Question

Salaam,

I hope this message finds you well.
Essentially, I suffer from Gynecomastia, which is excess breast and fatty tissue. I’ve had it for many years and it gives me anxiety and stress thinking about it, to the extent where I get embarrassed to even take my shirt off in front of my own father and brother. Even though I am relatively slim and maintain a lower than average body fat for my height, I can’t seem to lose it.
I’ve tried dieting, I’ve tried receiving medical support but the only solution now left is surgery. I wanted to know whether this is permissible?

Jzk

Answer

Gynecomastia can vary from person to person. For some it may just be extra tissue around the nipple whilst for others it may seem that the man has developed breasts similar to a woman. It is permissible to rectify abnormalities using surgery, hence, if the gynecomastia is severe and clearly resembles an abnormality it would be permissible to correct it using surgery.

الفتاوى الهندية (5/ 360)
إذَا أَرَادَ الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يَقْطَعَ إصْبَعًا زَائِدَةً أَوْ شَيْئًا آخَرَ قَالَ نُصَيْرٌ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى – إنْ كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى مَنْ قَطَعَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ الْهَلَاكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَفْعَلُ وَإِنْ كَانَ الْغَالِبُ هُوَ النَّجَاةُ فَهُوَ فِي سَعَةٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel