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In general, everyone can be said to have hemorrhoids, which are pillow-like clusters of veins found beneath the mucous membranes that line the lowest part of a person’s rectum and anus.

However, the health condition that most doctors refer to as piles or hemorrhoids occurs when those veins become distended and swollen. There are internal hemorrhoids, which develop in the lower rectum, and external hemorrhoids, which appear under skin surrounding the anus.

The latter type is especially uncomfortable for a person because there is overlying skin that can become irritated, or you may see or feel a lump forming around the anus. But internal hemorrhoids can be bad, too — they may bleed yet remain pain-free, but they can also prolapse (or extend beyond the anus). This protrusion can come into contact with and collect mucus and stool particles that can infect or irritate the hemorrhoid.

What are the available hemorrhoid surgery options?

Traditionally, hemorrhoidectomy is performed by making incisions around the anus in order to cut away the hemorrhoids. A local anesthesia is often administered to numb the area being operated on, while the patient remains awake yet relaxed throughout this outpatient procedure. The patient can usually go home on the same day and come back to work after a few days of rest and recovery.

A more recently developed alternative to this conventional treatment method is stapled hemorrhoidopexy, which is ideal for prolapsed internal hemorrhoids. The surgeon makes use of a stapling device to hold the hemorrhoids in their normal position.

There are also other minimally invasive options that a patient can consider.

Rubber band ligation is one of the more popular procedures chosen by patients. Here, the base of the hemorrhoid is wrapped around with a rubber band to cut off its blood supply and kill the tissue. There are fewer pain receptors in this area, so there is not as much pain to be expected from such a method.

There’s also sclerotherapy, wherein a chemical solution is injected around the specific blood vessel that delivers blood to the hemorrhoid. This chemical then acts to shrink and destroy the hemorrhoid.

And then there is the option of undergoing laser hemorrhoidectomy. Instead of making incisions, a precise laser beam is used to burn away the hemorrhoidal tissue. This procedure involves minimal bleeding as the laser effectively seals the blood vessels, so there is also less pain, less scarring, and faster recovery time for the wound. The surrounding tissue is also left unharmed.

By selecting a trusted facility specifically focused on the effective removal of hemorrhoids, you can be sure to have your condition expertly addressed by experienced surgeons with the advanced skills, techniques and knowledge that can bring you relief and recovery in just a matter of days.