Hemorrhoid Treatments
When choosing hemorrhoid treatments, it’s important to choose a proctologist. Proctologists are also known as colorectal surgeons. They are skilled in multiple procedures to treat your hemorrhoids. Proctologists are specialists that only treat colon and rectal diseases.
You wouldn’t visit your primary care physician to fix an absessed tooth. You would visit a dentist or specialist. It’s the same for hemorrhoids. A primary care physician will not specialize in hemorrhoid treatments. It’s important to determine the right type of treatment that is right for you. This is based on what type of hemorrhoids you have.
In many cases, hemorrhoids can be treated with a healthy, high fiber diet. It’s important to be getting enough fluid intake. See hemorrhoid prevention. However, hemorrhoids can become serious in nature where there is pain and bleeding. So, seeking the care of a trained physician is needed.
Most hemorrhoid treatments are painless and can be performed in the office quickly with little if any down time.
Dr. Robert West is a Board Certified Proctologist who specializes in and performs the following hemorrhoid treatments.
Most Popular Hemorrhoid Treatments
Sclerotherapy:
This is a very popular, painless treatment therapy that uses a liquid solution (a sclerosant). This is injected into the hemorrhoid causing it to shrink. The procedure only takes a few minutes.
Rubber Band Ligation:
This is another popular hemorrhoid treatment which uses a rubber band that is placed around the hemorrhoid. The band cuts off the blood supply. Within a few days the hemorrhoid and band will fall off. It’s rare, but bleeding may occur. Healing may take one to two weeks.
Great care must be given in placing the band in the proper position. That’s why it’s important to have this procedure done by a specialist.
IRC or Infrared Coagulation:
This procedure uses an instrument which generates infrared light. The heat from the light causes the hemorrhoid to shrink.
Hemorrhoidectomy
This is surgery to remove the internal and external hemorrhoids. When all other treatments fail, this is needed to remove the tissue that causes the bleeding called hemorrhoids. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhoids, this surgery may be performed in our facility, or hospitalization may be required.
When you come in for your examination, the most effective hemorrhoid treatments will be determined. Our goal is for you to be pain free and symptom free as soon as possible.
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