Apollo Spectra Hospitals is among the fi rst hospitals in South India to launch the latest and most advanced treatment for Piles – RAFAELO procedure
A major breakthrough, Apollo Spectra H ospital sets a new benchmark in Proctol ctology care in Chennai and South India
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], 21st May 2 025: Apollo Spectra Hospitals, in associa ation with eminent colorectal surge rge on Dr. Vani Vijay, Senior Consultant (GI – Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery), i s proud to announce the introduction an nd launch of the revolutionary Rafaelo P rocedure (Radiofrequency Ablation of H aemorrhoids under Local Anaesthesia) — a cutting-edge, minimally invasive rad diofrequency therapy for haemorrhoids that offers precise delivery and quick re ecovery. Dr. Vani is one of the few exper erts in the country pioneering this adva nced minimally invasive surgical techniq ue, typically performed as a daycare pro cedure, offering patients faster recover ry, reduced pain, significantly fewer risk s, and best-in-class outcomes.
Apollo Spectra Hospitals, part of the ren owned Apollo Hospitals Group, is India’s largest network of multispeciality short t-stay surgical hospitals, specialising in p lanned daycare surgeries across key spe cialities, with a strong focus on Proctolo gy care, especially haemorrhoids, or co mmonly known as piles. The condition a ffects around 40 million people in India, with a million new cases yearly, most co mmon between the ages of 45 and 65.
Many avoid treatment due to stigma or f ear of surgery. The Rafaelo Procedure of ffers a minimally invasive, daycare soluti on using radiofrequency ablation. Perfo rmed under regional anaesthesia, it caus es minimal discomfort and enables a qui cker return to normal activities.
The Rafaelo Procedure is carried out by utilising a specialised probe to deliver c ontrolled radiofrequency energy to hae morrhoidal tissue. This causes coagulati ion, dehydration, and contraction of the haemorrhoidal cushions, symptomatica lly treating without annihilating interve ning healthy tissue. The treatment is aro und 30 minutes and is suited to same-da y discharge. Compared to conventional hemorrhoidectomy, wherein a surgical e xcision is done with spinal or general an aesthesia involving overnight stay with a 2–3-week recovery time, the Rafaelo Procedure is simpler and less invasive.
Since this procedure does not involve ti ssue incision, it preserves the surroundi ng anatomy, minimising trauma, and gre eatly accelerates healing. It’s a perfect r eflection of modern surgical goals—bett er results with faster recovery and fewe r hospitalisations. Conventional proced ures may have certain degree of risk inv volved with infection, bleeding, and anal stenosis in some cases, whereas Rafaelo o’s non-surgical procedure prevents the se complications and recovers at a faste r rate.
Dr. Vani Vijay – Senior Consultant GI – Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery, A pollo Spectra Hospital, Chennai, said, “T he Rafaelo Procedure marks a significan t advancement in the treatment of hae morrhoids. With its minimally invasive r adiofrequency technology, patients exp erience faster recovery, minimal discom fort, and excellent recovery with minim al or no chances of relapse. As a proctor and one of the early adopters of this tec hnique in South India, I have personally witnessed its precision and effectivene ss in over 150 cases. It’s a game-changer in proctology, offering relief with confid ence and safety.”
Globally Rafaelo Procedure is more pref erred among patients aged 30–60, espe cially working professionals with sympt oms like bleeding, 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 solution. Rafaelo offe rs a quick, low-downtime treatment tha t suits modern lifestyles. Most patients c an resume desk work in 24–48 hours an d short travel within a couple of days.
Strenuous activity should be avoided fo r 3 weeks. With personalised guidance, r ecovery is smooth and downtime is mini nimal. “At Apollo Spectra Hospitals, we
are committed to delivering the latest a dvancements and cutting-edge innovati ons 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 h ealthcare while maintaining the highest standards of safety and excellence. This unique treatment is set to be a game cha nger in our fight against piles” said Ms. R upinder Kaur, COO, Apollo Spectra Hos pitals and Head of Secondary Care Part ner Network.
Addressing the gathering, actress Parva thy Nair, who is known for her work in S outh Indian cinema and her roles in criti cally acclaimed films has been a strong a dvocate for preventive healthcare, she s aid, “It is heartening to see Apollo’s rele ntless pursuit of healthcare excellence t hrough investments in future-ready me dical technology. As someone who stron gly believes in the power of preventive h ealth, I can’t stress enough on the impor tance of putting our health first—before symptoms force us to. Regular health ch heck-ups, early detection, a balanced di et, staying physically active, and being m indful of our mental well-being are the s imple yet powerful tools we all have acc ess to. Let’s continue to make fitness as a priority in our lives—not just through e xercise, 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, which allows for the simultaneou us treatment of hemorrhoids and relate d conditions (fissures or fistulas) in a sin gle procedure. They also offer FISTURA, a radiofrequency-based treatment speci fically for anal fistulas. Apollo Spectra H ospitals also conducts specialist Rafaelo Procedure workshops, providing hands-on training to surgeons and proctologist ists. The workshops reflect the hospital’ s commitment to facilitating surgical inn ovation and minimally invasive colorect al care.
About Apollo Spectra Hospitals
Apollo Spectra, a part of Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited (AHLL), is India’s la rgest network of multi-speciality short-stay surgical hospitals. With over 22 cen tres across 16 cities, more than 350,000 successful surgeries, and a team of over 3,000 leading doctors, Apollo Spectra pr ovides world-class care in a compact, co nvenient setting. Specialities include ort hopaedics, general surgery, urology, gyn aecology, bariatrics, ENT, gastroenterol ogy, and preventive health, delivering cli nical excellence and personalised care u nder one roof.
About Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limit ed
Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited (AH LL), 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 doctors over the past 20 years. Its mission is to provide accessibl e and reliable treatment close to patient s’ homes, reducing the need for frequent visits to large hospitals. AHLL has establ ished India’s largest healthcare network k, capable of addressing the daily health care needs of people outside traditional large hospital settings.
