Hemorrhoid Banding in Boulder, CO

Hemorrhoids are areas of enlarged blood vessels in the anus. They can be very uncomfortable if left untreated. At Alpine Surgical, we help patients with hemorrhoid banding in Boulder, CO.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Internal Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids may be remedied with a high-fiber diet, cold compresses, and topical ointments containing hydrocortisone. Sometimes, though, home cures or other forms of treatment are ineffective as the hemorrhoids may start to hurt and itch more.

Hemorrhoids that don’t improve with home remedies can be treated by hemorrhoid banding, commonly known as rubber band ligation. This minimally invasive procedure stops blood flow to the hemorrhoid by placing a rubber band around the hemorrhoid’s root.

Before recommending hemorrhoid banding, Dr. Fox or Dr. Beckley may perform a comprehensive colon examination if you have family history of colon cancer. Additionally, you could require routine colonoscopies.

Hemorrhoid Banding Procedure

Hemorrhoid banding is typically an outpatient operation and does not require hospital stay. You will either receive anesthesia or have a topical anesthetic applied to your rectum before the surgery. You could require general anesthesia if you have a lot of hemorrhoids that need to be bandaged or if they are extremely painful.

Our surgeon will then insert an anoscope into your rectum until it reaches the hemorrhoid. It is a little tube with a light at the end. Then, a little instrument called a ligator will be inserted through the anoscope.

To restrict blood flow, our surgeon will use the ligator to apply one or two rubber bands to the hemorrhoid’s base. This procedure will be repeated for any further hemorrhoids. During the bandaging procedure, any blood clots present will also be removed. Hemorrhoid banding usually takes a few minutes, but it may take longer if you have several hemorrhoids.

The hemorrhoids will dry up and fall off one or two weeks after the treatment. Once the hemorrhoids are dried up, they usually go away with bowel movements, so you might not notice when they fall off.

Recovering from Hemorrhoid Banding

A few days following hemorrhoid banding, you may experience some discomfort, such as abdominal pain or swelling, constipation, and a gassy stomach. To help avoid bloating and constipation, our surgeon could advise taking laxatives or a stool softener.

Additionally, you can experience some bleeding for a few days following the treatment. Although this is normal, you should speak with our surgeons if it persists after two or three days.

Hemorrhoid Banding at Alpine Surgical

It may take multiple banding treatments before your hemorrhoid completely goes away. Still, it is a low-risk and effective treatment for hemorrhoids. Alpine Surgical offers hemorrhoid banding in Boulder, CO, and you can rely on our expert surgeons to help you get back to good health.