- Associations call for stronger regulation and specialised training for hair transplant and cosmetic treatments.
• Beware of ‘Online Dermatologists’: Medical Bodies Raise Alarm Over Misleading Listings
New-Delhi: Leading medical bodies — the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) and the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSI) — today raised concerns about patient safety and training standards in aesthetic and hair restoration procedures during a joint press conference held at the Delhi Press Club.
The associations said the issue has gained urgency following permissions granted to MDS dental surgeons by the Dental Council of India (DCI) under provisions of the Dentists Act, 1948 to perform certain aesthetic procedures and hair transplantation. According to the medical bodies, these procedures have traditionally been performed by specialists such as dermatologists and plastic surgeons trained under the regulatory framework of the National Medical Commission (NMC).
Aesthetic procedures and dermatology, as Dr Vinay Singh, President IADVL mentioned, demand additional training. In addition to the MBBS degree, a dermatologist training program requires 3 years of residency at a postgraduate level in dermatology at certain accredited medical schools. The training includes condensed curriculum of various skin ailments, hair problems, and advanced procedures in dermatology.
Dr Rajat Gupta Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Delhi warned that allowing professionals without comprehensive medical training in skin diseases, hair disorders and surgical complication management to perform such procedures could dilute training standards and increase risks for patients.
As pointed out by Dr Aditya Aggarwal Senior Consultant Plastic Surgery, Medicity Medanta Hospital, the surgery requires knowledge regarding the biology of the skin, the disorders of the hair, how to manage infections, and how to manage complications. They also pointed out that hair transplants are modern medical procedure and should only be conducted by Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) who are specialised in that area.
In the past year, there has been a growing number of unqualified people allegedly performing aesthetic medical procedures and the Kanpur hair transplant case was the most pronounced example. Two engineers died after hair transplants that were allegedly done by a dental surgeon. Other cases of unqualified medical practitioners performing aesthetic procedures have been documented in many parts of the Country including severe infections, loss of sight, and many complications as a result.
Dr Shital Poojary Hon Secretary General National IADVL stated ‘With one of the biggest youth demographics, and in the wake of a surging demand for skin, hair and other aesthetic procedures in recent years (e.g. Botox, hair transplants and thread lifts), India’s youth has been the target consumer of aesthetic and dermatological marketing. However, skin and hair concerns has resulted in frequent misuse of social media, and dependency on medications from chemists and other non-medically trained personnel.
Dr Deepika Pandhi President Delhi State IADVL warned fraudulent marketing listings. Some websites advertising medical services promote “dermatologists” as a result of paid ad placements, and have little to no verified medical qualifications regarding the practice. This is a situation that continues to endanger the health of the public’.
The associations have mentioned that better formal and legal control mechanisms to regulate the marketing of medical practices.
Legal proceedings have been initiated before the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Madras by the Tamil Nadu branch of IADVL (Writ Petition Nos. 36164 and 12044 of 2024) challenging the Dental Council of India’s guidelines dated 06 December 2022 permitting certain aesthetic and hair transplant procedures by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. During the hearing on 21 January 2026, the Court noted a regulatory conflict between the Dental Council of India and the National Medical
Commission and directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to examine the matter and submit its response to ensure regulatory clarity in the interest of patient safety.
The associations called upon:
- The government to issue comprehensive guidelines and ensure strict implementation of existing regulations to curb quackery and safeguard public health.
- Patients to verify the doctor’s qualifications and registration with the state medical council before undergoing any skin, hair or cosmetic treatment. The registration number should be clearly mentioned on the prescription.
- The public to remain alert and avoid falling prey to misleading advertisements or treatments offered by unlicensed practitioners.
About IADVL & APSI:
The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists & Leprologists (IADVL), is a fifty year old association registered at Varanasi under the Societies act, and the representative body with more than 17,000 members across the country qualified dermatologists in India.
The Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSI), established in 1957 and registered with the Charity Commissioner, Mumbai since 1987, represents qualified Plastic Surgeons from across the country. All full members are Registered Medical Practitioners trained in Modern Scientific Medicine, having completed MBBS followed by MS and MCh/DNB in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery — a super-specialty recognized by the erstwhile Medical Council of India and currently governed under the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019. APSI is therefore a key stakeholder in India’s healthcare system
