What is the Islamic ruling on water liposuction?
<ANSWER>
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
As explained in previous answers that although Islam allows, and even
encourages to some extent, non-surgical meansof beautification, it
prohibits having one's body altered through surgical means due to the
explicit texts of the Qur'an and Sunna prohibiting mutilation (muthla)
and changing the nature created by Allah Most High (taghyir khalq
Allah). All surgical procedures carried out on the body for the
purpose of adornment have been prohibited by classical jurists
(fuqaha).
As such, the surgical removal of excess body fat which lies just under
the skin by way of liposuction is not permitted for
beatification/cosmetic reasons. You have inquiredabout the
permissibility of the innovative liposuction technique called AQUALIPO
as opposed to traditional liposuction. Although harms are minimized in
this method given that fat is removed gently with water-jet and there
is no need for general anesthetic, hence less risk of complications,
no major blood loss, less bruising and swelling, etc, it is
nevertheless a surgical means of removing fatty tissue through the
process of suction. It would still require a large bore cannula to be
inserted to suck fat out, and thus the skin will be cut surgically,
and the incision may even require stitching.
Liposuction will be permitted due to a genuine medical need. If a
reliable physician advices that you should have the fat removed for
health reasons, you may do so. Likewise, if the body fat is such that
it is considered an abnormality to the point that it leads to a great
deal of hardship and psychological pain, and there is no alternative
besides resorting to liposuction, it will be permitted, for Islam
permits bringing back to normality areas of the body that are deformed
or damaged.
Imam Abu Dawud, Imam Nasa'i and Imam Tirmidhi (Allah have mercy on
them) have recorded in their respective Sunan collections, that a
Companion Arfaja ibn Aswad (Allah be pleased with him) had his nose
damaged in the battle of kulab. He replaced it first with silver and
then with anose made of gold, with the consent of the Messenger of
Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace). This permission was granted
despite gold being unlawful for men.
As such, it is best that each individual case is discussed with a
reliable scholar, Insha Allah.
And Allah knows best
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