Unregulated Beauty Clinics Put Indian Patients at Risk

 

Doctors warn that thousands of unlicensed cosmetology centers across India are performing dangerous procedures without proper qualifications, leading to severe complications and even deaths.

A 49-year-old man from Kochi nearly died after a routine hair transplant went horribly wrong in February, leaving him with a rotting scalp and exposed skull. His case highlights a growing crisis: unregulated beauty and cosmetology clinics are mushrooming across India, often run by unqualified practitioners who put patients' lives at risk for profit.

The wellness industry in India is booming. Worth $2.5 billion in 2024, it's expected to hit $4 billion by 2033, according to IMARC Group. Social media has made cosmetic procedures seem easy and safe, while appearance pressures drive demand. The problem? Many clinics are run by people with no medical training, or by practitioners performing procedures they're not qualified for.

The Scale of the Problem
"Vulnerable patients, especially women, are being preyed upon by unqualified individuals offering dermatological procedures without medical training, without ethics, and without consequences," says Rajetha Damisetty, a senior dermatologist in Hyderabad and national chairperson of the Indian Association of Dermatologists' Anti-Quackery Committee.

In one case, a 50-year-old homemaker in Andhra Pradesh spent ₹3.5 lakh on treatments at a clinic that gave her unlabeled creams. She ended up with severe steroid withdrawal that required six weeks of medical supervision to treat. In Kolkata, advertisements promise "hair gain in 7 days" with just a phone number listed.

Who's Behind These Clinics
Dr. Damisetty identifies three main groups running these unauthorized clinics. First are dentists who take weekend certification courses then start offering Botox and hair transplants. Second are AYUSH practitioners who aren't legally allowed to practice modern medicine but do anyway. Third are people with no medical background at all who call themselves "cosmetologists" or "trichologists."

The Regulatory Failure
All cosmetic procedure clinics are supposed to follow National Medical Commission guidelines stating only registered medical practitioners with proper training can perform these procedures. But enforcement is virtually nonexistent. "There are no dedicated bodies regularly inspecting these centres," Dr. Damisetty notes.

The Kerala Health Department did cancel one clinic's license in May after a 31-year-old software engineer had to have fingers and toes amputated following a botched liposuction. But such actions are rare. Most clinics operate without licenses, without emergency protocols, and without ties to proper hospitals.

India's cosmetic industry has exploded over the past decade, but regulations haven't kept pace. Unlike developed countries with strict oversight, India allows almost anyone to open a "skin clinic." The problem is compounded by fake institutions selling certificates for ₹1-2 lakh, allowing quacks to charge ten times what qualified dermatologists charge for the same procedures.

Professional medical bodies like IADVL are trying to act. They've created systems where doctors can verify suspicious prescriptions and have submitted memorandums to state medical councils. But their power is limited without government backing.

Doctors are calling for urgent government action to define who can perform cosmetic procedures, ensure clinics meet minimum standards, and impose real penalties on violators. "We need stricter regulation through a dedicated law," says Avinash Pravin, a dermatologist on the National IADVL Anti-Quackery Committee.

Until then, patients need to be careful. Check if your practitioner is a registered dermatologist, verify the clinic is licensed and linked to a proper hospital, and be skeptical of miracle promises. As Dr. Pravin warns: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Disclaimer: This article was generated with the support of AI and edited for clarity by the PulseNext team. Except for the headline and featured image, the content is sourced from a syndicated feed. For details, please refer to our [Terms & Conditions].