Gone are the days of large scars and long recoveries, laparoscopic surgery has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s surgical modernization. This technique blends precision, empathy, and technology to deliver faster recovery, minimal pain, and reduced hospital stays. More than just a medical advancement, it is a scalable solution reshaping healthcare across both urban and rural settings. With data-driven outcomes and patient-centric results, laparoscopic surgery is not only transforming operations but also redefining how India heals proving that smaller incisions can lead to bigger impacts.

In a quiet operating room in Mumbai, a surgeon stands poised with instruments no bigger than a pen. There are no large incisions, no excessive bleeding, just a few tiny ports in the abdomen and a team working in harmony. Within hours, the patient will be walking. Within days, they’ll be home. This is not science fiction. This is laparoscopic surgery, and one of its leading torchbearers in India is Dr Pravin Shetty, a name that has become synonymous with precision, empathy, and innovation. Dr Pravin Shetty says, “When I started out, we were still using single-chip cameras. Now, we have 3D imaging. The way we see and heal the human body has changed forever”.

A Journey Rooted in Mumbai & Inspired by the World

For over 20 years, Dr Pravin Shetty has quietly been reshaping India’s surgical landscape not just in the polished operating theatres of high-end hospitals, but also in modest community settings, where his true mission lies, making world-class surgery accessible to all.

Born and raised in a modest family in Mumbai, Dr Pravin Shetty began his medical journey at the prestigious Grant Medical College and continued his surgical training at BYL Nair Hospital. In 2000, shortly after completing his MS in General Surgery, he took a leap that few would have dared at the time, traveling to France to pursue a fellowship in laparoscopic surgery, a technique still in its infancy in India. Dr Pravin Shetty emphasizes, “Back then, very few surgeons in India were even attempting laparoscopy”. He recalls, “But, I believed in it, I saw its potential not just as a medical breakthrough, but as a way to change lives”.

Making Big Changes with Small Cuts

Laparoscopy, or keyhole surgery, involves making tiny incisions and using a camera and specialized instruments to perform complex procedures. Patients recover faster, experience less pain, and return home sooner. From gallbladder removals to hernia repairs, laser procedures for anorectal diseases, and treatment for varicose veins, Dr Pravin Shetty has performed thousands of surgeries. His specialties also include EPSiT for pilonidal sinus a modern, minimally invasive alternative to traditional excisions. But for Dr Pravin Shetty, it’s not just about technique, it’s about trust. Dr Pravin Shetty highlights, “A surgeon learns from complications, that’s how we grow. Each patient teaches us some thing”.

Affordable Surgery with Heart

While high-end laparoscopy is often restricted to corporate hospitals, Dr Pravin Shetty’s approach is different. At his 25-bed hospital in Mumbai, he offers affordable, ethical care ensuring that cost is never a barrier to quality surgery. For more complex cases, he collaborates with a larger facility in Mulund, where patients are fully informed about the higher costs and available cashless mediclaim options. Dr Pravin Shetty echoes, “We’re transparent. We explain everything. Surgery isn’t just about the operation, it’s about communication, support, and dignity”.

Dr Pravin Shetty has dedicated his life to providing advanced laparoscopic care that is both precise and compassionate, and accessible to all

Surgery, Dr Pravin Shetty insists, is never a solo act. He says, “From the nurse prepping the patient to the anesthetist monitoring vitals, every person matters. My role starts where theirs ends”. He has spent years building a seamless surgical ecosystem where every team member knows their role. This strong foundation allows him to focus entirely on the operation calm, confident, and prepared. And when he’s not in surgery, he’s teaching.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Dr Pravin Shetty is actively involved in training young surgeons through workshops and organizations like IMMAST (the teaching institute). He also mentors residents and junior doctors at his own hospital. As part of his charitable outreach, he organizes free surgical camps every few months, serving underprivileged patients who might otherwise go untreated. He is living proof that modern medicine can be both technologically advanced and socially conscious.

The Case That Stayed With Him

Among the hundreds of cases he has handled, one stands out a young psychiatric patient who had swallowed her own hair, forming a mass in her stomach. Using laparoscopy, Dr Pravin Shetty removed the hairball and repaired the stomach. “It’s been a decade. She still follows up. She’s doing great. That’s why we do what we do”, he says.

Despite receiving awards from colorectal surgical associations and numerous accolades over the years, he remains humble. “Awards are nice, but what really matters is a patient’s smile after surgery”, he adds.

Looking Ahead

Dr Pravin Shetty’s story is one of vision anchored in values. A global thinker with deep local roots, he has helped bring cutting-edge surgery to neighborhoods often left behind. He is more than a surgeon, he is a bridge between the promise of technology and the reality of healthcare in India. “Small incisions, big impact. That’s the future and it’s already here”, he emphasizes.

Never one to stop innovating, Dr Pravin Shetty is now preparing to travel to the United States to study a next-generation robotic arm designed for laparoscopic surgeries. Unlike the massive robotic systems used in tertiary centers, this compact, cost-effective arm promises to bring robotic precision to smaller hospitals. “If it works, I’ll bring it here. This could be the future robotics without the bulk or the price tag”, Dr Pravin Shetty concludes.