What is hemorrhoid banding?
Rubber band ligation, or banding, is an in-office procedure performed by a doctor to treat internal hemorrhoids. During rubber-band ligation, the doctor will cover the base of the hemorrhoid with a small rubber band (typically only a few millimeters wide). This will cut off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid and cause it to shrink and die.
What to expect with hemorrhoid banding
Banding ligation can often be done in your doctor's office instead of a hospital. Your doctor will usually give you a local numbing agent rather than have you go to sleep, unless your hemorrhoids are very painful. Once you're comfortable, your doctor will insert a small tube into your rectum with a light at the end of it. Through that tube, your doctor will thread another tool. This will allow them to put one or two rubber bands at the base of each of your hemorrhoids to constrict the blood flow. This makes your hemorrhoids dry up and fall off over the course of a week or two.
You may feel some minor discomfort during this time. Your doctor may prescribe a laxative to prevent constipation. There may be some bleeding after the procedure. Let your doctor know if it continues for more than a few days. If you have several enlarged hemorrhoids, you'll need to repeat this procedure until all the area is addressed. While the procedure can be painful, it's less likely that the condition will reappear.