You are considering hemorrhoid surgery, or your doctor has just mentioned it to you. The first question that comes to mind is: how long will it take, the operation itself, and especially the recovery afterward?
The answer varies depending on the technique used, and honestly, hemorrhoid surgery is one of the most painful post-operative procedures, according to the French Society of Anesthesia and Resuscitation. It's better to know this beforehand.
Duration of the operation itself
A classic hemorrhoidectomy, using the Milligan-Morgan technique, lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. It is performed under general or spinal anesthesia. Hospitalization generally lasts one to three days, sometimes on an outpatient basis depending on the center and the patient's situation.
Less invasive techniques exist: hemorrhoidopexy, using the Longo technique, or Doppler-guided ligation, HAL-RAR. These procedures are generally less painful post-operatively and allow for a quicker return to activity, often within one to two weeks.
Before considering surgery, many patients have never tried a treatment that truly strengthens the venous wall. Serenia is formulated for this, with horse chestnut aescin and black seed oil.
Natural alternative to hemorrhoid surgeryRecovery week by week
Here's what recovery looks like after a classic hemorrhoidectomy, without embellishment.
The first week is the most difficult. Pain is pronounced, especially during bowel movements. Strong analgesics are systematically prescribed, sometimes opioid derivatives for the first few days. Daily local care is necessary, including sitz baths in the morning, evening, and after each bowel movement.
From the second to the third week, the pain gradually decreases. For office work, some patients return from the second week, depending on their tolerance. For physical work, it takes longer.
By the fourth week, healing is well advanced. Normal activities without intense effort become accessible.
Between six and eight weeks, healing is complete for most patients. Surgical wounds heal in six to eight weeks for a Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy.
Anticipated sick leave
For a classic hemorrhoidectomy: two to four weeks of sick leave on average, depending on the nature of the professional activity. Office work can resume after seven to fourteen days in the best cases. Physical work or heavy lifting often requires three to four weeks, sometimes more.
For less invasive techniques, Longo or HAL-RAR: one to two weeks of leave are generally sufficient.
For sports and intense activities: complete healing is required, which is four to six weeks for a classic hemorrhoidectomy and about ten days for Longo.
What no one tells you beforehand
The first bowel movement after surgery is often the most dreaded moment for operated patients. This is why surgeons insist so much on preventing constipation post-operatively: a high-fiber diet, hydration, gentle laxatives if necessary. This is not a comfort recommendation; it is active protection against unnecessary pain.
Urinary retention occurs in approximately 10% of cases after surgery. It is treated medically or with a temporary catheter and disappears quickly.
Is it worth it?
For Grade III or IV hemorrhoids, for repeated and debilitating thromboses, or when all other treatments have failed: yes, surgery remains the most radical and long-lasting solution. More than two out of three patients experience no symptoms during the first year after the procedure. However, the beneficial effects can diminish over time, especially if underlying habits do not change.
Surgery treats existing hemorrhoids. It does not eliminate genetic predisposition or lifestyle factors that caused them to appear.