Abstract Cadaveric dissection continues to form the basis of anatomy and surgical training, providing incomparable three-dimensional knowledge and experience. Traditional formalin fixation guaranteed the long-term conservation but made tissues rigid, colored, and health dangerous due to exposure to formaldehyde. The purpose of the review is to appraise contemporary embalming practices between low-formalin soft-fix and Thiel and alternative approaches that address their educational connotations, safety, and suitability in a variety of training settings. This narrative review was done using the published literature on embalming procedures, tissue fidelity, work-related safety, and educational performance, which was critically reviewed, with the focus on comparative benefits, weaknesses, and prospects. Contemporary methods such as Thiel, ethanol–glycerin, Genelyn, and phenoxyethanol fixation enhance pliability, color fidelity, and decrease toxicity, which favor high fidelity surgical simulation. These cadavers add value in undergraduate education, postgraduate training in procedures, and ethical professional growth. The world is not yet ready to adopt Thiel methods globally due to high infrastructure requirements, greater realism, and the lack of standardized protocols. Alternatives that are cost-effective (ethanol–glycerin and Genelyn) and hybrid solutions can be scaled, especially in resource-constrained environments. Connection to augmented reality/virtual reality platforms and consensus-based evaluation metrics also adds value to education. The development of embalming methods has created safer and more realistic cadavers that add to the learning of anatomy and surgical practice. The need to develop and standardize, to cut costs, and go digital is still of paramount use in increasing the global reach and teaching power.
Thul et al. (2026) studied this question.