Hemorrhoid Removal Guide 101 - Discover How to Remove Hemorrhoids Fast

Although hemorrhoids are common, the discomfort they cause leaves most patients wanting them gone! While there are many treatment options available to reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids, shrink them, and prevent future flare-ups, the most common way to remove them is through medical surgery or procedures.

Here’s a closer look at everything you need to know about hemorrhoid removal.

How to Remove Hemorrhoids

While lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and over-the-counter medications can effectively treat hemorrhoids, their removal requires a different approach. To remove hemorrhoids, your medical provider will schedule one of several procedures or surgeries.

There are several procedures that can be done in your doctor’s office without anesthesia, and they effectively remove hemorrhoids for most patients.

Banding, or rubber band ligation, is one of the most common procedures used to remove hemorrhoids. Most commonly used to treat internal hemorrhoids, a tight band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoids to cut off the blood supply. The hemorrhoid dies off with only mild discomfort.

Banding generally requires two or more procedures that are spaced over a period of six weeks, but it is not too painful (1).

Another procedure to remove hemorrhoids is sclerotherapy. This procedure works by injecting a chemical into the hemorrhoid. The chemical causes the hemorrhoid to shrink without severe pain.

Coagulation therapy, also known as infrared photocoagulation, is a procedure that uses infrared light, heat, or extreme cold to remove hemorrhoids. The hemorrhoid retracts and shrinks. There is only mild discomfort present during the procedure.

When you are pregnant with hemorrhoids it is advised to speak with your hemorrhoid doctor to see which treatment is safe for you.

Most common hemorrhoid removal surgeries without anesthesia:

1. Rubber Band Ligation (Banding)
2. Sclerotherapy (Injection) (2)
3. Coagulation therapy (Infrared Light)

If medical procedures without anesthesia do not successfully remove your hemorrhoids, surgery may need to be performed in a hospital.

The most common surgery for hemorrhoids is a hemorrhoidectomy. It is an effective way to remove large, external hemorrhoids or internal, prolapsed hemorrhoids.

Your surgeon will decide which type of anesthesia will work for you. The surgeon will make an incision and cut out the hemorrhoid. They will then stitch the incision.

As long as vital signs are stable, you should return home the same day.

Hemorrhoid pain is common, as well as bleeding, and recovery can last from 7-10 days to extended periods of time.

Finally, a hemorrhoidopexy, commonly known as stapling, can also be used to remove hemorrhoids. It is also performed in a hospital and is a same-day surgery. It is used to treat prolapsed hemorrhoids.

Your surgeon will staple the prolapsed hemorrhoid back into place. The stapling will cut off the blood supply, causing the tissue to shrink and be reabsorbed. Recovery time and the amount of pain patients experience is less than a hemorrhoidectomy.

Most common hemorrhoid removal surgeries with anesthesia:

1. Hemorrhoidectomy
2. Hemorrhoidopexy (Stapling)

Hemorrhoid Removal at Home Treatment Options

Hemorrhoids exist naturally in our bodies, so there is no way to truly remove them outside of a surgical procedure.

At home, there are several options to treat hemorrhoids. Most hemorrhoids can be treated through natural remedies or over-the-counter medications.

Once you have treated the symptoms and reduced your problem hemorrhoids, lifestyle changes can help ensure that your hemorrhoids do not return (3).

Addressing the common hemorrhoid causes can help you learn to prevent them from becoming chronic and requiring surgery.

In some cases, however, lifestyle changes will not do the trick. In these cases, the only way to remove a hemorrhoid is through a medical procedure in a doctor’s office or surgery in the hospital.

Is Hemorrhoid Removal Without Surgery Possible?

While hemorrhoids cannot be removed without surgery, there are ways to get rid of hemorrhoids without surgery.

Natural at-home remedies include sitz baths, application of cold compresses, some natural hemorrhoid supplements, and good bowel habits.

In addition to at-home remedies, there are many over-the-counter medications that can effectively treat hemorrhoids. These include creams, ointments, suppositories, anti-inflammatory drugs, and prescription versions of the same.

Once the hemorrhoids are no longer symptomatic and the swelling subsides, there are many lifestyle changes that can help keep them away.

This includes increasing your daily fiber and water intake, practicing good hygiene, exercising daily, and avoiding straining.

Best Hemorrhoid Removal Surgery

There are two types of hemorrhoid removal surgeries.

The first are hemorrhoid removal surgeries without anesthesia.

These include banding, sclerotherapy, coagulation therapy, and hemorrhoidal artery ligation. These procedures can be performed in a doctor’s office and do not require anesthesia. 

And, most of them are painless and have short recovery times.

Banding involves the placement of a tight band at the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off blood supply and cause the hemorrhoid to die off.

Sclerotherapy works by injecting a chemical into the hemorrhoid causing it to shrink and reabsorb into the system.

Coagulation therapy uses extreme cold, heat, and infrared light to force the hemorrhoid to retract and shrink.

Finally, hemorrhoid artery ligation locates the blood vessels causing the hemorrhoid using an ultrasound. Once located, the hemorrhoid is ligated.

Hemorrhoidal surgery under anesthesia is also available. The two most common types are a hemorrhoidectomy and hemorrhoidopexy. Both procedures are performed in a hospital by a doctor and done under anesthesia.

A hemorrhoidectomy involves placing a small incision in the anal tissue to remove the hemorrhoid. The incision is then stitched, and patients are sent home the same day.

A hemorrhoidopexy is also referred to as stapling. The prolapsed hemorrhoid is stapled back into place causing it to shrink. Just like a hemorrhoidectomy, this surgery is done as a same day procedure but is the least painful of the two.

Will My Hemorrhoids Go Away Without Surgery?

Yes, typically hemorrhoids will go away on their own. Occasionally, hemorrhoids can swell, become infected, or be chronic in nature. In these instances it may be a good idea to see a medical professional.

What Kind of Doctor Removes Hemorrhoids?

The type of doctor that removes hemorrhoids is generally a colorectal surgeon. There are also some specialists who will treat hemorrhoids, like a proctologist or a gastroenterologist.
Hemorrhoid Removal Cost

The cost of a hemorrhoidectomy ranges from $2,800 to $4,600 on average but will vary based on location and the doctor’s office you choose to do the surgery.

Medical procedures performed in a doctor’s office are done at significantly lower costs. They average around $600 per visit, with some treatments requiring 2-3 visits.

Many insurance policies will cover hemorrhoid removal, especially if other conventional hemorrhoid treatments haven’t been successful.

Laser Hemorrhoid Removal

Laser hemorrhoid surgery, also known as a hemorrhoidectomy, is one of the most effective options to get rid of painful, symptomatic hemorrhoids. The advantages of laser hemorrhoid removal are many. The process does present some pain, but the relief from painful hemorrhoids in the long run is well worth it.

Most patients are discharged the same day. Although the surgery is performed in a hospital, it does not require a stay.

Because the doctor uses a laser, hemorrhoidal bleeding is minimal. While some patients prefer natural options, there are many cases where surgery is required.

Laser hemorrhoid surgery is a great option for a permanent solution. While procedures like banding can require multiple visits before the hemorrhoid is resolved, laser hemorrhoid surgery requires one visit before you are on the road to recovery.

Medical lasers are a recent advance to many areas of the healthcare industry. Another advantage to laser removal is that the hemorrhoid seals as it cuts, eliminating the need for stitches.

External Hemorrhoid Removal Tips

External hemorrhoid removal often requires a hemorrhoidectomy. While the most effective treatment for external hemorrhoids is prevention, some patients end up with hemorrhoids unexpectedly.

Because external hemorrhoids are the most bothersome, highly-symptomatic hemorrhoids, most patients are looking to get rid of them as soon as possible.

A thrombosed external hemorrhoid is the worst type of hemorrhoid you can have. They form when the blood clots in an external hemorrhoids. Occasionally hemorrhoids burst and bleed. 

How to Remove External Hemorrhoids

Do external hemorrhoids go away?

The most important bit of information regarding removal of external hemorrhoids is to never try to pop a hemorrhoid. This can lead to dangerous bleeding and even infection. If you have tried to treat hemorrhoids with at-home remedies and over-the-counter medications, talk to your doctor about your options for removal.

The most common removal options for external hemorrhoids are a hemorrhoidectomy or laser hemorrhoid surgery.

This permanent solution has a period of recovery time, but is still considered a minor surgery. The two surgeries are essentially the same, although laser hemorrhoid surgery uses a medical laser to perform the operation.

Our how to get rid of external hemorrhoids guide can help you deal with these hemorrhoids.

Internal Hemorrhoid Removal

Internal hemorrhoid removal is commonly done through a procedure called banding. Banding, as previously mentioned, is also known as rubber band ligation. This procedure performed in a doctor’s office without the use of anesthesia.

How Does Banding Work for Internal hemorrhoids?

During the banding process, a tight band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid. This cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to die off. The procedure generally needs to be performed two to three times within a six week period.

As with external hemorrhoid removal, sclerotherapy, infrared coagulation, and hemorrhoidal artery ligation can also be used to remove internal hemorrhoids.Our external hemorrhoid guide can help you learn more about these types of hemorrhoids.

The more serious surgical procedure used to treat internal hemorrhoids is called a hemorrhoidopexy, or stapling. The surgery is done by a surgeon in the hospital under anesthesia.

During a hemorrhoidopexy, the surgeon will staple the hemorrhoid back in place inside the rectum. The stapling causes the tissue to shrink as the blood supply is cut off. This surgical procedure is used most for prolapsed internal hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoid Skin Tag Removal

Once hemorrhoids are removed or resolve, there are some cases where a hemorrhoid skin tag is left behind.

A hemorrhoid skin tag is a soft, shapeless flap of skin that is left behind from a hemorrhoid. Hemorrhoid skin tags do not generally present any problems, although they can be embarrassing.

In some cases, hemorrhoid skin tags can get fecal matter stuck underneath them. This can lead to itching and burning. While many hemorrhoidal skin tags are not treated, there are treatment options if the skin tag continually becomes irritated.

The tags can be removed through an outpatient procedure that is done under anesthesia. In most cases, lasers are used to remove the excess skin and resurface the tissue.