Can Dentists Perform Hair transplants, Aesthetic Surgeries? Tug of War erupts between Medical and Dental Councils

New Delhi:  A day after the Telangana Medical Council announced that dentists, dental surgeons, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons do not possess the required qualifications to perform aesthetic procedures and hair transplants, the Telangana Dental Council has now presented a completely contradictory stand in this regard.

Issuing a public notice today, the Dental Council, Telangana, clarified that duly registered Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, trained under the standards prescribed by the Dental Council of India, are fully qualified and authorized to perform facial aesthetic procedures and hair transplantation.

In the notice, the Council also advised general public not to be "misled or unduly influenced by statements or communications from any organizations, councils, or bodies other than the Dental Council of India or the respective State Dental Councils concerning this matter." 

Also Read: Dentists Not Qualified to Perform Hair Transplants, Aesthetic Procedures: Medical councils

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that referring to the NMC Guideline on Aesthetic Surgery and Hair Transplant Procedures dated 20.09.2022, Telangana Medical Council pointed out that hair transplant procedures should preferably be undertaken only by those who have surgical grooming like formal surgical training such as MCh/DNB Plastic Surgery, MD/DNB Dermatology with adequate grooming in dermatological surgical procedures. As per the guidelines, these specialists must have Hair transplantation as a core topic in their curriculum.

Regarding aesthetic surgeries, NMC mentioned that such procedures should be undertaken by those RMPs who have adequate training to do these procedures as per their curriculum. 

Stand of Telangana Dental Council: 

On the other hand, in the recent notice dated 28.06.2025, Telangana Dental Council offered clarification regarding the scope of training of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The Council pointed out that as per the Dental Council of India's MDS Course regulations, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are trained to perform minor oral surgeries. They can surgically treat soft tissue injuries, fractures, gunshot wounds, war injuries and Cancers of the Head and Neck region, they can surgically manage and treat Aesthetic deformities of the jaws, face, perform craniofacial surgery, skin graft harvesting, Hip, Rib, Skull and Lower leg bone graft harvesting surgeries, jaw joint surgeries.

The Oral and Maxillofacial surgeries can also perform surgeries to correct the appearance and deformities of the nose, perform surgeries of the base of the skill. As per the regulations, Skull base surgeries underscore the expertise of Maxillofacial Surgeons, who played a critical role in successfully managing Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) infections and saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, such dentists can also treat neurological disorders of the Maxillofacial region, perform tracheostomies, laser surgery and cryosurgery of the lesions, cleft lip and palate surgery. Further, they can conduct aesthetic facial surgery including treatment of conditions and deformities affecting facial skin, underlying facial muscles, bone, eyelids, external ear. Surgical management of post acne scarring, facelift, blepharoplasty, otoplasty, facial bone recontouring, etc.

According to the Council, the Dental Council of India, in the exercise of powers conferred under Section 20 of the Dentists Act, 1948, and with the prior sanction of the Government of India, has amended the Master of Dental Surgery Course Regulations (3rd Amendment).

These amendments were published in the Gazette of India dated 26th August 2019. "Any notification published in the Gazette of India holds legal validity and is officially enforceable," clarified the Telangana Dental Council.

In the notice, the Council referred to the Dental Council of India communication dated 16.11.2021, in which referring to Gazette Notification of the MDS Course Regulations (3rd Amendment), 2019, DCI affirmed that qualified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons can perform aesthetic surgical procedures in the craniomaxillofacial region.

Reliance was also placed on DCI letter dated 01.11.2022, in which the Council advised Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru to include a detailed curriculum on "Hair Transplant" as part of the curriculum for MDS-Oral Maxillofacial Surgery as a desirable/skill enhancement training.

Further, Telangana Dental Council also referred to DCI notice dated 06.12.2022, through which DCI issued guidelines for the practice of Aesthetic and Hair Transplant Procedures by OMFS practitioners, reaffirming their eligibility and competence.

Referring to these communications, Telangana Dental Council clarified in the recent notice that "Duly registered Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, trained under the standards prescribed by the Dental Council of India, are fully qualified and authorized to perform facial aesthetic procedures and hair transplantation. The general public is advised not to be misled or unduly influenced by statements or communications from any organizations, councils, or bodies other than the Dental Council of India or the respective State Dental Councils concerning this matter."

"The Telangana Dental Council categorically affirms that such procedures fall within the recognized scope of practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, as per the governing regulations and curriculum. This notification is issued in the interest of public clarity, professional transparency, and to uphold the integrity of dental and OMFS practice in the state," it further added.

Also Read: Can Dentists Perform Aesthetic Procedures? Here's What NMC, DCI Say

Stand of Dental council of India?

Issuing the guidelines for the practice of Aesthetic & Hair Transplant procedures for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, DCI back in 2022 mentioned that these procedures can be undertaken by Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons registered with any State Dental Council in India.

DCI had mentioned that Aesthetic Procedures "can be performed by Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons after adequate training as per the curriculum".

Further, the guidelines specified that "Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon should have an aesthetic back up with requisite resuscitate equipment and drugs. Preoperative clearances from a medical specialist as required must be obtained. There should be availability of adequate and well-equipped post-operative recovery room for patient monitoring and adequate record keeping."

Earlier this year, the Karnataka State Dental Council had specified that dentists practising facial aesthetic treatment and hair transplant procedures would be considered "Unethical Practice" and it would render a dentist unfit for the Dental Register. However, issuing a notice in this regard on 02.01.2025, the President of the state dental council further clarified that Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons were exceptions to this rule.

Also Read: Karnataka Dentists Performing Aesthetic Procedures May Lose license to practice

Stand of the National Medical Commission (NMC): 

Recently, Telangana Medical Council had sought to know the stand of the Apex medical education regulatory body- National Medical Commission (NMC) in this regard.

In response, NMC clarified that the Dental Council of India had issued the notice dated 06.12.2022 without consulting the Ethics Board of NMC. NMC further requested Telangana Medical Council to refer to EMRB, NMC guidelines dated 20.09.2022 to decide the eligibility of medical professionals for conducting hair transplantation and aesthetic procedures.

Contradiction creating confusion: 

Such contradictory stands given by the Medical and Dental Councils in the State of Telangana have created confusion for medical professionals and general public as well.

The issue came to limelight after the deaths of two engineers after undergoing hair transplant surgery at a private clinic by a dentist in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur. After receiving complaints from the families of the deceased, the Police had registered a case of culpable homicide against the dentist.

Also Read: Botched Hair Transplant Deaths: Kanpur dentist surrenders before court