Shefali Jariwala death: India's billion-dollar anti-ageing industry explained in numbers
In 2024, more than 7.9 million Botox procedures were performed worldwide, making it the most popular non-invasive cosmetic treatment on the planet. Close behind were hyaluronic acid fillers and laser hair removal, part of a growing range of treatments designed to smooth, tighten, and lift skin.advertisementFrom plasma-rich facials to peptide therapy and ultrasound-based skin tightening, the options for 'pausing' age are expanding rapidly.India's rapid rise in the cosmetic raceIndia is no longer on the fringes of this global beauty economy. According to the latest ISAPS Global Survey, India ranked among the top 10 countries globally for aesthetic/cosmetic procedures, trailing only global leaders like the US, Brazil, and Japan.Speaking to India Today, Dr Somesh Gupta, professor of dermatology and venereology at AIIMS, New Delhi, said that India's anti-ageing industry remains largely unregulated, and even where rules exist, they are rarely enforced on the ground.'Many individuals are offering these procedures purely as a source of easy income, often without medical training,' he said. 'Beauticians using lasers can cause serious harm, including skin burns.' Dr Gupta noted that patients are increasingly coming from across the country seeking help for hair loss, pigmentation, and early signs of ageing, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in dermatology.He flagged the misuse of glutathione (the substance that Shefali Jariwala allegedly used), a compound not approved for skin-lightening or self-medication, warning that such unsupervised treatments could lead to severe adverse reactions. 'We've even seen fatalities during procedures like hair transplants,' he said.advertisementIn just one year, India saw a dramatic 25 per cent surge in total procedures, from 1.02 million in 2023 to 1.29 million in 2024. That's more than 3.4 per cent of all procedures performed globally. And India's ascent in cosmetic medicine isn't just about volume. The country now stands second globally in rhinoplasty and scar revision surgeries, popular with younger age groups, especially Gen-Z and millennials. India is also among the top five globally for procedures like chemical peels, liposuction, and skin tightening.In non-surgical procedures, hair removal was the top treatment in 2024, with more than 208,000 procedures in India — the highest in the world — followed by hyaluronic acid fillers (97,160 procedures), chemical peels (85,120), and Botox injections (76,720). Surgical procedures are also seeing significant traction. Scar revision topped the list with over 106,000 procedures, followed by liposuction (97,160) and rhinoplasty (67,760).'In aesthetics and anti-ageing, less is more,' said Dr Neha Taneja, an assistant professor of dermatology at AIIMS Delhi. 'Treatments should never be overdone. What's necessary must be carefully decided in consultation with a qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.'She noted that the most common procedures today include fillers, skin boosters, and microneedling, with patients often starting as early as ages 22–25. However, Dr Taneja warned that injectables and IV-based treatments, if taken in high concentrations or without supervision, could disrupt blood chemistry and, over time, impact vital organs like the liver and kidneys.advertisementGlobal patients, local surgeonsIndia is not just serving its own. It's becoming a global hub for medical tourism in aesthetics. Around eight per cent of all cosmetic surgery patients in India now come from abroad. According to ISAPS, the US, the UK, and Australia are the top countries of origin, a testament to India's growing number of plastic surgeons and significantly lower costs.India currently has around 2,800 plastic surgeons, representing 4.8 per cent of the global total, on par with South Korea, one of the world's most advanced beauty markets.India's anti-ageing industry is booming. But without caution, it can turn into a dangerous chase. The question isn't whether we can look younger. The question is: at what cost?'The industry is growing fast, but so is the demand for shortcuts, especially for things like overnight fairness. That's where the real risk lies,' warned Dr Taneja, stressing that consistency, not speed, was key to visible, long-term results.- EndsMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Covid Vaccines Not Behind Sudden Deaths, Suggests Top Medical Body Study
New Delhi: None of the Covid vaccine doses are linked to heart attacks and deaths, said Dr Sudheer Arava from AIIMS, who is part of the research currently underway by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Speaking to IANS, he noted that preliminary data so far has shown no indication between heart attack and Covid jabs, developed in the country. "Till now, our study data says that the vaccine has no effect on the cause of death, whether it is a first dose, second dose or third dose, there is no difference in it," Arava added. His comments amid concerns over several heart attack deaths being seen in the country. About the study, Arava, from AIIMS' Department of Pathology, said that it was launched by the ICMR, in the aftermath of deaths happening in the country after the arrival of Covid. Initial results, soon to be published, indicate that 50 per cent of the deaths caused among individuals between 18 to 45 years are due to heart attacks. The other finding is "unexplained death, in which we could not ascertain the cause". Further, to understand whether the deaths match with those during pre-COVID days, they analysed previous data but found no difference in the cause of death. "We found out that the pattern of death rate among young individuals in pre-COVID times is similar to that of during COVID. We did not find any effect of the vaccine in this... There is no clear-cut indication saying that the vaccine causes sudden death in young individuals," Arava told IANS. "The benefits of vaccines far outweigh the very small possible side effects," added Dr Rajiv Narang from the Department of Cardiology, AIIMS. He added that "people should be aware that a heart attack is not a simple issue -- there can be many causes for sudden cardiac arrest". Meanwhile, the Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association (IVMA) also issued a statement assuring the safety of the Covid vaccines developed in the country. "Covid-19 vaccines of India were developed and manufactured with the highest safety and quality standards," IVMA Director General, Dr G.V.J.A. Harshavardhan, said. "All Covid-19 vaccines in India were approved for Emergency Use Authorisation (restricted use in emergency situations of the WHO guidelines)," he added. Harshavardhan noted that the approvals were based on extensive evaluation in preclinical studies and human clinical trials. He stated that the Indian vaccines not only helped "control the Covid-19 pandemic and restrict its impact on lives, livelihoods, but most importantly, enabling India's economic activity and GDP to rebound and grow to new heights globally". Harshavardhan said that the benefits of India-made Covid jabs were also extended to several countries worldwide, under the government's Vaccine Maitri programme. "We hereby reassure the public on the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines," he said.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah draws flak for remarks linking Covid jab with heart attacks
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's suggestion linking Covid-19 vaccination to heart-attack deaths in Hassan has sparked strong rebuttals from doctors, Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and the BJP. AIIMS experts refuted any connection, citing studies showing no link between vaccines and cardiac arrests. Critics accuse Siddaramaiah of spreading misinformation and undermining the proven safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah's comments suggesting Covid-19 vaccination may have caused the recent heart-attack related deaths in the state's Hassan district has triggered a wave of rebuttals from senior doctors, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences dismissed any connection between the two. A study on the people who succumbed to sudden cardiac arrests did not reveal any link to the Covid vaccination, said Karan Madan, associate professor at the Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at AIIMS-Delhi. The Covid vaccines, he told the media in Delhi, had been effective and helped save and AIIMS-Delhi's former director Randeep Guleria said studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research and AIIMS into the deaths of young people have shown they were not related to Covid vaccines. These vaccines do have some side effects, like all vaccines and drugs, he said while dismissing any connection between Covid vaccination and heart remarks and his government asking an expert committee to see if the Covid vaccines could have had any adverse effect has evoked sharp reactions from rival politicians as Karnataka unit took pot-shots at Siddaramaiah, asking him to stop spreading panic since he has "not mastered cardiology". BJP state president BY Vijayendra dismissed the CM's claim as "irresponsible" and said crores of people, both in India and overseas, have received these vaccines. The government must investigate deaths in Hassan instead of blaming the Covid vaccine, he who is also the executive chairperson of the Bengaluru-based biopharmaceutical company, said in a post on X that the Covid-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the Emergency Use Authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy."To suggest that these vaccines were 'hastily' approved is factually incorrect and contributes to public misinformation. These vaccines have saved millions of lives and, like all vaccines, may cause side effects in a very small number of individuals. It is important to acknowledge the science and data-driven processes behind their development, rather than engage in retrospective blame."While commenting on the heart-attack related deaths in Hassan district, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday expressed doubts over the adverse effect of the vaccines. He blamed the BJP for what he posed on X "the hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine to the public".
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
No link between Covid vaccine and sudden cardiac arrest in young people: AIIMS Delhi study finds
There is no link between the Covid-19 vaccine and deaths in young people from cardiac arrest, claimed an ongoing study being conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi. These deaths were attributed to coronary artery disease (CHD) linked to poor lifestyle choices. These preliminary findings are part of an interim report based on a study, titled 'Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young', which AIIMS is conducting in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research. On Thursday, doctors involved in the study said the cause of death among the young population was CHD. Addressing the risk factor around Covid vaccination, Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor of Community Medicine, said there was a huge benefit from vaccination. 'A certain risk is always present, which is why we do a risk and benefit analysis before starting any vaccination,' he added. Dr Rai was the principal investigator of the vaccine safety (phases 1 & 2) and effectiveness (phase 3) trial at AIIMS. Dr Abhishek Yadav, Professor of Forensic Medicine, said the study began in 2023 with a sample size of 300 medico-legal cases of sudden deaths. Post-mortems in these cases were conducted in the AIIMS Forensic Medicine Department. 'These were people between the ages of 18 and 45 years and 45 and 60 years… almost all of them had taken the Covid vaccine,' he said. Dr Sudheer Arava, Professor, Department of Pathology, who was involved in the study, said the biggest problem was coronary artery disease — more than 50% of those who died of the disease had a history of alcohol consumption and smoking. Almost all of them had evidence of the Covid-19 vaccine — either a single, double or booster dose. Explaining how they arrived at the findings, Dr Yadav said, 'These were people between the ages of 18 and 45 years and 45 and 60 years… almost all of them had taken the Covid vaccine. We first did a verbal autopsy where we noted down the patient's detailed history, stress, habits, etc. We then did a virtual autopsy and later a traditional autopsy, where we investigated every organ in the body. We then did a histopathological analysis of organs with the help of microscopy.' 'We examined every organ along with the forensic department and did whole body scans, whole body examinations… So any of the secondary causes we would have picked up might have caused the death of these people,' added Dr Arava. Dr Arava further said two-thirds of cardiovascular causes were atherosclerosis (plaque buildup inside the arteries). 'The less common causes were congenital heart problems, the heart vessels not being straight, the original vessels being small, and heart infections. All these problems were in less than 5% of the total sample size,' he added. He further said, looking at the pattern of deaths, there is no difference between the pre-Covid era and the post-Covid era. 'Vaccination has no role to play. The sudden deaths were happening pre-Covid too. The only thing that changed is that we have become more aware.' Dr Ambuj Roy, Professor, Cardiology, who was a part of the study, said vaccines act as a protective factor against cardiac complications of Covid. They reduced venous thrombosis or clotting in veins by 80%, arterial clotting, which leads to heart and brain attacks, by 50% and also reduced heart failure by 50%. According to Dr Rajiv Narang, Professor and Head, Cardiology, the risk factors include smoking, which is easily preventable. 'In the maximum number of heart attack cases where we have to conduct angioplasty, smoking was the most common factor. The other risks are diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, psychosocial stress which leads to abnormal hormone release, and abdominal obesity. Protective factors include exercising regularly and consuming fruits and vegetables,' he said. In the next part of the ongoing study, a molecular-level analysis will be done to find any connection between vaccines and deaths. 'We will analyse any mutation or variation on the molecular level, if any,' said Dr Arava.
