Sputnik - A law on �Beauty and Plastic Operations� could be passed in Iran due to the growing popularity of the services. According to Iranian lawmakers, so-called �elf ear�, �cat eye�, �pig nose� and �camel lip� - popular surgical procedures, need to be included in the list of �extreme� surgeries due to their unethical and �un-Islamic� nature.




Hassan Noroozi, spokesperson for�the judicial and legal committee of�the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Islamic Republic Parliament�� ed. note Sputnik), noted in�a comment for�Sputnik that �changing the forms of�the body of�a person created by [God] is rejected in�various religions and is considered forbidden. Therefore, Iran will punish lovers of�such "un-Islamic" beauty trends according to�the country's criminal code: 74 lashes or jail sentences of�10 to�60 days, as�well as�that surgeons offering such procedures will also be brought to�justice and deprived of�their licenses.'

It should be noted that Iran occupies a leading position in�the ranking of�Middle Eastern countries that provide quality plastic surgery. Thus it is also worth asking, to�what extent could the �Beauty Law' proposed by�the Iranian parliament prevent the unusual �beauty' trend in�the country, and how do Iranian plastic surgeons themselves view the situation?

In an interview with�Sputnik, Mohammad Shahin Sadeghi, a leading plastic surgeon, member of�the Academic Council of�the Shahid Beheshti University of�Medical Sciences and Health Services in�Tehran, and former vice speaker of�the Iranian Mejlis, tried to�answer these questions.

Mohammad�Sadeghi:�So far, the draft law has not been published in�the Bulletin of�the Parliament's Health Commission. Before the law enters into�force, it will have to�receive approval from�other commissions of�parliament in�order to�assume its final form. For example, approval of�the Parliamentary Food and Drug Administration is very important.

But broadly speaking, I believe that this is a right and good measure to�prevent the defacement of�human appearance. However, I should note that plastic surgeons themselves sometimes are not against�solving problems in�surgery, even in�unconventional ways.

But we in�Iran believe that plastic surgery is science, knowledge, and work based on�medical principles. We do not accept non-conventional and immoral surgeries as�normal, and we hope that the Ministry of�Health and Medical Education, as�well as�other relevant organizations, will take significant measures to�prevent the spread of�these types of�non-conventional plastic surgeries. This is largely detrimental to�the image of�our country in�the field of�plastic surgery.

Sputnik: If this bill is approved, will it only apply to�Iranians? Will there be possible exceptions for�foreigners who come to�Iran for�operations, as�Iranian specialists in�the field of�plastic surgery and aesthetics are some of�the most experienced and qualified?

Mohammad�Sadeghi:�We have very highly skilled doctors specializing in�organ transplantation, in�traditional medicine, and plastic surgery. Many people travel from�Europe to�Iran for�medical services for�two important reasons. First of�all, the high level of�experience of�doctors and their global prestige, as�well as�good and attractive prices for�these services in�Iran, compared to�other countries.

That is why in�order to�preserve the �brand' of�quality and patient confidence, elementary principles of�medicine must be respected. There must be a scientific approach to�everything. �Extreme' or non-traditional types of�plastic surgery do not fit into�the scientific framework or ethical standards. Furthermore, the practice of�such operations also spoils the reputation and image of�medicine in�our country. For this reason, we look forward to�no exceptions.

Sputnik: And what is the frequency of�such non-traditional operations in�Iran now?

Mohammad�Sadeghi:�At the moment, the number of�such operations is not so great, yet not so small: approximately 1 out�of every 1,000. But even this number is significant for�us. Such amoral fashion must be prevented.