Hemorrhoid Removal in Chicago & Libertyville
Hemorrhoid Embolization Treatment
A Minimally Invasive Solution for Chronic Hemorrhoids
Non-Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatment with HAE
HAE differs from traditional hemorrhoid procedures in one important way: the treatment area is never cut or instrumented.
Benefits of Hemorrhoid Embolization Treatment
No
Large Incisions
A small catheter access point helps minimize scarring.
Nothing
Placed Internally
Treatment is delivered through an artery in the wrist or upper thigh, with no instruments placed in the rectum.
Outpatient
Procedure
Return home after a short recovery period, usually the same day.
Quick
Recovery
Most patients resume normal daily activities within 24 to 48 hours.
Lower
Cost
Outpatient care may cost less than hospital-based surgery.
Avoids
Hemorrhoidectomy
Treats internal hemorrhoids without surgical removal.
Proven
Effectiveness
Clinical evidence supports meaningful reductions in bleeding and improvements in quality of life.
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What Is Hemorrhoid Embolization Treatment (HAE)?
HAE is a minimally invasive treatment for internal hemorrhoids that reduces blood flow to the enlarged vascular tissue. Guided by real-time imaging, our interventional radiologists pass a thin catheter through the blood vessels and deliver tiny particles or coils to the arteries feeding the hemorrhoids. As the tissue shrinks, bleeding, pressure, and other symptoms can improve. The procedure takes place in our vascular imaging suite, without cutting or removing hemorrhoidal tissue.
This vessel-based approach avoids the recovery discomfort associated with procedures that cut, band, or remove tissue directly. For a closer look at how the options differ, see HAE vs. hemorrhoid banding.
HAE vs. Banding vs. Surgery
HAE, rubber band ligation, and hemorrhoid surgery treat hemorrhoids in different ways. The right option depends on whether the hemorrhoids are internal or external, the degree of prolapse, prior treatment, and your recovery priorities. This side-by-side comparison highlights the practical differences.
| Comparison | HAE | Banding | Surgery |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Reduces blood flow through an image-guided catheter placed in an artery. | Places a small band around internal hemorrhoidal tissue to stop its blood supply. | Removes or repositions hemorrhoidal tissue in the operating room. |
| Treatment area | No cutting or instruments placed in rectal tissue. | An instrument is placed through the anus to treat internal hemorrhoids. | Involves direct surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal tissue. |
| Best fit | Symptomatic Grade 1 to 3 internal hemorrhoids, especially when bleeding is the main concern. | Grade 1 to 2 and select Grade 3 internal hemorrhoids. | Large external hemorrhoids, combined disease, advanced prolapse, or failed office treatment. |
| Setting | Outpatient vascular suite with local anesthesia and light sedation. | Office-based procedure, typically without general anesthesia. | Operating room procedure with regional or general anesthesia. |
| Recovery | Same-day discharge; many patients resume routine activity within 24 to 48 hours. | Same-day return home; brief pressure or discomfort may follow. | Longer recovery with a surgical wound and activity restrictions. |
| Discomfort | Typically mild because rectal tissue is not cut. | Pressure or aching is common; pain can occur. | Usually the most painful option during early recovery. |
| Key point | Avoids surgery, but repeat embolization may occasionally be needed. | May require more than one session and does not treat external hemorrhoids. | Can provide durable treatment for advanced disease, with a higher recovery burden. |
Results & Clinical Evidence
HAE is supported by an expanding body of clinical evidence evaluating its safety and effectiveness. Our physicians contribute to that literature and help advance embolization as a non-surgical option for hemorrhoid care.
Dr. Osman Ahmed and Dr. Mikin Patel co-authored Embolization for Hemorrhoids: Why, When, and How, a clinical review of patient selection, technique, and outcomes. Their work reflects the Institute’s active role in shaping how this treatment is understood and delivered.
The evidence is encouraging. A 2025 systematic review of 22 studies covering 810 procedures found technical success rates of 93 to 100 percent and clinical success rates of 63 to 94 percent; reported complications were generally mild and self-limited. In a study of 134 patients treated at a multidisciplinary outpatient interventional center, 93 percent of patients achieved clinical success at one month, with no severe adverse events reported.
HAE has also been compared directly with surgery. In a randomized clinical trial comparing embolization to closed hemorrhoidectomy, symptom outcomes at 12 months were similar, while early recovery favored embolization. Pain at the first bowel movement averaged 6.08 out of 10 after hemorrhoidectomy and 0 after embolization.
Academic Level Care.
Just Next Door.
Academic-level expertise should still feel personal. From consultation through recovery, our team explains each step, answers questions directly, and tailors treatment to your symptoms and goals.
Hear From Our Patients
Patients who choose HAE often want relief without putting life on hold for a surgical recovery. Learn more about the care experience on our Patient Stories page.
Understanding Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are common, but that does not make the symptoms easy to live with. They develop when the normal vascular cushions in the lower rectum become swollen and enlarged, often after repeated pressure or straining. The condition is not a personal failing, and effective care begins with understanding what is driving the symptoms.
Symptoms of Hemorrhoids
Symptoms vary depending on whether hemorrhoids are internal or external. Common signs include:
- Rectal bleeding, often noticed after a bowel movement
- Itching or irritation around the rectal area
- Aching, tenderness, or discomfort, especially when sitting
- Swelling or a small, sensitive lump near the rectal opening
- Tissue that briefly extends outward during a bowel movement (prolapse)
What Causes Hemorrhoids?
Common contributors include chronic constipation, straining, a low-fiber diet, pregnancy, weight-related pressure, and long periods of sitting. Spending extended time on the toilet may also increase pressure in the area, especially when phone use keeps you seated longer. Learn more in Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization and Toilet Phone Habits.
When Should You See a Hemorrhoid Doctor?
Rectal bleeding should be medically evaluated because hemorrhoids are not the only possible cause. Schedule a visit when bleeding recurs, discomfort persists, over-the-counter care no longer helps, or symptoms begin changing how you work, travel, exercise, or plan your day. An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward the right treatment.
Who Is a Candidate for Hemorrhoid Embolization?
HAE is generally considered for patients with symptomatic Grade 1 to 3 internal hemorrhoids, especially when bleeding is the main concern. It may be appropriate when fiber, dietary changes, and topical treatments have not provided lasting relief, or when a patient wants to avoid surgery or is not a good surgical candidate.
HAE is not the right treatment for everyone. Grade 4 hemorrhoids or disease with a significant external component may be better addressed surgically. Our physicians will evaluate the full picture and explain which option is most likely to help, including when that means recommending another approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HAE painful?
How long does the HAE procedure take?
What is recovery like after HAE?
What results can I expect from HAE?
Published outcomes are encouraging. In a study of 134 patients treated at a multidisciplinary outpatient interventional center, 93 percent of patients achieved clinical success at one month, and no severe adverse events were reported. Systematic reviews show clinical success rates varying across studies, with most complications described as mild and self-limited. A randomized trial also found comparable symptom outcomes at one year with substantially less early pain after embolization than after surgery.
Will my insurance cover HAE?
Can hemorrhoids come back after HAE?
How many treatment sessions will I need?
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We are proud to serve patients across Chicago and Northern Illinois, including Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Gurnee, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Mundelein, Northbrook, Palatine, Skokie, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, Wheeling, Wilmette, and surrounding areas, from our Libertyville clinic and our Rockford, IL office.