Needs cosmetic surgery to fix her scarred and stretched skin due to medical treatment

24-4-2007 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamualaykum, I have been suffering from kidney problems since the age of 2. I had to take a lot medications with severe side effects. One of these medications was Steroids (Cortizone). Taking the Steroids has made me gain so much weight over the years around my face and all over my body. Finally, my kidneys failed completly and I was close to death and so I had them removed. After I had them removed I had to start dialysis treatment 3 times a week and I had to have alot of operations. I have big scars all over my body which are causing me mental distress and psychological discomfort because I feel that I am not feminine enough. Secondly, after I had both of my kidneys removed, the doctor told me stop taking the Steroids because I no longer needed them as I did not have kidneys anymore. I started to loss alot of the weight that I gained as a result of the side effects of the Steroids and this has left me with alot of stretch marks and loose skin around my abdomin (stomach area) and excersice does not help at all because I have tried diets and excersices all my teenage life and now I am 18 years old and sick and tired of trying. I have never blamed ALLAH {SW} for what I have been through because I feel that I became this way because of the medication and the doctors don't help either. Another problem that has arised from all of this is that my breasts have become loose skined and saggy because of the excess fat that was around them. I am only 18 years old and I feel like I lost all of my self-confidence and my self-esteem has been shattered. I wear a full hijab and jilbab Alhamdulliah. If I have cosmetic surgery to fix all of my body in the following ways: laser treatment to remove scars liposuction and a tummy tuck to remove the excess weight breast implants or breast lift liposuction on my face to remove the excess fat. I am terified of doing something that is harram. I want to have surgery for me and not for anybody else. I am not going to show it off. I

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

First of all, we ask Allaah to facilitate your affairs, greatly reward you, and increase your piety, righteousness and enable you to perform good deeds.

We advise you to be patient about the disease which you have, as there is much good and reward in being patient. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "How wonderful is the matter of a believer, there is good in all his affairs, and this is only for the believer. If something good happens to him and he is grateful, then this is good for him, and if a calamity befalls him and he is patient, then this is also good for him.” [Muslim]. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 83577.

We also advise you to sincerely turn to Allaah, have trust in Him and earnestly supplicate Him for achieving a benefit or repelling harm. Indeed, you have a good example in Prophet Ayoob (Job)  may  Allaah  exalt  his  mention as he supplicated Allaah and Allaah cured him from the great affliction which He tried him with. 

As regards undergoing the operations which you mentioned, then the operations that are purely for beautification are not permissible. However, the operations that are for the purpose of removing a deficiency are permissible, on the condition that the religious requirements are observed.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 83876, 90843, 83752 and 87848.

Allaah Knows best.

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