Short answer
In the Hanafi fatwa position, fillers and Botox done only to beautify a normal face, such as plumping the lips or smoothing natural wrinkles, are not allowed, because they change Allah's creation for beauty. Medical uses, like Botox for migraines or filler to repair a scar or the effects of illness, are allowed. Some contemporary scholars are more lenient because the effect wears off.
Cosmetic fillers and Botox on a normal face are impermissible according to mainstream Deobandi fatwas, as changing creation for beauty and presenting a false picture of one's features or age. Treatment for a medical condition, or to restore a normal look after illness or injury, is permissible.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Fillers add volume under the skin, usually to the lips, cheeks or under the eyes. Botox relaxes muscles so that lines soften. Both wear off after some months. The question is whether using them for beauty falls under the hadith that curses those who change Allah's creation for beauty.
Many people argue that because the effect is temporary, it is just like make-up. Hanafi muftis answer that plucking facial hair is also temporary, since the hair grows back, yet it is named in the same hadith. What matters is that a normal feature is changed to look more beautiful than it naturally is, not how long the change lasts. Make-up sits on the surface and washes off; fillers and Botox change the face itself.
Medical uses are allowed, for example:
- Botox for chronic migraines, excessive sweating, muscle spasms or teeth clenching
- filler to restore a face hollowed by illness or medication
- filler to correct a scar, an injury or a marked asymmetry
Some contemporary scholars are more lenient. They treat temporary, non-surgical treatments as adornment, especially for a wife beautifying herself for her husband. That is a minority view in the Hanafi fatwa tradition, and you should follow the scholars you trust. Even on that view, beauty should not be displayed to non-mahrams, and the treatment must be safe.
Fillers and Botox do not affect wudu or ghusl, because they are under the skin. For surgery, see is plastic surgery haram.
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 Allah's creation for beauty is the core of the prohibition.
Quran, Surah An-Noor 24:31
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّٰبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوْرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٣١﴾
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
Even permitted beautification is not for display to non-mahrams.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5931
Sahih... لعن الله الواشمات والمستوشمات والمتنمصات والمتفلجات للحسن المغيرات خلق الله ...
"Allah has cursed the women who tattoo and have themselves tattooed, who have facial hair plucked, and who file their teeth for beauty, changing the creation of Allah."
Plucking is temporary yet is forbidden, so temporariness alone does not make a cosmetic change allowed.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibahah, Fasl fi al-Nazar wa al-Mass. On plucking (namas) and the line between adornment and changing creation.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. 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.