Lipomas vs. Cysts: What’s the Difference?
Lipomas and cysts may appear similar when they occur in your skin, but they’re actually very different. Here’s how the two differ and why having any lump or bump evaluated is important for your health.
Rubber Band Ligation: A Quick, Minimally Invasive Way to Get Rid of Internal Hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids might be relatively small, but they can pack a major punch when it comes to your comfort. Forming when blood vessels inside your rectum swell and bulge, internal hemorrhoids can cause pain and bleeding, and some can make it difficult to move your bowels or clean yourself after having a bowel movement.
At his practice in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael H. Tarlowe, MD, helps patients manage painful internal hemorrhoids with a simple office procedure called rubber band ligation. Here, learn how it works and what to expect during a rubber band ligation procedure.
Quick facts about rubber band ligation
Rubber band ligation is a simple, straightforward, minimally invasive solution for symptomatic internal hemorrhoids, including large, protruding hemorrhoids, hemorrhoids that interfere with normal bowel habits, and hemorrhoids that cause pain or bleeding.
The procedure uses tiny surgical rubber bands to encircle the hemorrhoid at its base. Once in place, the rubber band constricts the hemorrhoid, cutting off blood flow to the area. Meanwhile, you can go about your regular routine while the band does all the work.
Starved off its blood supply, the hemorrhoid shrinks over the next several days and then finally falls off. The process is relatively painless, and if the hemorrhoid falls off during a bowel movement, there’s a good chance you won’t even notice it.
What to expect during rubber band ligation
For rubber band ligation, you relax on your side on a padded table. Next, Dr. Tarlowe uses an instrument called an anoscope or proctoscope to visualize your hemorrhoid. Then he inserts another instrument called a ligator. The ligator deploys the rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid.
The entire procedure typically takes only a few minutes.
After ligation, you may feel some discomfort or fullness in your rectum. Mild bleeding is also common, but taking warm baths and using over-the-counter pain relievers can help keep you comfortable.
Dr. Tarlowe may recommend stool softeners to make it easier to have bowel movements, and you need to avoid strenuous activities for a few days to avoid straining. Once the blood supply is cut off to your hemorrhoid, it dries up, shrivels, and falls off in 1-2 weeks.
Find relief for symptomatic hemorrhoids
Don’t let painful hemorrhoids make life uncomfortable for you. To learn more about rubber band ligation and other treatments that can help, call 954-210-7127 or request an appointment online with Dr. Tarlowe in Deerfield Beach, Florida, today.
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