Expert: Islam Permits Treatment, Rejects Cosmetic Procedures Done for Vanity

According to Prof. Ibrahim Oreagba, former National President of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Islam permits medical procedures carried out for genuine health reasons but frowns upon cosmetic body-enhancement surgeries pursued mainly for vanity.

Speaking in Ilorin on Tuesday, Oreagba explained that Islamic jurisprudence draws a clear distinction between treatment, reconstruction, and the unnecessary alteration of what he described as Allah's creation.

Oreagba, who teaches in the Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, said Islam places a high premium on preserving both the health and dignity of the human body. According to him, any medical procedure aimed at restoring function or correcting a genuine defect is not only permissible but encouraged.

However, he noted that procedures such as Botox injections, breast enlargement, liposuction, and other forms of elective cosmetic enhancement fall under a different ruling when performed without medical justification. "If the intention is to alter the natural creation of Allah out of vanity, to deceive, or to conform to unrealistic beauty standards, then it is discouraged in Islam," he said.

He clarified that exceptions exist for procedures that are reconstructive in nature — for instance, following an accident, burns, or a mastectomy due to breast cancer. In such cases, he noted, scholars generally agree that the procedure is permissible because it restores normalcy and helps alleviate psychological distress.

Oreagba added that Muslims are encouraged to remain content with Allah's decree and to avoid practices that could lead to harm, addiction, or excess.

Turning to the subject of surrogacy, Oreagba said the majority of Islamic scholars consider the practice impermissible, as it introduces a third party into the marital relationship. He explained that surrogacy could lead to confusion over lineage — a concern Islam places significant emphasis on protecting — noting that the practice blurs the lines of motherhood and paternity, potentially creating complex legal and social challenges for the resulting child.

He said Islamic law instead encourages couples facing infertility to explore permissible alternatives, such as medical treatment, adoption with clearly defined guardianship arrangements, or patience combined with supplication.

Oreagba concluded by urging health institutions to provide ethical counselling for patients considering cosmetic or reproductive procedures, to ensure that such decisions align with both medical best practice and religious values.