautification.
These are operations that are done to improve the appearance in the eye of the beholder, such as making the nose look more beautiful by making it smaller, or making the breasts look more beautiful by making them smaller or larger, or facelifts, and so on.
This kind of surgery is not for any necessary reason, rather the purpose is to change the creation of Allaah and tinker with it according to people’s whims and desires. So this is haraam and it is not permissible to do it, because it is changing the creation of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“They (all those who worship others than Allaah) invoke nothing but female deities besides Him (Allaah), and they invoke nothing but Shaytaan (Satan), a persistent rebel!
118. Allaah cursed him. And he [Shaytaan (Satan)] said: ‘I will take an appointed portion of your slaves.
119. ‘Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allaah’”
[al-Nisa’ 4:117-119]
The Shaytaan is the one who tells people to change the creation of Allaah.
[See: Ahkaam al-Jaraahah al-Tibbiyyah by Shaykh Muhammad al-Mukhtaar al-Shanqeeti.]
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
What is the ruling on cosmetic surgery? What is the ruling on learning the science of beautification?
He replied:
Cosmetic procedures are of two types:
1 – Those which are done to remove a fault resulting from an accident etc. There is nothing wrong with that because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave permission to a man whose nose had been cut off in battle to wear a nose made of gold.
2 – Those which are unnecessary and are not done to remove a fault but rather to increase beauty. This is haraam and is not permissible, because the Messenger of Allaah (S) cursed women who pluck eyebrows, those who have their eyebrows plucked, those who fix hair extensions, those who have hair extensions done, those who do tattoos and those who have tattoos done, because that is done as an enhancement and is not done to remove faults.
With regard to the medical student who learns about cosmetic surgery during the course of his studies, there is nothing wrong with him learning that, but he should not do that in haraam cases, rather he should advise those who ask for that to avoid it because it is haraam. Perhaps if this advice comes from the lips of a doctor it will have more effect on a person.
[ Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/412.]
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If the purpose of the cosmetic surgery is to remove the defect, then there is nothing wrong with that.
But if the purpose is simply to make it more beautiful then it is not permissible to do this surgery.
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Abu AhmadMay 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

Quote:
Islam denounces excess in beautifying oneself to the extent of altering one’s physical features as Allah created them. The Qur’an considers such alterations as inspired by Satan, who “ …will command them (his devotees) to change what Allah has created…” (An-Nisa’: 119)
Dealing with the question in point, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states:
“Surgeries for beautification are in vogue today as the result of the materialistic pattern of Western civilization, whose main focus is the body and its desires. Men and women spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to reshape their noses or breasts, or whatever they consider defective. This behavior most certainly belongs to the category of excessive beautification, unnecessarily changing what Allah has created, and it makes one subject to the curse of Allah and His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Likewise, it involves torture, pain, and waste of money merely for the sake of one’s appearance, in addition to its being an expression of an individual’s preoccupation with form rather than substance, with body rather than soul.
It may happen that a person has an unusual physical defect, which attracts the attention of others to the point of inflicting on him physical and psychological pain every time he meets people. In this case, he may treat the defect and thus alleviate the embarrassment that makes his life miserable. Allah, the Most Merciful, has imposed no hardship on us in religion…. (Al-Bahi Al-Khuli, Al-Mar’ah bayna Al-Bayt wal-Mujtama`, 2nd edition, p. 105.)
This statement may be supported by the Hadith concerning widening the gap between the teeth for the sake of beautification, for what is disapproved here is doing this merely for the sake of artificial beauty. However, if it is needed to eliminate pain or distress, there is nothing wrong in doing it.”
In this context, the eminent Muslim scholar, Dr. `Abdel-Fattah Idrees, Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar Univ., states:
“There is nothing wrong with plastic surgery if it is used to treat a deformed organ where the operation will offer a better quality of life. However, such surgery is not permissible if it is used for the mere purpose of beautification and altering the creation of Allah.
The previous view does not in any way dissuade a person from showing interest in his outward appearance and beauty. Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to have an interest in his appearance and adornment. And he also urged his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) to follow suit.”
Shedding more light on this issue Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states the following:
“Beautification which is used to reshape a deformed part of the body is generally recommended in Islam, as long as it is used for a valid reason.
As far as plastic surgery in Islam is concerned, we can say that there are two main kinds of plastic surgery, and they are as follows:
The first kind of plastic surgery is used for medical treatment, mainly to alleviate the suffering of the person. For example, there is nothing wrong with the use of plastic surgery in skin grafting, suturing a hollow wound and bone-setting. This kind of beautification is permissible. It is a form of co-operation in what is good and preventing harm that a person may face due to a deformity in his physical and outward appearance.
The second kind is cosmetic surgery that is normally used to change the Creation of Allah in an attempt to look more beautiful such as breast enlargement or reduction, face-lifts, spacing between teeth (just for beautification), reducing the size of lips and nose. This kind of surgery is not permitted in Islam because they alter the Creation of Allah. Allah Almighty says: “And surely I will lead them astray, and surely I will arouse desires in them, and surely I will command them and they will cut the cattle’s ears, and surely I will command them and they will change Allah’s creation. Whoso chooseth Satan for a patron instead of Allah is verily a loser and his loss is manifest.” (An-Nisaa’: 119)
Plastic surgery has advanced at a rapid rate in an attempt to reduce people’s suffering. Unfortunately, some forms of surgery are used for luxurious purposes and not for a sound reason. Islam, however, welcomes the use of plastic surgery as long as it is done in people’s favor. In certain cases, it is a necessity to remove an unwanted tooth or finger that might appear in a person’s body.”

My name is not bruceMay 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

Probably gonna get differing views.
From what i’ve learned…..although not specifically
1 3 and 4 allowed.
2. im’ honestly unsure.
Lot of people say face lifts are haram….but using creams to get the same result is halal. This is though where i always wonder…is it because for roughly 1300 years people had been using creams….same thing…the concept was consistent….and then in less than the last 100 years these new methods have come about. So that resistance to change type of thing

KhadijaMay 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

hey , as long as you are doing it for your husband its okey or you are only doing it for your self its okey,but its not okey if you want to go show it off to the world……

BellaMay 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

I’m almost certain it wouldn’t be allowed in Islam but some people I’m sure go ahead and do it anyway. I think if someone wants to enhance something they really do not like then it’s their business and I don’t see any wrong it in personally.

AnonymousMay 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

I loveee long live jesus answer! funny
If you ask islam you cant breathe,think,go to the bathroom,dream,say hi to people,forget it.YOU cant do ANYTHING >ALL IS HARAM.
Forget it honey if its make you feel happy do it.Just make sure you check the consecuences so you dont get sick.geta good doctor.You are a woman LOOK PRETTY GIRL!!

ChristinMay 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

heaven forbid! ha ha don’t you know this all haram in islam lol

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