In English class we read articles about "face transplants" and I wanted to know the Islamic in depth perspective of such operations, so that I can provide proper feedback to my class mates based on a solid foundation. Please reply as soon as possible - before my next English class!

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We are not fully aware of face transplants; however, the following general religious requirements for a plastic surgery to be permissible should be noted:

1)     The operation should be in order to remove a deformation and not for the purpose of mere beautification.

2)     The plastic surgeon should be a trustworthy and experienced surgeon.

3)      The plastic surgeon should be pretty sure that the operation will succeed.

4)     The operation should not cause a greater harm.

5)     The operation should take place only if there is no other alternative of lesser harm and difficulty.

6)     If the operation requires a limb transplant from a dead corpse, then the dead should have made a will about it prior to his death or that his heirs permit it.

However, if it is a live person who donates the limb, then it is an obligation that he is not harmed by donating it, because harm cannot be removed by another harm [i.e. it is not permissible to harm a person in order to remove the harm of another one]. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa: 82240 and 86647.

Allaah knows best.