Hemorrhoid FAQs

1. What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins located in the lower rectum or anus. There are two types of hemorrhoids: internal and external. Depending on the location, symptoms may include pain, inflammation, itching, and a feeling of fullness following a bowel movement. Additionally, there may be bright red blood covering the stool, on the toilet tissue or in the toilet bowl.

2. What causes hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids result from an increase in pressure in the veins of the rectum This may be caused by constipation, pregnancy, childbirth, obesity, heavy lifting, long periods of sitting, or diarrhea. In Western countries, constipation is associated with diets low in fiber and high in fat.

3. Who gets hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids affect both men and women. The incidence of hemorrhoids increases after age 30, and by age 50, about half of the population will have experienced the condition.

4. How does banding work?

A tiny rubber band is placed around the tissue above the hemorrhoid. This cuts off blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink and fall off typically within one to five days. You probably won’t even notice when this happens or be able to spot the rubber band in the toilet.

5. Does banding hurt?

No. Thanks to our improved instruments and technique, band placement is painless. You may experience a feeling of fullness or dull ache in the rectum for the first 24 hours, but this can generally be relieved by over-the-counter pain medication. A recent study of our banding technique shows that 99.1% of patients experience no significant post-procedural pain.

6. How many bands are necessary?

There are three sites where hemorrhoids form frequently, and it is not uncommon for all three sites to require treatment. We generally only band one hemorrhoid site at a time in separate visits, as multiple bandings have been found to increase complications. Also, some extremely large hemorrhoids may require additional banding sessions. Thus, multiple bands may be used in severe cases, but one to three is standard.

7. Can you treat external hemorrhoids?

Yes. Most hemorrhoidal symptoms are from dilated internal hemorrhoids and or anal fissures. The banding of internal hemorrhoids usually shrinks the external hemorrhoids as well and is highly effective in relieving the symptoms of pain and bleeding. After banding is completed there may be an external component or skin tag that persists, but usually they do not cause much in the way of symptoms. An acute thrombosis of an external hemorrhoid can be very painful and may require drainage. Please note that not all offices offer skin tag removal or drainage of thrombosed hemorrhoids. Please consult with the office in which you would like to be seen prior to your appointment.

8. Will I have to miss work or other activities?

Your first appointment with our center will probably be the longest, as it involves a consultation, medical history and diagnosis. We suggest you allot up to an hour. Subsequent treatment sessions will be shorter, around 15-30 minutes total. After a hemorrhoid banding procedure, we recommend that you refrain from vigorous activities the rest of the day and resume full activity the next day. Many patients with office jobs find they can return to work immediately following their appointment.

9. Why aren't creams and home remedies enough?

Hemorrhoid creams and suppositories are designed to provide temporary relief for symptoms such as pain and itching. They cannot shrink the hemorrhoid, stop it from growing larger or make it go away. Ultimately, the only permanent cure for recurrent symptoms is the destruction or removal of the hemorrhoid itself.

10. How do I know if I have hemorrhoids or an anal fissure?

Good question. Anal pain, itching and bleeding are symptoms of both hemorrhoids and anal fissures. As a result, it’s possible for people to incorrectly self-diagnose themselves. Always consult a physician for a proper diagnosis. Because bleeding is also a symptom of colorectal cancer, it’s important to rule out other problems as well.

11. How much does banding cost?

Please call the office where you would like to be treated for the most up-to-date pricing on the services you may require. Most major insurance plans including Medicare, cover hemorrhoid banding, anal fissure treatment and colorectal cancer screening.

12. Do hemorrhoids increase the risk of colorectal cancer?

No. Hemorrhoids do not increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer. But since both conditions can produce bleeding as a symptom, it’s important to determine whether cancer may also be present. After treating your hemorrhoids (thus resolving any bleeding related to the hemorrhoids), we can screen you for colorectal cancer with a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), which tests for the presence of blood in the stool or a colonoscopy may be recommended. Research shows that up to 2.3% of patients with bleeding hemorrhoids may also have colorectal cancer.

13. Will my insurance cover banding?

Most major insurance plans including Medicare, cover hemorrhoid banding, anal fissure treatment and colorectal cancer screening. However, as insurance coverage varies, please call the office where you would like to be treated, for assistance with your specific policy.

14. How common is banding?

Rubber band ligation is the most frequently used non-surgical treatment for hemorrhoids in the world.

15. Who is O'Regan?

Dr. Patrick J. O’Regan is currently Head of Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Saudi Arabia. Previously he was a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. A respected laparoscopic surgeon, Dr. O’Regan invented our patented disposable device to improve the hemorrhoid banding procedure for patients and physicians. It was cleared by the FDA for the treatment of hemorrhoids in 1997.