Cosmetic Surgery

Question :

What is the ruling on cosmetic surgery? And what about specializing in this field?

Answer:

There are two kinds of cosmetic surgery. The first occurs when someone wishes to remove a defect that resulted from some kind of accident. This kind of surgery is allowable; after a battle, a man lost a part of his nose, and the Prophet allowed him to cover the area with gold that was chiseled into the shape of a nose.

The second kind involves, not removing a defect, but someone trying to further beautify himself, this kind of surgery is forbidden. The Messenger cursed the women who remove hair from the face and the one who asks others to remove it; and he cursed the one who attaches false hair to the end of one's natural hair and he cursed the woman who asks another to do it for her, and he cursed the person who tattoos or one who asks to have it done. All of these are forms of beautification that are done for other than the reason of correcting a defect.

If a student doctor, as a part of his studies, learns about cosmetic surgery, he may learn it as long as he does not apply its forbidden aspects. Moreover, he should warn his patients against undergoing cosmetic surgery merely to beautify them- selves; this warning, coming from a doctor, may have a more potent effect.

Source:
Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 8 Page 225