Best Hepatobiliary Specialists for Liver Resection in Chennai, India

This page lists 2 liver resection doctors in Chennai, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

Quick answer

This page lists 2 liver resection doctors in Chennai, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

About Liver Resection doctors in Chennai, India

This directory is based on doctors currently listed in GAF Healthcare's registry. Clinical suitability varies by patient; a doctor should review your history and investigations before any treatment decision.

Liver Resection doctors

Image not available Featured

Dr. Arul Kumar S

MBBS, MS in General Surgery, Fellowship in HPB Surgery, Fellowship in Liver Transplantation
Associate Consultant — Surgical Gastroenterology · Specialty: Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgeon
Rela Hospital Chennai, India18+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 18+ years of experience in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgeon
  • Associate Consultant, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and HPB Surgery, Rela Hospital, Chennai (Present)
  • Training in HPB Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore (2014–2016)
Expertise & Procedures
  • Live donor liver transplantation
  • Deceased donor liver transplant
  • Hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection
  • Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy)
  • Complex liver resections
View all procedures →
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgeon Experience: 18+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Rela HospitalHospital accreditation: NABH, NABL
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Dr. Kumar Palaniappan

MBBS, DNB General Surgery, DNB Surgical Gastroenterology, Fellowship in Liver Transplantation & HPB Surgery
Clinical Lead — Laparoscopy Liver Surgery, Surgical Gastroenterology · Specialty: Hepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgeon
Rela Hospital Chennai, India20+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 20+ years of experience in Hepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgeon
  • Clinical Lead – Laparoscopy Liver Surgery, Senior Consultant Abdominal Trauma, HPB Surgery & Liver Transplantation, Rela Hospital, Chennai – Present
  • Senior Consultant Hepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgery, Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Chennai
Expertise & Procedures
  • Liver Transplantation (Living & Deceased Donor)
  • Laparoscopic Liver Resection
  • Hepatic Tumor Surgery
  • Whipple Procedure (Pancreaticoduodenectomy)
  • Gastrectomy
View all procedures →
Hepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgeon Experience: 20+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Rela HospitalHospital accreditation: NABH, NABL

Hospitals where these doctors practise

Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre🇮🇳 Chennai, India
Starting from$8,000

Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre

Est. 2018
NABHNational Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditationNABLNational Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation
Liver ResectionLiver Transplant & HPBCardiac SurgeryCardiology
2+
Doctors for Liver Resection
4.7
108 reviews
450+
Beds
8+
Years Since Founded
Dr. Arul Kumar SDr. Kumar Palaniappan

Why consider treatment in India?

Many international patients consider India for liver cancer treatment for several reasons, including:

More affordable estimates

Competitive indicative costs compared with many other countries, for similar clinical standards.

Internationally accredited hospitals

Hospitals experienced in treating international patients.

Experienced specialists

Doctors who regularly manage similar cases.

Care coordination support

A team to help with planning, medical translation and follow-up.

About the Procedure

What is Liver Resection?

Liver resection is a surgical procedure to remove a portion of the liver affected by primary liver cancer, metastatic tumors, or bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), while preserving enough healthy liver tissue to maintain normal function. It is often the most effective curative option for localized liver tumors and can be performed via open surgery or minimally invasive techniques depending on tumor size, location, and patient fitness. India's leading HPB centers offer this procedure with outcomes comparable to Western hospitals at a fraction of the cost.

Who may be considered?

Liver Resection may be considered after a qualified specialist reviews your reports and medical history. Suitability varies from person to person and must be assessed by your treating doctor.

How does it work?

Traditional open surgery through an abdominal incision, preferred for large, multiple, or centrally located tumors requiring extensive resection.

3 approaches available for this procedure:

Open Liver Resection (Hepatectomy)

Most Common for Complex Tumors

Traditional open surgery through an abdominal incision, preferred for large, multiple, or centrally located tumors requiring extensive resection.

Comprehensive Investigations

Estimated cost: $400 - $900

CT triple-phase liver, MRI with contrast, liver function tests, CBC, coagulation profile, tumor markers (AFP, CA 19-9, CEA), ECG, cardiac clearance, viral hepatitis screening

Treatment / Procedure Estimate

Estimated cost in India: $8,000 - $14,000

Stay in India

Pre-procedure stay (outside hospital): ~2-3 days
Hospitalisation: ~7-10 days
Recovery period (outside hospital): ~4-6 weeks recommended
Total stay: approx 4-5 weeks

Usually Included in Hospital Package

  • Surgeon and anesthetist fees
  • ICU and ward stay
  • Standard OT and surgical implants if needed
  • Routine post-op medications
  • Basic follow-up consultations

Usually Not Included

  • Pre-op advanced imaging done outside package
  • Chemotherapy or targeted therapy
  • Complications requiring extended ICU/ventilator support
  • Long-term oncology follow-up
  • Airfare and local accommodation

Recovery and follow-up

Most patients resume light activities within 3-4 weeks, with full recovery and liver regeneration typically occurring over 2-3 months; follow-up imaging and blood tests are scheduled periodically to monitor liver function and detect recurrence.

Risks

Potential risks include bleeding, bile leakage, infection, liver failure in patients with underlying liver disease, and, rarely, need for further surgery; careful pre-operative liver function assessment helps minimize these risks.

Alternatives

Depending on tumor stage and liver function, alternatives may include liver transplantation, ablation therapies (RFA/microwave), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), or systemic/targeted chemotherapy for inoperable cases.

What we need to prepare a formal estimate

Share whatever you have — the care team will confirm the final checklist after reviewing your case.

Reports required

  • Recent CT scan (triple-phase, abdomen)
  • MRI liver with contrast (if available)
  • Liver function tests (LFT)
  • Tumor marker results (AFP, CA 19-9, CEA)
  • Viral hepatitis (HBV/HCV) screening report
  • Biopsy/histopathology report if performed
  • Prior surgical or treatment history summary
  • Recent CBC and coagulation profile

Patient information needed

  • Age and general health status
  • History of liver disease or cirrhosis
  • Current medications and allergies
  • Presence of jaundice or bile duct involvement
  • Prior abdominal surgeries
  • Alcohol consumption or smoking history
  • Availability of a caregiver during recovery
  • Insurance or payment method for treatment

Costs shown are indicative planning estimates based on typical pricing across leading Indian hospitals. They are not a quote — actual pricing depends on your case complexity, hospital choice, and length of stay. Share your reports for a personalized estimate.

Want a formal estimate?

Share your reports and patient information so our care coordination team can review your case.

How this directory is built

Doctors are matched using the specialty, location, condition (Liver Resection) and procedure (Liver Resection) recorded in their profiles. Inclusion is not an endorsement and does not guarantee a treatment outcome.

Need help with the next step?

Share your needs with our care coordination team for information about doctors and hospitals.

Common questions

FAQs about Liver Resection in Chennai, India

What is Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer is a malignant growth arising in the liver tissue, most often hepatocellular carcinoma developing on a background of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Less commonly, it may originate in the bile ducts within the liver (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) or spread to the liver from another primary site.
What are the symptoms and health risks of Liver Cancer?
Early-stage liver cancer frequently causes no noticeable symptoms, which is why it is often found during surveillance of high-risk patients. When symptoms do appear they may include persistent upper-right abdominal pain or a sense of fullness, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), fatigue, or abdominal swelling from fluid accumulation. These symptoms overlap with many other liver and gastrointestinal conditions, so their presence alone is not sufficient to establish a diagnosis.
How is Liver Cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically begins with a detailed clinical history and physical examination, followed by blood tests including liver function panels and tumour markers such as AFP. Cross-sectional imaging—most commonly multiphase contrast-enhanced CT or MRI—is central to characterising the lesion and is often sufficient for diagnosis in the context of cirrhosis using established criteria (such as LI-RADS or EASL guidelines). Staging—most commonly using the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system—integrates tumour size, number, vascular invasion, liver function (Child-Pugh score), and performance status to guide treatment planning; a tissue biopsy is obtained when imaging findings are inconclusive.
How is Liver Cancer treated?
Treatment is highly individualised and depends on tumour stage, underlying liver function, and the patient's overall health. Surgical options such as hepatic resection (surgical removal of the tumour-bearing portion of the liver) or liver transplantation offer the best chance of long-term disease control for eligible patients, while locoregional therapies—including radiofrequency ablation (RFA), transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)—are used for patients who are not suitable candidates for surgery. Systemic therapies, including targeted agents such as sorafenib or lenvatinib and immunotherapy combinations, are options for advanced-stage disease.
Can Liver Cancer be treated without a procedure?
Non-surgical pathways play a significant role in liver cancer management and are not limited to palliative intent. Locoregional treatments such as TACE, thermal ablation, or radioembolisation (SIRT) can achieve meaningful tumour control in intermediate-stage disease, and systemic targeted therapy or immunotherapy is the standard approach for advanced HCC. Active surveillance with regular imaging and AFP testing is an established strategy for very small, low-risk lesions identified in cirrhotic patients, with treatment initiated if the tumour progresses—all decisions are made on an individual basis by the treating team.
When is Liver Resection considered for Liver Cancer?
Liver Resection may be considered only when it is appropriate for the confirmed diagnosis and the expected benefit outweighs the individual risks. The decision may depend on symptom severity, investigation results, previous treatment, overall health and the patient's goals. A specialist should discuss alternatives and recovery before any procedure is planned.
Which doctor treats Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer is typically managed by a hepatobiliary or surgical oncologist who specialises in liver surgery, working within a multidisciplinary team that usually includes a hepatologist (liver physician), a medical oncologist, an interventional radiologist, and a radiation oncologist. In cases where transplantation is considered, a transplant hepatologist and transplant surgeon are also involved.
How do I choose a doctor for Liver Cancer?
When selecting a provider, look for a surgeon or centre with documented experience in hepatic resection and liver cancer specifically, with access to a formal multidisciplinary tumour board, advanced imaging and locoregional treatment capabilities, and a clear plan for post-treatment surveillance and follow-up care.
What documents do international patients need to share for a medical evaluation?
Share a concise medical summary, symptom timeline, previous diagnoses, investigation and imaging reports, procedure or biopsy reports where relevant, current medicines, allergies and related treatment records. Provide clear copies with translations when needed. The reviewing doctor may request additional information before giving an opinion.
How does GAF Healthcare help international patients plan treatment in India?
Our care coordination team can review the initial information, help identify suitable doctors and hospitals, request a medical opinion where available, explain next steps and indicative cost information, and support practical planning before travel. A remote opinion does not replace an in-person examination or emergency care.