Short answer
No, when there is a real need. Reducing very large breasts that cause back, neck or shoulder pain, skin problems or serious difficulty is treatment, and Hanafi muftis allow it. Reducing normal breasts purely for looks counts as cosmetic change of creation and is not allowed. Surgery for gynaecomastia in men is generally allowed, since it removes an abnormality.
Breast reduction for a medical reason, or to remove a clear abnormality that causes hardship, is permitted, with a female surgeon preferred and the awrah uncovered only as needed. Purely aesthetic reduction of normal breasts is not permitted.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Hanafi principle on surgery is simple: removing harm or restoring what is normal is allowed, while changing a normal, healthy body only for beauty is not (see is cosmetic surgery haram). The Prophet ﷺ told a Companion who had lost his nose to have one made of gold, and he said there is to be no harm and no returning harm.
Very large breasts (macromastia) commonly cause chronic back and neck pain, grooves from bra straps, rashes, posture problems and difficulty exercising. When a doctor confirms such problems, reduction surgery is treatment, and you are not obliged to keep suffering. Many women also find it makes praying, working and caring for children easier.
Before surgery:
- Have a doctor assess the medical need; insurers often require the same.
- Choose a female surgeon if one with the needed skill is available, and uncover only what the procedure needs (see awrah).
- Ask about the effect on breastfeeding if you hope to have children.
- For men, gynaecomastia surgery removes breast tissue that is abnormal for a man, which scholars treat as removing a defect.
The four schools share the principle that treatment is allowed and changing creation for beauty is not; the difference lies in judging each case, so ask a mufti with your doctor's report.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:119
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَءَامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ وَلَءَامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ وَلِيًّۭا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًۭا مُّبِينًۭا ﴿١١٩﴾
And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah." And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss.
Changing normal features for vanity is forbidden, which is why the reason for surgery matters.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:185
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Removing a real hardship is in keeping with the religion.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 5161
Grading to be checked... فأمره النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يتخذ أنفا من ذهب ...
"The Prophet told him to have a nose made of gold."
Correcting a defect or injury is allowed.
Sunan Ibn Majah 2340
Graded sahih... لا ضرر ولا ضرار ...
"There is to be no harm and no returning harm."
Removing a cause of ongoing harm is permitted.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Takmilat Fath al-Mulhim (Mufti Taqi Usmani), Kitab al-Libas wa al-Zinah, on the hadith of those who change Allah's creation. Distinguishes surgery to remove a defect or harm from surgery for beauty.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on treatment and remedies (al-tadawi wa al-mu'alajat). Permits removing a diseased or abnormal growth when it is safe.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.