Piles affect nearly 10 million Indians every year. Most can be treated without major surgery. Understand your grade, your options, and the right next step — without guesswork or embarrassment.
Piles (haemorrhoids) are swollen blood vessels inside or around the rectum and anus. They are extremely common — and very treatable.
Blood vessels and tissue at the end of your rectum and around the anus have become swollen and inflamed. This happens when pressure builds up in the lower abdomen — from straining, constipation, prolonged sitting, or a low-fibre diet.
Internal piles form inside the rectum — you may not see them but may notice bleeding or a feeling of incomplete emptying. External piles form under the skin around the anus and are more likely to cause pain, itching, or a visible lump.
Mild piles can resolve with diet changes and medications. But once piles enlarge or prolapse, they tend to worsen over time — especially without changes to diet and bowel habits. Grade 3 and 4 piles almost always require a procedure.
Treatment ranges from dietary changes and creams for mild cases, to banding and sclerotherapy for Grade 1–2, to laser, stapler, or open surgery for Grade 3–4. The right treatment depends entirely on your grade and symptoms.
Piles are classified into four grades based on how much they prolapse. Your grade determines your treatment.
Piles remain inside the rectum. You may notice bright red blood on tissue or in the bowl. No visible bulge. Itching or discomfort possible.
Piles prolapse during straining but return inside on their own. Bleeding, itching, and a feeling of incomplete emptying are common.
Piles prolapse and stay outside unless manually pushed back in. Significant discomfort, pain, and bleeding. Procedure almost always needed.
Piles are persistently prolapsed and cannot be reduced. Often painful, may bleed heavily. Surgery is the standard treatment.
Most piles are not an emergency. But a few symptoms need prompt medical attention.
Answer 5 short questions. We will indicate your likely grade and what treatment path makes sense for you.
Takes about 90 seconds · Not a diagnosis
This is a general indication based on your responses, not a clinical assessment. A physical examination is needed to confirm your condition.
Emergency: If you have sudden severe pain, heavy bleeding, or a hard lump that cannot be reduced — go to your nearest hospital immediately or call 112, regardless of this result.
This is a general indication based on your responses, not a clinical assessment. A physical examination is needed to confirm your condition.
Emergency: If you have sudden severe pain, heavy bleeding, or a hard lump that cannot be reduced — go to your nearest hospital immediately or call 112, regardless of this result.
This is a general indication based on your responses, not a clinical assessment. A physical examination is needed to confirm your condition.
Emergency: If you have sudden severe pain, heavy bleeding, or a hard lump that cannot be reduced — go to your nearest hospital immediately or call 112, regardless of this result.
No guesswork. This is the step-by-step process most patients follow from first contact to full recovery.
A care coordinator understands your symptoms, helps you identify your likely grade, and matches you to the right specialist — proctologist or colorectal surgeon — based on your condition and location.
Your specialist performs a proctoscopy or digital rectal examination to confirm the grade, check for internal vs external piles, and rule out other causes. Treatment options are explained clearly.
Blood tests, anaesthesia fitness, and insurance pre-authorization are handled. You receive a clear list: what to eat, what to avoid, and how to prepare your bowel the night before.
Most procedures are performed under spinal or general anaesthesia. Laser and stapler procedures are day-care — you are usually home within 4–6 hours. Open hemorrhoidectomy may require one overnight stay.
Your coordinator guides you through sitz baths, diet, stool softeners, and activity restrictions. Your surgeon reviews you at 1 week. Most patients return to desk work within 5–7 days.
Treatment depends entirely on your grade. Your specialist will recommend the right approach after examination.
| Approach | Grade suited for | Procedure type | Recovery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle & Medication Non-Surgical | Grade 1, mild Grade 2 | No procedure | Ongoing | High-fibre diet, stool softeners, topical creams, sitz baths. Effective for early-stage cases. |
| Rubber Band Ligation Clinic Procedure | Grade 1 and 2 | Outpatient, no anaesthesia | 2–3 weeks | A rubber band is placed around the base of the haemorrhoid, cutting off blood supply. It falls off within a week. |
| Sclerotherapy Clinic Procedure | Grade 1 and 2 | Outpatient, no anaesthesia | A few days | A chemical solution is injected into the haemorrhoid, causing it to shrink. Quick and well-tolerated. |
| Laser Hemorrhoidoplasty Minimally Invasive | Grade 2 and 3 | Day-care, local or general anaesthesia | 2–3 weeks | Laser energy shrinks haemorrhoidal tissue with precision. Less pain, minimal bleeding, faster return to routine. |
| Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy (PPH) Most Common Surgical | Grade 3 (and some Grade 2) | Day-care, spinal or general anaesthesia | 1–2 weeks | A circular stapler pulls prolapsed tissue back into position and cuts off blood supply. Less post-op pain than open surgery. |
| Open Hemorrhoidectomy | Grade 3 and 4, complex cases | Day-care or 1-night stay | 3–6 weeks | High long-term effectiveness for severe and complex cases. |
Costs vary by procedure type, grade, and hospital. Here are realistic ranges to help you plan ahead.
Most common for Grade 2–3. Day-care under local or general anaesthesia.
Preferred for Grade 3. Less post-op pain than open surgery.
For Grade 4 and complex cases. May require 1-night hospital stay.
Most patients searching for a "good doctor" do not know what criteria actually matter. Here is what does.
Specialists who perform piles procedures regularly — not just occasionally — tend to have more predictable results. We look for that kind of experience in our network.
A centre with laser, stapler, and open surgery capability can choose the right approach for you — not just the one they have equipment for.
Proctoscopy, laser systems, stapler devices, trained anaesthesia team, and proper post-op monitoring — not just a clinic room.
You should know exactly what to do before surgery and what to expect after. Clear written instructions. Not guesswork.
A good specialist tells you what you actually need — including when surgery can wait. Not every pile needs a procedure.
From first call through recovery, one person manages your journey. No repeating yourself. No falling through cracks.
Tell us about your symptoms. We will connect you with a specialist who treats piles regularly, walk you through the options, and handle the rest.