This document discusses the Islamic rulings regarding plastic surgery. It states that plastic surgery is permissible when medically necessary, such as to correct congenital defects or injuries that cause physical or psychological harm. Cosmetic procedures done solely for beautification purposes are forbidden, as they amount to altering Allah's creation. The document outlines general regulations for permissible plastic surgery, such as ensuring the benefit outweighs the harm and having proper medical oversight. Certain procedures, like tattooing or imitating the opposite sex, are explicitly prohibited based on hadiths. Doctors are advised to understand and follow Islamic rules regarding plastic surgery.

1. PLASTIC SURGERIES
Medical Ethics

2. * 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 :

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.