Hair Transplant By Dentist Turns Deadly For Two Kanpur Engineers: Hidden Dangers No One Talks About

In a tragic incident, two engineers from Kanpur reportedly died after undergoing a botched hair transplant procedure performed by a dentist at a private clinic in Uttar Pradesh.

Following the tragic death of Vineet Kumar Dubey, 37, which sparked widespread public outrage and prompted a police investigation, a similar case emerged involving Mayank Katiyar, 30, who also died after undergoing the same procedure at Empire Clinic run by Dr. Anushka Tiwari.

Also read: World Hypertension Day 2025: Is Your Desk Job Raising Your Blood Pressure? How Sedentary Work Affects Your Heart

The primary accuse identified as Dr. Anushka Tiwari was running the private clinic along with her husband, Dr. Saurabh Tripathi, at the Rawatpur area of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

According to police officials, the couple, both holding Bachelor's degrees in Dentistry, employed untrained staff to assist with the surgical procedures.

Who can perform a hair transplant?

According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), only a properly trained and licensed Registered Medical Professional (RMP), i.e. practitioner of Modern Medicine is authorized to perform aesthetic procedures, including hair transplant.

“RMPs who perform hair restoration surgery must possess the education, training and current competency in the field of hair restoration surgery, like adequate knowledge in hair physiology, pathogenesis of scarring and non-scarring alopecia, anatomy and physiology of scalp, including scalp vasculature and nerve supply," NMC states.

“A practitioner who have adequate clinical skill to identify patients who are candidates for hair transplant surgery and contraindications for hair transplant including active scarring alopecia, adequate knowledge and clinical skill of the medical treatment of alopecia and pre and post-transplant medical care, acquired basic knowledge and skill base in surgeries about skin and its appendages, adequate training and knowledge about medical issues and possible adverse reactions that can arise during the hair transplant surgery including basic life support and resuscitation measures.”

Hidden risks of hair transplants

Some of the potential complications or hidden risks associated with hair transplant, as per the National Institute of Health (NIH), are as follows:

• Edema;
• Pain;
• Bleeding;
• Folliculitis;
• Allergic reactions to lignocaine;
• Lignocaine overdosage; 
• Scalp cellulitis; 
• Temporary or permanent numbness of the scalp; 
• Telogen effluvium;
• Epidermal cysts and ingrown hair; and 
• Infection