Dr. Vishal Rao

About Dr. Vishal Rao

Dr. Vishal Rao is the Group Director for Head & Neck Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery at a leading Indian cancer network, with over 23 years of clinical experience, internationally trained at India's most prestigious cancer centre, a Fellow of a premier UK royal surgical college and a leading US surgical college, and inventor of the $1 Aum Voice Prosthesis used by throat-cancer patients globally.

23+ years of clinical experience in head and neck surgical oncology and robotic surgery
MBBS, MS in Otorhinolaryngology and Fellowship in Head & Neck Oncosurgery from India's most prestigious cancer centre in Mumbai; Fellow of a premier UK royal surgical college and a leading US surgical college
Inventor of the $1 Aum Voice Prosthesis — one of 100 global social innovations; 13+ patents; recognition by BBC, Harvard Business Review and Forbes
Recipient of Bengaluru's highest civil award, the Kannadiga of the Year award 2018 and the Rotary Vocational Training Award 2016 for the voice prosthesis invention
Group Director Head & Neck Surgical Oncology and Dean for the Centre for Academic Research; member of premier international cancer control, head & neck oncology and global tobacco control organisations

Qualifications & Credentials

Medical Degrees

MBBS — Indian medical college
MS (Otorhinolaryngology / ENT) — A reputed institute in Karnataka, India

Fellowships & Special Training

Fellowship in Head & Neck Oncosurgery — Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) — Glasgow, United Kingdom
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) — USA
Member of the Royal Society of Medicine
Certified and trained in Minimally Invasive Head & Neck Surgical Oncology with Robotic Surgery
Certified and trained in Laser Surgery for Head & Neck

Certifications & Accreditations

Karnataka Medical Council Registration
Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow — Fellow (FRCS)
American College of Surgeons (USA) — Fellow (FACS)
Royal Society of Medicine — Member
Foundation of Head and Neck Oncology (FHNO) — National Executive Committee Member
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Globalink — Member, Global Tobacco Control
Action Council Against Tobacco (ACT) India — Member
State Association for Otolaryngology — Head Neck Surgery, Karnataka — Executive Board Member
Indian Medical Association (IMA) — Member

Areas of Expertise

Major Conditions Treated

Oral Cavity (Mouth) Cancer
Oropharyngeal Cancer
Laryngeal Cancer (Voice Box Cancer)
Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Thyroid Cancer (Benign & Malignant)
Parotid & Submandibular Salivary Gland Tumours
Neck Tumours & Lymph Node Metastases
Carotid Body Tumours
Parapharyngeal Space Tumours
Other Vascular Head & Neck Tumours
Tongue Cancer / Buccal Mucosa Cancer
Skull Base Tumours
Recurrent & Locally Advanced Head & Neck Cancers

Sub-specialties

Robotic Head & Neck Surgery: Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal cancers — a leading Head and Neck Surgical Oncology specialist in Bangalore, India.
Voice Prosthesis Surgery: Inventor of the $1 Aum Voice Prosthesis; voice restoration after laryngectomy — trusted as the best Oncology doctor in India for laryngeal cancer voice restoration.
Thyroid & Parotid Surgery: Complex thyroid, parathyroid and salivary gland surgery.
Vascular Neck Tumours: Carotid body and parapharyngeal space tumour surgery.
Cancer Prevention & Anti-Tobacco Programmes: Global advocacy in tobacco control.

Advanced Procedures & Treatments

Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS)
Composite Resection with Reconstruction
Total Laryngectomy
Aum Voice Prosthesis Placement (Speaking Valve)
Glossectomy with Free Flap Reconstruction
Radical Neck Dissection
Modified Radical Neck Dissection
Total Thyroidectomy with Central Compartment Clearance
Parotidectomy (Superficial & Total)
Carotid Body Tumour Resection
Parapharyngeal Space Tumour Surgery
Laser Surgery for Head & Neck Cancers
Minimally Invasive Head & Neck Surgery

List of Disease and Treatment for which Dr. Vishal Rao can be consulted

Professional Experience

Current Affiliation

Group Director, Head & Neck Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery — HCG Cancer Centre, Kalinga Rao Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India (Present)
Dean, Centre for Academic Research — HCG Academics, Bangalore, India

Past Affiliations

Fellow in Head & Neck Oncosurgery — Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India
Consultant at multiple leading hospitals including Chord Road Hospital, BGS Global Hospital, Apollo Hospital, Fortis Hospital and Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology

Academic & Research Roles

Dean, Centre for Academic Research, HCG Academics
Group Director, Head & Neck Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery
Inventor with 13+ patents to his credit
TEDx speaker and global advocate for tobacco control
Author of multiple publications in international medical journals
Recognised by BBC, Harvard Business Review and Forbes for innovation in medical devices, drugs, techniques and theories

Key Achievements

23+ years of clinical experience in head and neck surgical oncology
Inventor of the $1 Aum Voice Prosthesis — one of 100 global social innovations
13+ patents to his credit
Kempegowda Award — highest civil award conferred by Bengaluru Corporation
Varshada Kannadiga Award 2018 (Kannadiga of the Year) for contributions to Science and Technology
Rotary Vocational Training Award 2016 for the voice prosthesis invention
Gold Medal in Innovation — South Zone Conference 2006
Recognised globally by BBC, Harvard Business Review and Forbes

Awards & Recognitions

National & International Awards

Kempegowda Award — Bengaluru Corporation
Varshada Kannadiga Award 2018 (Kannadiga of the Year)
Rotary Vocational Training Award 2016 — for the Aum Voice Prosthesis invention
N.D. Purushottam Innovation Award 2015 — for the $1 voice prosthesis
Gold Medal in Innovation — South Zone Conference, Belgaum 2006
Aum Voice Prosthesis recognised as one of 100 global social innovations
Global recognition by BBC, Harvard Business Review and Forbes

Professional Memberships

Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow (FRCS)
American College of Surgeons, USA (FACS)
Royal Society of Medicine
Foundation of Head and Neck Oncology (FHNO) — National Executive Committee
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Globalink
Action Council Against Tobacco (ACT) India
State Association for Otolaryngology — Head Neck Surgery, Karnataka
Indian Medical Association (IMA)

Research & Publications

Published Papers (Selected)

Rao VUS, et al. "Spindle Cell Tumor of the Larynx." 36th MENTCON, Maharashtra State ENT Conference, Mahabaleshwar, 2004.
Rao VUS. Innovation award publications on the Aum Voice Prosthesis ($1 voice prosthesis for throat cancer patients), 2015.
Multiple publications in international medical journals on head and neck oncology, voice restoration and tobacco control

Ongoing Research & Clinical Interests

Affordable voice prosthesis innovation
Robotic head and neck surgical oncology
Global tobacco control and cancer prevention
Minimally invasive head and neck cancer surgery

Estimated Treatment Costs

Procedure / Consultation	Estimated Cost (INR)	Estimated Cost (USD)
Head & Neck Onco-Surgery Consultation	₹1,000 – ₹2,500	$12 – $30
Total Thyroidectomy with Lymph Node Clearance	₹1,80,000 – ₹3,80,000	$2,160 – $4,560
Parotidectomy	₹1,50,000 – ₹3,00,000	$1,800 – $3,600
Total Laryngectomy	₹3,00,000 – ₹6,00,000	$3,600 – $7,200
Composite Resection with Reconstruction	₹4,00,000 – ₹9,00,000	$4,800 – $10,800
Glossectomy with Free Flap Reconstruction	₹4,50,000 – ₹9,50,000	$5,400 – $11,400
Robotic Head & Neck Surgery	₹4,50,000 – ₹9,50,000	$5,400 – $11,400
Voice Prosthesis Placement (Speaking Valve)	₹50,000 – ₹1,80,000	$600 – $2,160
Radical Neck Dissection	₹2,00,000 – ₹4,50,000	$2,400 – $5,400

*Indicative estimates only. Actual costs subject to hospital pricing, case complexity, and insurance. Contact Cancer Rounds for a personalised quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What advanced technologies does Dr. Vishal Rao use in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology treatment?

Dr. Vishal Rao uses cutting-edge head and neck surgical oncology techniques including Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS), composite resection with reconstruction, total laryngectomy, Aum Voice Prosthesis placement (speaking valve), glossectomy with free flap reconstruction, radical and modified radical neck dissection, total thyroidectomy with central compartment clearance, superficial and total parotidectomy, carotid body tumour resection, parapharyngeal space tumour surgery, laser surgery for head and neck cancers, and minimally invasive head and neck surgery. Virtual consultations and remote second opinions are available to international patients through Cancer Rounds.

2. What conditions does Dr. Vishal Rao specialize in treating?

Dr. Vishal Rao is a specialist Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist treating oral cavity (mouth) cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer (voice box cancer), hypopharyngeal cancer, thyroid cancer (benign and malignant), parotid and submandibular salivary gland tumours, neck tumours and lymph node metastases, carotid body tumours, parapharyngeal space tumours, other vascular head and neck tumours, tongue cancer, buccal mucosa cancer, skull base tumours, and recurrent or locally advanced head and neck cancers. International patients seek him as a leading Head and Neck Surgical Oncology specialist in Bangalore, India.

3. How do I book an appointment with Dr. Vishal Rao?

Appointments with Dr. Vishal Rao can be booked directly through the Cancer Rounds website or by contacting their international patient department for priority scheduling.

4. Can international patients receive treatment from Dr. Vishal Rao?

Yes. Cancer Rounds provides full assistance for international patients seeking treatment from Dr. Vishal Rao, including medical visa invitation letters, airport transfers, and local accommodation coordination.

5. What support is available for international patients?

International patients benefit from a dedicated concierge service provided by Cancer Rounds, including language interpretation, financial counselling, and pre-travel virtual consultations to review medical records before arrival.

6. Does Dr. Vishal Rao offer second opinions for Head and Neck Surgical Oncology cases?

Yes. Second opinion consultations with Dr. Vishal Rao can be arranged through Cancer Rounds — especially valuable for international patients evaluating robotic head and neck surgery, voice restoration after laryngectomy (Aum Voice Prosthesis), thyroid cancer surgery or carotid body tumour surgery with an FRCS-Glasgow, FACS-USA and Tata Memorial-trained Head and Neck Surgical Oncology specialist in Bangalore, India.

About Dr. Vishal Rao