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You’ve tried conservative treatments for your hemorrhoids, and you’re still uncomfortable, making surgery the next logical step. Here’s a look at a typical hemorrhoidectomy, from start to finish.
Hemorrhoids have been making your life more than a little uncomfortable, and you’re coming up empty on more conservative treatments. So, the next logical step is to get rid of these problematic veins in and around your anus, once and for all, with a hemorrhoidectomy.
About half of the people have hemorrhoids by the age of 50, and a good number of them have found much-needed relief through a hemorrhoidectomy. By the numbers, about 10% of people with hemorrhoids benefit from surgical intervention.
As colorectal surgical specialists, the team here at Fairfax Colon & Rectal Surgery has in-depth experience performing hemorrhoidectomies, which is the most common surgical treatment for hemorrhoids. While we take time to explain this procedure in detail when you visit us, we also want to outline a few important points here for reference.
What we accomplish during a hemorrhoidectomy
We first want to mention that, while a hemorrhoidectomy is a surgery, we’re pleased to report that, in most cases, we can perform it on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia and deep sedation. This means that you can go home once you wake, and we ensure everything is OK on your end.
Now, let’s back this up a little by providing a brief description of the work we do while you’re sedated and asleep.
Depending upon the location and size of your hemorrhoids, we’ll make one or more small incisions to access the veins for removal. Once we remove the vein, we seal the blood vessel and repair your anal canal using absorbable stitches.
Navigating your recovery from a hemorrhoidectomy
Once we complete the work on our end, it’s your turn to become proactive in your hemorrhoidectomy recovery, which can be tough at first.
You can expect soreness around your anus and rectum and we want you to do everything you can to minimize the discomfort while encouraging healing. Great steps to take after a hemorrhoidectomy include:
- Frequent sitz baths — a shallow bath that can ease pain around your anus
- Taking prescribed pain medications
- Using stool softeners to ease bowel movements
- Using fiber supplements to prevent constipation
- Drinking plenty of water
- Using ice packs around your anus for pain relief
As you might imagine, the first stools you pass will likely be painful, but that discomfort should gradually lessen as you heal. In the meantime, do everything you can to avoid constipation, which can worsen and prolong the discomfort of bowel movements.
In most cases, our patients need about two weeks of recovery time, at which point the pain should be minimal and you can return to a more normal schedule.
The good news is that your patience and diligence will be rewarded as a hemorrhoidectomy boasts a great success rate of 95%.
We also want to assure you that we’re with you every step of the way and are on call for any questions you may have before and after your hemorrhoidectomy. To get in touch with us, simply contact our office in Fairfax, Virginia, at 703-280-2841 at your convenience.