Haemorrhoids Piles

Haemorrhoids (also known as ‘Piles’) are enlarged and swollen blood vessels in the anus. Patients who experience piles may feel itchy or sore sensations around their anal passage, or discomfort when going to the toilet. Thankfully, treatments have emerged to help patients get rid of piles in safe, quick and non-invasive ways. Here we discuss some of the best piles treatments available for Birmingham-based patients, patients in the Midlands and patients in London and the south including self-pay options. 

What are piles?

Piles (haemorrhoids) are swellings that usually occur inside or around the opening to your rectum. They typically present themselves as small, round lumps that you may be able to feel on your anus or protruding out from your anal canal.

While it is normal to have blood vessels in your anus, they can present irritating symptoms when they become swollen. This can lead to discomfort during bowel movements or even sharp pains when a sufferer sits down. In such cases, haemorrhoids removal treatments can be sought to minimise the negative impacts of these swollen blood vessels.

Piles symptoms

Research shows that up to 50% of the population will suffer from symptomatic haemorrhoids at some point in their lives. While the presence of symptoms tends to vary across patients, the most debilitating and uncomfortable symptoms include:

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

What causes piles?

Piles develop when veins around the anus are put under excessive pressure. This increased pressure causes them to expand into swollen cushions. Patients with low fibre diets and sufferers of diarrhoea and constipation can often put increased pressure on their abdomens through straining when passing stools or spending long periods on the toilet. This pushes the swollen piles against the sphincter muscles, leading to pain, discomfort and sometimes bleeding. Pregnancy, obesity and genetics also play a role in causing piles to form.

How to treat piles

Some patients are able to treat piles with over-the-counter piles creams and ointments to ease itching and swelling.

Treatments like Metamucil (psyllium) and stool softeners like Citrucel (methylcellulose) can also be used to prevent piles-causing constipation. However, patients should not resort to laxatives as they can increase the problem of diarrhoea, which can make piles symptoms worse.

If these treatments don’t minimise symptoms, patients should opt for leading minimally invasive procedures that treat piles in ways that do not cause major side effects.

Best Treatment for Piles

At The Private Clinic, we offer one of the best treatments for piles thanks to our non-invasive, walk-in-walk out procedure. Our advanced Rafaelo® treatment for haemorrhoids in London & Birmingham has been proven to deliver outstanding clinical results, having been applied to over 2,000 patients across Europe since its launch.

This tried-and-tested radiofrequency ablation procedure reduces blood flow in the swollen blood vessels, causing them to shrink and disappear. As a virtually painless process, patients should experience immediate improvements in their symptoms straight after receiving the treatment. There is no need to undergo a general anaesthetic, and you will be able to return to your normal daily activities immediately, rather than waiting weeks to recover.

This makes the 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. As one of the most revolutionary procedures available, it offers patients a safe and effective alternative method to remove piles for good thanks to its long-lasting results, which have been featured in The Daily Mail.

Rafaelo haemorrhoids treatments in Birmingham

Our Rafaelo® private treatment for piles is available at our Birmingham clinic on 88 Hagley Road in the heart of Edgbaston. Our 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.

With competitive and affordable packages available, we offer patients the highest standards of patient care thanks to our CQC registration, our multi-award-winning medical services and our 5-star Trustpilot rating.

Mr Amit Patel, our resident Rafaelo® piles treatment surgeon, looks after patients at our 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.

“Piles surgery has traditionally been a painful and highly morbid operation. However, Rafaelo® has turned this on its head. The immediate advantage is the ability to avoid a general anaesthetic which allows the patient to effectively walk in and walk out of the clinic following treatment. My patients have had very little in the way of discomfort and initial follow-up results are very pleasing both from a clinical response to treatment and from patient feedback”.  – Mr Amit Patel, Consultant Laparoscopic General and Colorectal Surgeon, BSc, MD, MBBS, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 4737010

Rafaelo haemorrhoids treatments in London

Our Rafaelo® piles treatment is also available at our London Harley Street clinic, located at 98 Harley Street, Marylebone, 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.

Mr Piero Nastro is an Laparoscopic, Colorectal and General Consultant Surgeon and our 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. 

Benefits of the Rafaelo haemorrhoid treatment

The Rafaelo® haemorrhoid treatment method has several key advantages when compared to other more invasive options. These include:

• 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.
• The self-pay treatment option gives you maximum flexibility to avoid patient waiting lists affordably. Treatments take place in our Birmingham or London clinics so there is no need to go to a big hospital for treatment.

Why Should I Choose The Private Clinic for Piles Removal?

The Private Clinic has over 35 years of experience offering patients the most advanced medical treatments. Our handpicked team of doctors, surgeons and nurses are the very best in the industry. This ensures that patient safety and satisfaction is embedded across every stage of your treatment journey with us, from start to finish.

We offer a 24-hour patient helpline direct to your nursing team and surgeon, giving you instant access to expert help whenever you need it.

To Book a Haemorrhoids Treatment consultation at any of our clinics please call 0333 920 2471 or visit our website for more information about haemorrhoid removal. Self-pay Rafaelo® treatments available at our Birmingham and  London Harley Street locations.