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Surgery for piles (haemorrhoids)
Piles can be uncomfortable and cause irritation but they can easily be removed with a surgical procedure called a haemorrhoidectomy.
What are haemorrhoids?
Haemorrhoids also known as piles are swellings in or around the anus that contain large blood vessels. They can be uncomfortable and itchy and sometimes bleed.
Most piles don't need surgery but there are a few different ways you can have them surgically removed, including banding and stapling.
Need to know
A conventional haemorrhoidectomy involves making small incisions around the piles to cut them out. There are also other procedures:
- Banding involves cutting off the blood supply to the haemorrhoid with a rubber band, leaving it to die and drop off after a few days.
- Stapled haemorrhoidectomy is a technique that removes the excess lining of the bowel, reducing the blood supply to the haemorrhoids. This makes them shrink.
- Diathermy haemorrhoidectomy uses a high-frequency current that produces heat which kills the haemorrhoids.
Haemorrhoidectomies are usually done under local anaesthetic, so you'll be awake during the procedure.
The type of surgery your consultant recommends for you will depend on the size and number of piles you have. Your consultant will explain which procedure is best and tell you exactly how to prepare for this. Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved.
Your consultant will explain these to you. Even if you can go home the same day as your surgery, you might feel uncomfortable afterwards - so it could be a good idea to arrange for someone to drive you home. Or maybe you can arrange for a taxi to pick you up.
You might not notice your piles falling off, as they should pass out of your body when you go to the toilet. Straight after your procedure, you might notice blood on any toilet paper you use. This is normal, but you shouldn't experience excessive bleeding.
If you've had banding, ulcers may appear at the site of the banding. These should go away by themselves. You should take about a week to recover fully from the surgery. If you've had to take time off work, you should be able to get back to your usual routine within a week.
Our Haemorrhoids locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
41 Welbeck Street
41 Welbeck Street W1G 8EA London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.