Treatment for Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid treatment options include both invasive and non-invasive methods. The internal hemorrhoid tissues have little sensation, allowing for relatively painless office treatments, such as rubber band ligation and Infrared coagulation therapy.

Infrared Coagulation Therapy

Infrared coagulation or infrared photocoagulation is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure used to reduce the internal hemorrhoids. During this procedure, our physicians use a device which produces an intense beam of infrared light to literally heat the internal hemorrhoidal tissue until scar tissue is formed. This scar tissue cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoids, and without blood supply the excess internal hemorrhoid tissue eventually shrinks up and withers away. This technique is most effective for the treatment of multiple small internal hemorrhoids.

Rubber Band Ligation

Rubber band ligation has been performed for many decades and remains a very simple, effective and well tolerated treatment for internal hemorrhoids. During this procedure, excess internal hemorrhoid tissue is drawn into a device which places a tiny rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid tissue, cutting off its blood supply. Over the following days the banded tissue sloughs away until there is nothing left to hold the rubber band, at which point it dislodges and passes with the stool. This procedure has the effect of reducing the bulk of the hemorrhoid tissue, reducing its blood supply to prevent bleeding and ‘anchoring’ the hemorrhoid tissue within the anal canal to prevent its prolapse. There are 3 major hemorrhoid bundles within the anal canal. To reduce the risk of pain or discomfort, usually only one bundle is treated at a time. Elimination of hemorrhoid symptoms usually requires from one to 3 treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart. This technique is very effective for treatment of all but the smallest or largest prolapsing hemorrhoids.