Cost. Insurance. Recovery. Dust season. Monsoon ear infections. Whether your child really needs that surgery. The kind of conversations we have all day in OPD, written down so you can think it through before you book.
Honest, item-wise estimates before you decide, and direct answers about what your specific insurance plan will pay for.
FESS in Rajkot ranges from ₹45,000 to ₹1,20,000. The exact figure depends on whether one or both sides are operated, polyp removal, anaesthesia type, and any implant material. We give every patient a written estimate after the first consultation, no surprises on discharge day. Most major insurance plans (Star, HDFC Ergo, Bajaj, ICICI Lombard, New India, Niva Bupa) are supported via reimbursement claims.
Most ENT surgeries are covered. Reimbursement claim support exists with the major insurers: Star Health, HDFC Ergo, Bajaj Allianz, ICICI Lombard, New India Assurance, Niva Bupa, Care Health and most government schemes. Send us your policy details on WhatsApp and we will check pre-authorisation feasibility before admission, usually within 24 hours. Septoplasty, FESS, tonsillectomy, tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, cochlear implant and thyroidectomy are all covered under standard hospitalisation.
A cochlear implant in Rajkot ranges from ₹6 lakh to ₹14 lakh depending on the device brand and processor model. For eligible children (typically under 5 years with severe-to-profound bilateral hearing loss), the central government's ADIP scheme covers the entire device + surgery cost, including post-implant mapping and speech therapy. Most middle-class Gujarati families assume cost is the obstacle. For ADIP-eligible children, it is not.
Pure tone audiometry (PTA) at Hemani Hospital costs around ₹500-₹800. A complete diagnostic battery, PTA + impedance audiometry + OAE, is around ₹1,500-₹2,500. BERA (brainstem evoked response, used for newborn hearing screening) is around ₹3,000-₹4,000. Hearing-aid trials are free for two weeks before any purchase decision.
Yes. After your consultation, we provide an itemised cost breakdown (surgeon fee, OT charges, anaesthesia, medications, room rent if any) before you decide. The consultation fee covers your examination and the estimate. This prevents the most common patient grievance, discharge bills being higher than verbally quoted.
Saurashtra's climate produces a predictable cycle of ENT issues. Here's how we manage them.
Rajkot's pre-monsoon dust storms drop fine particulate into the air for weeks. If your nasal mucosa is already inflamed from chronic rhinitis or allergy, that dust acts like sandpaper, sneezing, blocked nose and headaches. House dust mites are the single most common allergen across Indian patients (73.8% in recent ENT studies). The fix is rarely surgery first. We start with allergy testing, dust-control instructions, and a 6-week steroid spray trial. FESS only if a CT shows actual sinus blockage.
Monsoon humidity in Saurashtra is the perfect environment for bacterial and fungal ear infections. The eustachian tube also swells with the change in air pressure, leaving fluid trapped behind the eardrum (otitis media with effusion). Symptoms, blocked feeling, dull hearing, popping when you swallow, almost always settle with the right combination of antibiotic eardrops, oral decongestants and short antihistamines. We see 4-5 such cases every monsoon week. Avoid cleaning ears with cotton buds, that is what turns mild monsoon irritation into a full-blown infection.
Dust allergy management at Hemani Hospital is layered: (1) skin-prick allergy testing where indicated, (2) HEPA filter and dust-mite cover advice for the bedroom, (3) intranasal corticosteroid spray for 6-8 weeks (the main effective medication), (4) short-course oral antihistamines during the worst phases, and (5) rarely, immunotherapy referral. We almost never recommend surgery for pure allergic rhinitis, surgery only helps when there is structural blockage or polyps.
Recurrent summer nose bleeds (epistaxis) are very common in Saurashtra, Rajkot's dry heat plus dust crusts the inner nasal lining and breaks small blood vessels. Most cases respond to: saline nasal sprays 4 times daily, a thin layer of vaseline at the front of the nostril, AC-room humidification, and avoiding picking. If bleeding is one-sided, frequent (more than once a week), or persists after these measures, come in. We can locate the offending blood vessel with endoscopy and seal it in 5 minutes, no admission needed.
The five questions every Saurashtra parent calls us about, answered honestly, without scaring you into surgery.
Loud, regular snoring in a young child is almost never just 'cute'. The most common cause is enlarged adenoids or tonsils, invisible from the mouth, but they can completely block a child's nasal airway. Untreated, it disturbs sleep, causes daytime tiredness, slows speech and can even alter facial growth. We diagnose with a 30-second nasal endoscopy in OPD. If surgery is needed, adenoidectomy is a 20-minute day-care procedure, child eats ice-cream by evening, back to school in a week.
Recurrent ear infections in children almost always trace back to one of three things: (1) enlarged adenoids blocking the eustachian tube, (2) chronic glue ear (fluid behind the eardrum that won't drain), or (3) an underlying allergy. We diagnose with otoscopy + tympanometry + sometimes a 30-second nasal endoscopy to look at adenoids. Treatment depends on the cause: medication first, then adenoidectomy ± grommet insertion if needed. Most children become infection-free within a few months of the right intervention.
No. Adenoid tissue's immune role peaks before age 3. By the time we operate (usually age 4-8), the rest of the immune system is well-established. Removing chronically blocked, infected adenoids does not weaken the child, in fact, it usually leads to fewer infections, better sleep and clearer speech. Decades of follow-up data from millions of adenoidectomies support this.
Modern tonsillectomy at Hemani Hospital is one of the safest pediatric surgeries, same-day procedure under general anaesthesia. Children usually have a cold drink within an hour of waking up, soft food by evening, and are back to school inside a week. We use techniques that minimise bleeding and post-op pain. Your child stays in a child-friendly recovery area, and the same surgeon who examined them performs the procedure.
Bring your child for a hearing check if: they don't respond to their name being called from another room, they consistently turn the TV volume up, speech development is delayed (not speaking 2-word sentences by 24 months), they had recurrent ear infections, or there is a family history of childhood hearing loss. Newborn hearing screening (OAE) is now a global standard, we recommend it for every baby. Catching hearing loss early prevents speech and learning delays.
Yes, for the most common type, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear get dislodged and float into the wrong canal, triggering a few seconds of intense spinning when you turn your head in bed. The Epley repositioning manoeuvre, a 5-minute, painless head movement done in OPD, fixes it in 70-80% of cases at the first session. We always do a full vestibular evaluation first to rule out the rarer causes (Meniere's, vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis).
Any hoarseness lasting more than 2 weeks deserves a vocal-cord look. Most cases turn out to be vocal nodules (teachers, singers, lawyers), polyps, silent reflux or chronic infection, all very treatable. The rarer serious causes (vocal cord cancer) are exactly the ones where catching it early changes everything, especially for over-40 smokers. We do a 60-second flexible endoscopic vocal cord exam in OPD itself.
No, they are completely different. A hearing aid amplifies sound through the natural ear; it works only if the cochlea (inner ear) still has enough functioning hair cells. A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged cochlea entirely with a surgically placed electrode that directly stimulates the hearing nerve. Hearing aids: for mild-to-severe hearing loss. Cochlear implants: for severe-to-profound loss where hearing aids can no longer help. We always do a hearing-aid trial first; most patients never need to consider an implant.
Three signals to check: (1) Is it a focused ENT-only practice, or a multi-speciality clinic where ENT is one of ten specialities? Focus matters. (2) Will the same surgeon you see in OPD also be the one inside the operating theatre? Ask directly. (3) Will the doctor talk you out of surgery if it is not needed? At Hemani Hospital, Dr. Vimal Hemani has 23+ years of focused ENT practice with 6,000+ endoscopic surgeries.
Absolutely, and we encourage it. Bring whatever reports, scans and prescriptions you already have. Many patients come specifically for an honest 'do I really need this surgery?' review, sometimes the answer is no, and that is perfectly fine to hear. The consultation fee covers the second opinion. There is no pressure to switch hospitals.
For most ENT conditions, yes. Endoscopic surgery uses a 4mm rod with a high-definition camera that goes through the nostril, no facial cut, no swelling, no scar. Compared to traditional open approaches, endoscopic surgery has less blood loss, less post-op pain, faster recovery, no facial bruising, and equivalent or better long-term results.
Most ENT surgeries are well tolerated even at 75 or 80. The bigger question is the patient's heart, lungs and diabetes status. We work with internal-medicine and anaesthesia colleagues to clear elderly patients before surgery, and use techniques that minimise blood loss and operating time. Hearing improvement after stapedectomy or grommet insertion is genuinely life-changing for the elderly.
A full ENT consultation at Hemani Hospital includes: review of your history and current medications, ear examination with otoscope, nasal examination (with rigid or flexible endoscope where indicated), throat and vocal-cord exam, neck examination, basic hearing screen if relevant, and a written prescription. Where a CT scan, audiometry or MRI is needed, the doctor explains why before recommending it. Most consultations take 15-25 minutes.
Most office workers return to the desk on day 5-7. The first 3 days are mild blocked-nose feeling and saline rinses. By day 5 most patients feel a clear airway on at least one side. Avoid: heavy gym (4 weeks), swimming (3 weeks), flying (3 weeks), heavy lifting, and forceful nose-blowing for the first 2 weeks. We share a written day-by-day recovery plan at discharge.
No, never on the same day after general anaesthesia. Even if you feel fine, anaesthesia drugs slow reaction times for 24 hours. Bring a family member or arrange a cab. For OPD-only procedures (Epley manoeuvre, simple ear cleaning, basic endoscopy), driving home is fine. We always confirm at discharge whether driving is permitted.
Septoplasty alone usually only helps if your snoring is mainly nasal. Most adult snoring is multifactorial, soft palate, tongue base, weight, alcohol and sleep position all play a role. We do not jump to septoplasty for snoring. If sleep apnea is suspected (loud snoring + gasping + daytime sleepiness), we order a sleep study first. Surgery, if needed, is usually a combination, septoplasty + UPPP (palate trimming), and only after CPAP has been tried or refused.
Three easy ways. Call +91 95122 28686 during OPD hours (Mon-Sat, 9:00 AM-12:30 PM and 4:00 PM-6:00 PM), WhatsApp the same number anytime, or fill the form on our Contact page. We confirm by SMS or WhatsApp within working hours. For Saurashtra patients we usually batch consultation + investigations on the same day.
Yes, a large share of our practice comes from across Saurashtra. For out-of-town patients we batch consultation, investigations and (where needed) surgery into one trip. We also do most pre-surgery check-ins on WhatsApp. Many families come from Jamnagar (1.5 hours), Morbi, Gondal, Junagadh, Surendranagar, Porbandar and even Bhuj for cochlear implants and complex ear surgery.
Routine OPD runs Mon-Sat, 9:00 AM-12:30 PM and 4:00 PM-6:00 PM. Sunday and after-hours slots are reserved for emergencies and follow-up post-op patients. If you genuinely cannot come during working hours, WhatsApp +91 95122 28686, we have arranged after-hours OPD slots for travelling patients before.
Same-day or emergency visit needed: sudden one-sided hearing loss, sudden severe vertigo with vomiting, foreign body stuck in ear/nose/throat (especially in children), nose bleed that does not stop in 15 minutes of pinching, severe ear pain with high fever, neck swelling with breathing difficulty, or facial weakness with ear discharge. Call +91 95122 28686 ahead so we can prepare for arrival.
WhatsApp us on +91 95122 28686, we reply during OPD hours. We also use the most-asked questions to write the next FAQ, so your question helps the next Saurashtra family.