Proctology Institute

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4 Locations: Beverly Hills, Huntington Beach, Los Angeles, Newport Beach
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What is Rubber Band Ligation?

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When hemorrhoids strike, the itching, pain, and bleeding that may result can be debilitating. Although many people start with OTC medications or sitz baths first, some cases of internal hemorrhoids are just too stubborn for home remedies.

That’s why your hemorrhoid doctor could recommend rubber band ligation.

Rubber band ligation, also known as hemorrhoid banding, is a nonsurgical process by which small elastic bands are placed at the base of each hemorrhoid. Soon the loss of blood flow “starves” the hemorrhoid, causing it to fall off harmlessly.

What can you expect in terms of follow-up and aftercare? WebMD offers a clear description:

People respond differently to this procedure. Some are able to return to regular activities (but avoid heavy lifting) almost immediately. Others may need 2 to 3 days of bed rest.

Pain is likely for 24 to 48 hours after rubber band ligation. You may use acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol) and sit in a shallow tub of warm water (sitz bath) for 15 minutes at a time to relieve discomfort.

I have been treating hemorrhoids in Los Angeles for more than a decade, and in that time I am proud to have earned a reputation as the best hemorrhoid doctor in LA. If you are interested in hemorrhoid banding, please contact the hemorrhoid specialists at the Proctology Institute today.

Do I Have Hemorrhoids?

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As the leading proctologist in Southern California, one of my jobs is to field a number of questions that most patients wouldn’t ask their general practitioner. One of the most common if these – Do I have hemorrhoids? – is typically inspired by a bloody stool, or by painful or itchy sensations.

Unfortunately there’s no completely reliable way to self-diagnose hemorrhoids. Every one of the most common symptoms – itching, pain, and bright red blood – can be attributed to other ailments, so the only way to know for sure is to visit your proctologist for a physical exam.

The good news is that hemorrhoids treatments are often non-invasive, and very often painless. Common treatments may include hemorrhoid banding, also known as rubber band ligation; infrared coagulation; and sclerotherapy. For sub-chronic hemorrhoids that don’t demand immediate intervention, you may get some relief just by applying an ointment or changing your diet.

The Los Angeles and Orange County Proctology Institute is the premier resource for hemorrhoid treatment in LA and beyond. To find a hemorrhoid doctor who can offer you swift and effective relief today, contact us here.

Types of Hemorrhoid Treatment

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Hemorrhoids can be treated in a number of different ways, from home remedies to nonsurgical and surgical interventions in a doctor’s office or surgical center. If you suffer from internal, external, or thrombosed hemorrhoids, it’s important to understand your options for effective treatment and pain relief.

Generally the type of hemorrhoid treatment you can expect will depend on the severity of your symptoms. Hemorrhoids which are mildly painful or itchy, or which leave blood in the stool once but never again, can usually be treated through behavioral or dietary changes such as adding fiber to the diet, stool softeners, applying topical creams, or sitz baths. As I have discussed in my previous blogs, it is always important to take rectal bleeding very seriously and never assume it is necessarily coming from your hemorrhoids.

When hemorrhoids do not resolve by themselves, it is time to visit an expert hemorrhoid doctor for the right hemorrhoid treatment such as a proctologist for more aggressive measures, including:

  • Sclerotherapy, in which a solution is injected into the hemorrhoids to scar the tissue, a fast and painless procedure which essentially “kills” the hemorrhoids without undue surgery
  • Rubber band ligation, or hemorrhoid banding, in which small elastic bands are placed at the base of the internal hemorrhoids, cutting the blood flow by ligating the hemorrhoid and prompting them to fall off on their own
  • Infrared Coagulation, in which gentle IR (infrared) radiation creates scar tissue, helping to remove the hemorrhoids via thermal energy

To understand your options for hemorrhoid treatment in Los Angeles and Newport Beach better, simply reach out to us today.

How Can I Treat Hemorrhoids?

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Hemorrhoids can range in severity from painless bleeding to painful swelling. Depending on the degree of your symptoms, and the length you have experienced them, you may be able to help your symptoms with some conservative measures.

But when hemorrhoids become more serious, stronger interventions are required. And when those measures fail, it’s time to visit a proctologist for an expert diagnosis. As one article says, “If you have a more severe case of hemorrhoids, your doctor may suggest surgical treatments including removal of hemorrhoids, burning hemorrhoid tissue and reduction of the hemorrhoids.” More importantly, anal and rectal cancer must be ruled out, therefore, a complete history and physical examination is necessary.

At the Proctology Institute, we offer a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options for the effective removal and prevention of hemorrhoids. We offer minimally invasive techniques such as rubber band ligation, infrared coagulation and sclerotherapy. For more serious cases, surgery such as a hemorrhoidectomy may be required. Whatever your symptoms require, we have permanent treatments to help restore your sense of balance and comfort.

Want to get started today? Contact our proctology locations in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, and Huntington Beach.