Over 1 million plastic surgeries in 2023; doctors warn against unqualified practitioners

Hyderabad: Over one million plastic surgeries were carried out in India in 2023, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), ranking India seventh in the world.

This number is expected to go up by 10 to 12 per cent in the next three years, according to estimates, as India is being seen as a medical tourism hub.

Worrying rise of unqualified practitioners

According to Dubai-based senior plastic surgeon Dr Sanjay Parashar, “Plastic surgeries can lead to complications and infections which need to be dealt with properly. This is a major concern for plastic surgeries across India. New doctors need to have bedside training, which is more important than academic knowledge.”

Many litigations have been raised due to plastic surgeries and their complications and side effects.

Rise of unqualified practitioners

There has been a steep rise in unqualified practitioners in India. Many such bad actors practise in tier-two towns doing minor surgeries, whereas the more advanced ones are being treated at higher centres.

These complications were discussed at the SafePlast-2025 event at T-Hub in Hyderabad, attended by more than 120 plastic surgeons and dermatologists.

Patients urged to verify doctor credentials

Dr Gurukarna Vemula, managing director of Personix Cosmetics and Plastic Surgery Centre, advised patients to exercise caution when choosing a doctor.

He encouraged them to check a practitioner’s profile, website and registration with a State medical council, and to verify advertised qualifications such as MBBS, MD and MCh.

Unverified fellowship titles

Dr Vemula warned against unverified ‘fellowship’ titles, noting that many problems, including scalp infections from hair transplants and side effects from fillers and Botox, are caused by untrained individuals.

He concluded by stating that the insights shared at the conference by senior experts, which are drawn from years of experience rather than textbooks, are vital for improving training and ensuring a higher standard of care in the field.