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Hyderabad, June 28, 2025 — In a significant clarification for both medical professionals and the public, the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC), following guidance from the National Medical Commission (NMC), has declared that dentists, including dental surgeons and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (MDS), are not qualified to perform hair transplants or other aesthetic procedures. This announcement comes amid ongoing debate and legal challenges regarding the scope of practice for dental professionals in India.
The TGMC issued a public notice after receiving a formal response from the NMC on June 13, 2025. The NMC’s Ethics and Medical Education Board (EMRB) had previously outlined in its guidelines dated September 20, 2022, that only those with formal surgical training—such as MCh/DNB in Plastic Surgery or MD/DNB in Dermatology with adequate surgical experience—should perform hair transplants. These specialties include hair transplantation as a core topic in their curriculum, ensuring practitioners have the necessary expertise and training.
The NMC emphasized that aesthetic procedures, including hair transplants, can carry significant risks and require specialized skills in patient selection, diagnosis, surgical technique, and post-procedure care. The guidelines state that only Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) with adequate training as per their curriculum should undertake such procedures. The Commission further clarified that these are not emergency surgeries and should not be performed by untrained individuals under any circumstances.
This clarification directly contradicts a 2022 circular issued by the Dental Council of India (DCI), which had stated that Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons could perform aesthetic and hair transplant procedures after adequate training. The DCI guidelines were challenged in the Bombay High Court by a group of dermatologists, who argued that dental practitioners lack the requisite qualifications and training for these complex procedures.
The NMC also noted that the DCI had issued its circular without consulting the EMRB, and reiterated that the qualifications required to perform such procedures are explicitly detailed in the NMC’s own guidelines. The TGMC’s notice to the public stresses that dentists and dental surgeons do not have these specialties as core topics in their curriculum and therefore lack the formal surgical knowledge and training needed to safely perform hair transplants or aesthetic surgeries.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available as of June 28, 2025, from official medical council statements and news reports. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. For personal medical decisions, always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
