Is It Permissible to Restore Facial Volume Lost Through a Medical Procedure?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I underwent fat dissolver treatments due to an eating disorder, a mental illness. These non-surgical injections use deoxycholic acid to break down and permanently remove small fat pockets, often under the chin. This caused loss of submental fat and psychological distress from regret. I am considering facial fat grafting to restore volume, not to enhance my appearance.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

It would be permissible to restore the lost facial fat because you intend to restore and treat harm, deformity, or distress caused by mental illness to your previous natural appearance, and not for beautification.

The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) cursed those who alter the form Allah Most High shaped for the sake of beauty. [Bukhari; Muslim]

The prohibition is to prevent altering a healthy body for beautification. Permission is granted to restore the body after harm, such as birth defects, accidents, illness, or weight loss, to its natural symmetry. Restoring what was lost is not a violation; it is fulfilling the rule.

Cosmetic versus Restorative: A Key Distinction

A treatment performed solely for cosmetic or augmentation reasons is not permissible. It is only permitted when a restorative procedure is used to correct abnormalities and defects.

There is a key principle here. If something is abnormal and defective, restoring it to its natural form is permitted. This is considered a restorative procedure rather than a cosmetic or beautification procedure. Medical restorative procedures aimed at correcting defects and abnormalities are not seen as altering Allah’s creation.

For example, a person may be born with a crooked nose, a cleft lip, or an extra finger. Restorative medical procedures to fix these defects are acceptable, as they involve correcting an abnormality. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar; Usmani, Takmilat al-Fath al-Mulhim]

A Word of General Guidance

Living with an eating disorder is tough, affecting habits, thoughts, feelings, energy, and relationships, often leading to overwhelm. Recovery isn’t straight, but every step matters with support. Reach out to friends, family, therapists, or support groups; also, talking to others helps. You don’t have to do this alone; seeking support is brave and important.

And Allah knows best.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Currently, he resides in the UK with his wife and is interested in reading and gardening.