New Delhi, March 24, 2026: Leading medical associations have raised serious concerns over the growing number of unqualified practitioners performing hair transplant and aesthetic procedures in India, warning that the trend poses significant risks to patient safety.
During a recent joint press conference at the Delhi Press Club, the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) and the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSI) called for stricter regulations, enhanced training standards, and urgent government intervention to curb unsafe practices.
The issue has gained urgency after the Dental Council of India (DCI) allowed MDS-qualified oral and maxillofacial surgeons to perform certain aesthetic procedures, including hair transplantation, under provisions of the Dentists Act, 1948.
According to the 2022 DCI guidelines, such procedures can be carried out by oral and maxillofacial surgeons registered with state dental councils, provided they undergo adequate training and maintain necessary infrastructure, including:
Resuscitation equipment and drugs
Preoperative medical clearance
Proper post-operative recovery facilities
Detailed record-keeping systems
However, medical associations argue that these procedures have traditionally been performed by specialists like dermatologists and plastic surgeons trained under the National Medical Commission (NMC) framework.
Experts emphasized that hair transplant and aesthetic procedures require in-depth knowledge of:
Skin biology
Hair disorders
Infection control
Management of surgical complications
They reiterated that such procedures should only be performed by Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) with specialized training.
Dr Vinay Singh, President of IADVL, highlighted the rigorous training required in dermatology:
Dermatologists undergo three years of postgraduate residency after MBBS, covering skin diseases, hair disorders, and advanced procedures.
Echoing similar concerns, Dr Selva SeethaRaman, Secretary of APSI, stated that:
Hair transplant and facial aesthetic surgery fall outside the legal and scientific scope of dental practice.
In February 2026, the Tamil Nadu Medical Council clarified that only registered medical practitioners with recognized qualifications and valid state registration can perform aesthetic and cosmetology procedures involving skin and hair, including hair transplantation and laser treatments.
Following this move, IADVL and APSI have urged authorities to implement similar regulations across all states and ensure strict enforcement to prevent malpractice.
Doctors highlighted a growing number of complications linked to unqualified practitioners, including:
Severe infections
Vision loss
Surgical complications
They specifically cited the Kanpur hair transplant case, where two engineers reportedly died after undergoing procedures allegedly performed by a dental surgeon.
Medical bodies warned that allowing inadequately trained professionals to perform such procedures could dilute medical standards and increase patient risk.
The associations also flagged the role of misleading online advertisements and social media marketing in driving patients toward unsafe treatments.
With increasing demand especially among younger populations patients are often influenced by:
Aggressive digital promotions
Online clinic listings
Non-medical advice from chemists or untrained individuals
Doctors cautioned that such trends are contributing to the rise of unregulated and unsafe procedures.
Concluding their appeal, the IADVL and APSI urged the government to issue comprehensive national guidelines, strengthen regulatory oversight, and strictly enforce existing laws, stating that these measures are essential to curb quackery, standardize care, and ensure patient safety in India’s rapidly expanding aesthetic medicine sector.
