Apollo Spectra Hospitals is among the first hospitals in South India to launch the latest and most advanced treatment for Piles – RAFAELO procedure
A major breakthrough, Apollo Spectra Hosp ital sets a new benchmark in Proctology car e in Chennai and South India Chennai ( Tam il Nadu) [India], 21st May 2 025: Apollo Spe ctra Hospitals, in associa ation with eminen ent colorectal surge rge on Dr. Vani Vijay, S enior Consultant (GI – Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery), is proud to announce the introduction and launch of the revolutionary Rafaelo Procedure (Radiofrequency Ablatio n of Haemorrhoids under Local Anaesthesi a) — a cutting-edge, minimally invasive rad diofrequency therapy for haemorrhoids that offers precise delivery and quick recovery.
Dr. Vani is one of the few exper erts in the country pioneering this advanced minimally invasive surgical technique, typically perfo rmed as a daycare procedure, offering pati tients faster recovery, reduced pain, signifi cantly fewer risk s, and best-in-class outco mes.
Apollo Spectra Hospitals, part of the renow ned Apollo Hospitals Group, is India’s larges t network of multispeciality short t-stay su rgical hospitals, specialising in planned da ycare surgeries across key specialities, wi th a strong focus on Proctology care, espe cially haemorrhoids, or commonly known as piles. The condition affects around 40 million people in India, with a million new cases yearly, most common between the ages of 45 and 65.
Many avoid treatment due to stigma or fear of surgery. The Rafaelo Procedure offers a minimally invasive, daycare solution using radiofrequency ablation. Performed under regional anaesthesia, it causes minimal discomfort and enables a quicker return to normal activities.
The Rafaelo Procedure is carried out by ut ilising a specialised probe to deliver contro lled radiofrequency energy to haemorrhoi idal tissue. This causes coagulation, dehydr ation, and contraction of the haemorrhoidal cushions, symptomatically treating without annihilating intervening healthy tissue. The treatment is aro und 30 minutes and is sui ted to same-day discharge. Compared to co nventional hemorrhoidectomy, wherein a s urgical excision is done with spinal or gen neral an anesthesia involving overnight stay with a 2–3-week recovery time, the Rafaelo Procedure is simpler and less invasive.
Since this procedure does not involve tissu e incision, it preserves the surrounding an atomy, minimising trauma, and greatly ac celerates healing. It’s a perfect reflectio of modern surgical goals—bett er results with faster recovery and fewer hospitalisations. Conventional procedures may have certain degree of risk involved with infection, blee ding, and anal stenosis in some cases, whe reas Rafaelo o’s non-surgical procedure pr events the se complications and recovers at a faste r rate.
Dr. Vani Vijay – Senior Consultant GI – Mini mally Invasive & Robotic Surgery, A pollo S pectra Hospital, Chennai, said, “The Rafaelo Procedure marks a significant advancemen t in the treatment of haemorrhoids. With its minimally invasive radiofrequency technolo gy, patients exp erience faster recovery, m inimal discom fort, and excellent recovery with minim al or no chances of relapse. As a proctor and one of the early adopters of this technique in South India, I have perso nally witnessed its precision and effectiven ness in over 150 cases. It’s a game-changer in proctology, offering relief with confidenc e and safety.”
Globally Rafaelo Procedure is more preferre d among patients aged 30–60, especially w orking professionals with symptoms like bl eeding, pain, or prolapse who can’t afford long recovery times. Those i in sedentary jobs—like IT workers, corp orate staff, and drivers—are particularly at risk. Postpartum women also seek thi s gentle, effective sol ution. Rafaelo offe rs a quick, low-downti me treatment tha t suits modern lifestyles. Most patients c an resume desk work in 2 4–48 hours an d short travel within a couple of days.
Strenuous activity should be avoided for 3w eeks.With personalised guidance, recovery is smooth and downtime is mini nimal.“At Apollo Spectra Hospitals, we are committed to delivering the latest advancements and cutting-edge innovations in surgical care. Proud to be one of t he leading centres in South India for the Rafaelo Procedure, reflecting our missio n to bring global innovations to Indian healthcare while maintaining the highest standards of safety and excellence. This unique treatment is set to be a game changer in our fight against piles” said Ms. R upinder Kaur, COO, Apollo Spectra Hospitals and Head of Secondary Care Part ner Network.
Addressing the gathering, actress Parva thy Nair, who is known for her work in S outh In dian cinema and her roles in criti cally accl aimed films has been a strong advocate for preventive healthcare, she said, “It is hear tening to see Apollo’s relentless pursuit of healthcare excellence through investments in future-ready medical technology. As som eone who strongly believes in the power of preventive health, I can’t stress enough on the impor tance of putting our health first—before symptoms force us to. Regular heal th ch heck-ups, early detection, a balanced di et, staying physically active, and being m indful of our mental well-being are the sim imple yet powerful tools we all have acc ess to. Let’s continue to make fitness as a prior ity in our lives—not just through exercise, but by being proactive about ou r health choices.”
Apollo Spectra Hospital has expanded it s minimally invasive treatment offerings with innovative procedures like Rafaelo PLUS, w hich allows for the simultaneous treatment of hemorrhoids and relate d conditions (fis sures or fistulas) in a single procedure. Th ey also offer FISTURA, a radiofrequency-based treatment specifically for anal fistula s. Apollo Spectra Hospitals also conducts specialist Rafaelo Procedure workshops, providing hands-on training to surgeons and proctologist ists. The workshops reflec t the hospital’ s commitment to facilitating surgical inn ovation and minimally invasive colorectal care.
About Apollo Spectra Hospitals
Apollo Spectra, a part of Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited (AHLL), is India’s largest network of multi-speciality short-stay surg ical hospitals. With over 22 centres across 16 cities, more than 350,000 successful surgeries, and a team of over 3,000 leading doctors, Apollo Spectra provides world-class care in a compact, convenient setting. Specialities include orthopaedics, general surgery, urology, gynaecology, bariatrics, ENT, gastroenterology, and preventive hea lth, delivering cli nical excellence and perso nalised care u nder one roof.
About Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited
Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited (AHLL), a subsidiary of Apollo Hospitals, has been operating in India’s healthcare sect or since 2002. With a vision to “touch a billion lives,” AHLL has treated over 20 million patients through a network of m ore than 5,500 doc tors over the past 20 years. Its mission is to provide accessible and reliable treatment close to patient s’ homes, reducing the nee d for frequent visits to large hospitals. AHL L has established India’s largest healthcare network k, capable of addressing the daily health care needs of people outside traditio nal large hospital settings.