What is the Rafaelo® procedure?

The Rafaelo® Procedure is a new procedure which offers a safe and effective treatment for haemorrhoids (piles).

Why is it done?

There are many ways to treat haemorrhoids. Many of these treatments, such as over-the-counter creams or lotions, are only suitable for mild forms of haemorrhoids, and recurrence is frequent. Surgical options, meanwhile, can be painful and sometimes leads to complications. The Rafaelo® Procedure is a minimally-invasive and painless procedure which is effective in reducing haemorrhoids in size.

The Rafaelo® Procedure is recommended as a treatment option for patients with haemorrhoid grades 1-3. It is unlikely to fully resolve grade 4 haemorrhoids and instead, surgery is likely to be recommended.

What does it involve?

First, you’ll be given a local anaesthetic in the area of treatment, and you might be given a mild sedative to help you relax.

The procedure involves treating the haemorrhoid with radiofrequency ablation. The device used emits a painless radio frequency energy which stems the blood supply and causes the cells to die. These are then absorbed by the body, and the haemorrhoid will contract.

The whole procedure takes just a few minutes to complete.

Aftercare

After the treatment, you should be able to go home right away and return to work. There is generally very little or no aftercare required and complications are rare.