Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are enlarged and swollen blood vessels in the anus. Despite research showing that more than 80% of us will suffer from symptomatic haemorrhoids at some point in our lives, the majority of patients often feel too embarrassed to seek medical help to treat them. Here we discuss some of the best piles treatments available for patients, including self-pay options.

What are piles?

Piles or haemorrhoids are enlarged blood vessels in or around the opening to your bottom / anus. They are small, round lumps that you may be able to feel or see on your anus. Blood vessels in your anus is normal, but when they swell up, this can cause discomfort and pain passing bowel movements.

What are the symptoms of piles?

The symptoms of piles or haemorrhoids will vary from patient to patient and depend on their severity, but the most noticeable symptoms include:

• General soreness in the anal region
• Itching, redness, and irritation around the anal passage
• A feeling like you still need to poo after going to the toilet
• Slimy mucus in your underwear or on toilet paper after wiping your bottom
• Swollen lumps appearing around your anus
• Pain around your anus as you pass a stool or sit down

What causes piles?

Piles are caused when the veins around the anus are put under excessive pressure which causes the blood vessels to expand which includes:

• Excessive Straining during bowel movements
• Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
• Having chronic diarrhoea or constipation
• Eating a low-fibre diet
• Regular heavy lifting
• Being obese
• Being pregnant
• Having anal intercourse

How to treat piles?

In the majority of cases, piles tend to go away on their own within a month, and during this time, over-the-counter piles creams and ointments are widely used to help ease itching and swelling.

Treatments like Metamucil (psyllium) and stool softeners like Citrucel (methylcellulose) can also be used to prevent constipation. However, we advise that patients avoid using laxatives as they can increase the problem of diarrhoea, which can make piles symptoms worse.

If these treatments don’t minimise symptoms and the piles have been present for over a month, then patients should look at having a procedure to help treat them.

Best Treatment for Piles

At The Private Clinic, they offer one of the best treatments for piles that is a non-invasive, walk-in-walk out procedure. Their advanced Rafaelo® treatment for haemorrhoids in London & Birmingham delivers outstanding clinical results and has been performed on over 2,000 patients across Europe since its launch.

This radiofrequency ablation procedure works to reduce the blood flow in the swollen blood vessels, which causes them to shrink and disappear. The procedure offers immediate improvement in haemorrhoid symptoms and there is no need for a general anaesthetic as the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic or with sedation if preferred.

Once you have had the procedure, you will be able to return to your normal daily activities almost instantly without having to have weeks of downtime. Many patients return to work the next day.

This makes this form of piles treatment stand out from other more invasive procedures like haemorrhoid surgery banding (rubber band ligation), haemorrhoidectomy or haemorrhoid stapling methods, which are often offered on the NHS, and involve up to 4 weeks of recovery time.

Benefits of Rafaelo® treatment

Rafaelo® treatment is one of the most revolutionary procedures available, offering patients a wide range of benefits including:

• Minimal chance of piles recurrence.
• Performed under local anaesthetic.
• 15-minute Haemorrhoid treatment
• Minimal postoperative pain and aftercare.
• Instant reduction of piles symptoms.
• Zero downtime – patients can return to daily activities immediately.
• No need for overnight stay.

Where can I have Rafaelo® piles treatment?

The Private Clinic offers Rafaelo® treatment for haemorrhoids in London & Birmingham.

London Haemorrhoid Clinic

Mr Piero Nastro is a Laparoscopic, Colorectal and General Consultant Surgeon and their resident Rafaelo® piles treatment surgeon in London. He is an accredited endoscopist who is passionate about innovative techniques in colorectal, minimally invasive surgery, complex hernia surgery and proctology.

The Rafaelo® piles treatment clinic is located at 98 Harley Street, Marylebone in London. This clinic is located in central London and is easily commutable from surrounding areas such as Bayswater, Hyde Park, Green Park, Soho, Notting hill, Kings Road, Kensington, South Kensington, Chelsea, Fulham, Battersea, Regents Park, St Johns Wood, Primrose Hill, Victoria, West End, Marylebone, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Mayfair, Holland Park, Earls court and Fitzrovia.

Birmingham Haemorrhoid Clinic

Mr Amit Patel, is a resident Rafaelo® piles treatment surgeon, looks after patients at their Birmingham clinic. He treated the very first cohort of Rafaelo® patients in the West Midlands. As a key advocate of the treatment, he has been impressed by its consistent success rates with the patients he has treated and is confident that it now reflects the new gold-standard for piles removal.

Rafaelo® private treatment for piles is available at their Birmingham clinic on 88 Hagley Road in the heart of Edgbaston close to the surrounding areas of Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Shrewsbury, Kidderminster, Hampton in Arden, Leamington Spa, Stratford and Harborne.

The self-pay Rafaelo® treatment option gives patients the ability to avoid long waiting lists or expensive insurance premiums while allowing patients to access our world-class haemorrhoids treatment service instantly.

Find out more about our Rafaelo® treatment for piles on The Private Clinic website or to book a consultation call 0333 920 2471 or use our online contact form.