PLASTIC SURGERIES

Medical Ethics

* Plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery defined

as surgery performed to improve the appearance of

part of the body. This may be done by choice, or

because it is necessary.

WHEN CAN WE CONSIDER A PLASTIC

SURGERY AS NECESSARY ?

Plastic surgery that is considered necessary is that which is

done when there is a need for it, when something does

not look right, when something is missing, if there is too

much or too little of something, or because something

has been destroyed or deformed. At the same time, it is

regarded as “cosmetic” surgery because it results in

improved appearance.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF FAULTS THAT NEED A

COSMETIC SURGERY :

1- congenital ( physical ) faults :

defects with which a person was

born, including abnormally turned-

out lips, hare-lips, twisted fingers

or toes, etc.

2- faults which result from illness :

Like scars left by leprosy or other

skin diseases, or scars caused by

accidents and burns.

WHY IS PLASTIC SURGERY PERMISSIBLE IN

THESE KIND OF FAULTS ?

There is no doubt that such faults and scars cause physical

and psychological pain and harm, therefore Islam allows

people afflicted with them to remove or reduce them by

surgical means.

They cause the kind of mental and psychological pain that

allows this surgery as an urgent need, where necessity

permits something that is ordinarily forbidden. Any

cosmetic surgery which comes under this heading of

need because of the fact that the reason for the surgery is

permissible, it is not considered to be changing the

creation of Allah.

TWO MAIN KINDS OF PLASTIC SURGERY :

1- The first kind is used for treating a deformity, whether it

is present from birth or caused by an accident. This may

include procedures like removing extra fingers or

treating deformities of the face or other parts of the body,

where these deformities may cause social

embarrassment, psychological trauma or physical pain.

Hence, this kind of plastic surgery is legally prescribed

and urged by Islam.

TWO MAIN KINDS OF PLASTIC SURGERY : CON

2- The second type of cosmetic surgery is that which is

done for the purpose of beautification including : breast

enlargement or reduction, and procedures aimed at

reversing the signs of ageing, such as face-lifts etc.

This kind of surgery is not for any necessary reason, rather

the purpose is to change the creation of Allah and tinker

with it according to people’s whims and desires. So this

is forbidden (haraam) and it is not permissible to do it,

because it is changing the creation of Allah and seeking

for beauty.

GENERAL REGULATIONS AND CONDITIONS FOR

UNDERGOING PLASTIC SURGERY :

1. Surgery should achieve a recognized benefit in Shari`ah,

such as restoring function, correcting a ect or returning

the form to a normal state.

2. Surgery should not result in harm exceeding the

anticipated benefit, and this matter should be decided by

trustworthy specialists.

3. A qualified, specialized physician should perform the

surgery; and if not, the consequences will be his/her

responsibility.

GENERAL REGULATIONS AND CONDITIONS FOR

UNDERGOING PLASTIC SURGERY : CON

4. The surgical operation should be performed with the

permission of the patient (who has requested the

surgery).

5. The specialized plastic surgeon should make the patient

(who will undergo the operation) fully aware of the risks

and complications, both expected and potential, of

undergoing the operation.

6. There is no other form of treatment that will be less

harmful and invasive for the body than surgery.

1. There should be no violation of textual evidence inShari`ah, such as the Prophet’s saying (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith that was narrated by `Abdullahibn Mas`ud, “Allah has cursed women who tattoo or have themselves tattooed, who pluck eyebrows or have them plucked, and women who separate their front teeth for beauty,

altering what Allah has created.” (Al-Bukhari)

In addition there are the hadiths in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade women from imitating men, and men from imitating women as well as the texts, which prohibit the imitation of other non-Muslim peoples or those known for immoral and sinful behavior.

ISLAMIC REGULATIONS AND CONDITIONS FOR

UNDERGOING PLASTIC SURGERY :

2. The rules for seeking medical treatment should be

maintained, i.e. the rules of avoiding seclusion of a

man and a woman (khulwah), the rules concerned

with exposing the parts of the body that are not

meant to be exposed to others (`awrah), except in

cases of exigency or real, compelling need.

ISLAMIC REGULATIONS AND CONDITIONS FOR

UNDERGOING PLASTIC SURGERY : CON

RECOMMENDATIONS :

1. Hospitals, private clinics and doctors should fear

Almighty Allah and not perform any form of prohibited

operations.

2. Doctors and surgeons must further their knowledge of

the rules concerning medical practice, especially that

which is related to plastic surgery. Moreover, they should

not be drawn into these surgeries merely for the sake of

financial gain without investigating the Islamic ruling on

the matter. Moreover, they should not resort to any kind

of marketing campaigns that violate known [Islamic]

facts.

FINALLY:

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 forbidden (haraam) cases, rather he should

advise those who ask for that to avoid it because it is

forbidden. Perhaps if this advice comes from the lips of a

doctor it will have more effect on a person.