Over 40 years of expert care
Best UK Group & 5 star reviews
Established Clinics
Over 40 years of expert care
Best UK Group & 5 star reviews
Nationwide Clinics
Medically reviewed by Mr Piero Nastro, MD, MRCS, FRCS(Eng). GMC Number: , Laparoscopic, General & Colorectal Consultant Surgeon for The Private Clinic of Harley Street, London.
Last Reviewed December 13th 2023
THD and HALO Treatment for Haemorrhoids
Transanal haemorrhoid dearterialization (THD) or haemorrhoidal artery ligation operation (HALO) are minimally invasive surgical procedures for treating haemorrhoids/piles.
Haemorrhoids are lumps caused by swollen veins that are located inside and around your anus. Many haemorrhoids get better on their own, but if you have haemorrhoids that are not improving after lifestyle changes and homecare then you should seek medical guidance to help relieve you of troubling symptoms.
Minimally Invasive Haemorrhoid Treatment
When searching for haemorrhoid treatment, there is a wide variety of techniques available and many patients are keen to choose one that promotes a quick recovery time like THD or HALO.
Also known as doppler guided ligation, haemorrhoid ligation or haemorrhoidal artery ligation, THD is an innovative surgical treatment that is designed to cure haemorrhoids in a minimally invasive way. The procedure has been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2010 as an effective alternative to haemorrhoidectomy or stapled haemorrhoidopexy.
The procedure uses a micro- doppler ultrasound device to guide the surgeon to place a suture across the haemorrhoidal arteries. Haemorrhoidal arteries provide blood supply to the haemorrhoids so by removing these, the haemorrhoids should shrink.
What is a HALO treatment for piles and how does it differ from a THD procedure?
Haemorrhoidal Artery Ligation Operation more commonly known as HALO is an almost identical procedure to THD. The main difference between the two is that the name is based on the company that supplied the disposable proctoscope with an embedded Doppler ultrasound that the surgeon will use to perform the procedure.
At The Private Clinic, we use a THD doppler and will therefore predominately refer to the procedure as THD Treatment for Haemorrhoids.
Benefits of THD treatment for Haemorrhoids
Self Pay Haemorrhoid Treatment
Haemorrhoid consultations are available to book at our discreet clinics in Birmingham, and London Harley Street.
Our haemorrhoid treatment options are available as a private self-pay treatment. We do not require GP or hospital referrals. Treatments can be undertaken at a time and date convenient for you with minimal waiting lists.
THD and HALO Treatment for Haemorrhoids at a glance
Procedure Time
30-40 mins
Anaesthetic Type
General anaesthetic
Hospital Stay
None, daycase
Support Garment
None
Washing
24 Hours
Sleeping
n/a
Driving
1 Day
Up & Mobile
Immediately
Sexual Activity
1 – 2 weeks
Back to Work
1 week
Exercise
1 – 2 weeks
Travel
1 – 2 weeks
Recovery Time
1 – 2 weeks
Final Results
1 – 2 weeks
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What to Expect
A consultation will take place with one of our colorectal surgeons who are experts in treating haemorrhoids. Your surgeon will:
You will then meet with your dedicated patient coordinator who will provide you with a detailed treatment plan with full cost and pricing details so you can leave feeling well-informed and able to decide if to go ahead with treatment or not.
In the interests of patient safety, all our patients are assessed against our patient selection criteria. Following your haemorrhoid treatment consultation and review of your past medical history, the physician or pre-operative nurse will decide if any pre-operative tests are required ahead of your procedure. If considered to be appropriate, these may include routine blood tests.
You will be provided with a pre-operative instruction sheet ahead of your procedure which will help you to prepare for your haemorrhoid treatment.
Transanal haemorrhoid dearterialization is performed under general anaesthetic and takes around minutes to complete.
The treatment is known as being minimally invasive as it does not require cutting any tissue which means there will be no raw or open wounds to heal post-procedure. The procedure is performed in an area of the rectum that sits above the anal canal. This area has very few nerve endings and little sensation meaning there is very little risk of pain in the area being felt after the procedure.
Following your THD procedure, you will be closely monitored in hospital for a short time before being discharged the same day by your surgeon once they are happy with your recovery. The rest of your recovery period will be carried out at home.
THD / Halo procedure for haemorrhoids recovery time
Overall, THD does have a shorter recovery period in comparison to a haemorrhoidectomy procedure. Most patients can return to their usual daily activities after 1 week.
Medication
A course of medication including painkillers will be provided to patients following the procedure to help them feel comfortable.
Bathing
Showering and bathing can be resumed 24 hours post procedure. Sitz baths may be recommended for the first two weeks to help keep the area clean, especially after bowel movements.
What is a sitz bath?
A sitz bath is a warm shallow bath of usually around 2-3 inches of water. It can take place in a bathtub or designated kits can be purchased that sit over a toilet. The bath should be sat in for minutes. Add any bath salts, oil or other substances to the bath should be avoided unless advised to by your surgeon. Once out of the bath, the bathed area should be patted dry with a warm towel and the water in the bath disposed of. You may be recommended to have multiple sitz baths a day to keep the area clean whilst also providing relief from any pain or discomfort following bowel movements.
Return to work
We recommend that patients allow 1 week off work, however this will depend on the requirements of your job role. Your surgeon will be able to advise further on this, but overall you should be comfortable and feel confident that you are able to fulfil your duties.
Exercise
Excessive physical exertion or straining should be avoided for 1-2 weeks following THD treatment for haemorrhoids. Light physical exercise such as walking can be resumed a few days following your procedure.
Driving
Driving should be avoided for at least 24 hours but overall, it is best advised not to drive whilst on painkiller medication. We would recommend letting your insurance company know of your circumstances as you may not be covered for a certain period of time following surgery. When you return to driving you should have full control of the car and be able to perform an emergency stop comfortably.
Lifestyle
We recommend that patients maintain a high-fibre diet and stay well-hydrated at all times to avoid painful bowel movements caused by constipation during recovery.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Whilst both Haemorrhoidectomy and THD/HALO procedures are still carried out under general anaesthetic. THD/HALO has a much shorter recovery time as no cuts are made to The Perfect Peel and Superblend (https://www.targetmol.com/compound/dermorphin) sensitive skin around the anus.
THD uses a Doppler probe that not only locates the arteries but also sutures and stitches them. The probe remains in the same position making it very gentle and safe.
Haemorrhoidal artery ligation recovery
THD haemorrhoid treatment is not a pain free treatment, and some pain should be expected. Our medical team will provide you with painkillers to help manage any pain and discomfort. A small amount of bleeding is expected for the first couple of days.
Most patients are able to return to the majority of their usual daily activities within 1 week, but some patients may take a little longer.
Like all procedures, Transanal haemorrhoid dearterialization does have associated risks and complications which your surgeon will make you aware of before you decide to go ahead with treatment.
Risks include bleeding, infection, thrombosis, urinary retention, tenesmus and recurrence.
Yes, Transanal haemorrhoid dearterialization DHT and Haemorrhoidal Artery Ligation operation are both available on the NHS.
However, there is very strict criteria that you would need to meet before you are approved for treatment.
Very few haemorrhoid procedures are carried out on the NHS now following an NHS Clinical Commissioners group consultation that led to a reduction in funding.
As a result, many people seeking haemorrhoid treatment are now choosing private self pay treatments.
You can find out more about Haemorrhoid treatment on the NHS here.
There are alternative procedures to THD Haemorrhoid treatment.
HALO treatment is the same type of haemorrhoidal artery ligation operation but just performed using a different device. THD and HALO are essentially brand names. Surgeons are likely to perform one or the other depending on what device they own.
At The Private Clinic, we also offer Rafaelo Haemorrhoid treatment which is a non-surgical treatment that uses radiofrequency ablation to reduce blood supply to the haemorrhoid causing it to shrink.
This is an ideal treatment for patients with internal grade 1-3 haemorrhoids and can often be performed under local anaesthetic with minimal post-operative pain and downtime. Find out more here.
We also offer Haemorrhoidectomy surgery for patients who are not suitable for the minimally invasive options. This is a surgical procedure where the haemorrhoids are cut away. The recovery time is a little more extensive but great results can be achieved even on those with larger and more severe haemorrhoids. Find out more here.
Other treatments that could be used for haemorrhoid removal include banding (rubber band ligation) and sclerotherapy injections. We do not offer these treatments at our clinics as our Colorectal surgeons only pick the treatments, they feel are going to be most effective for our patients with the least risk of recurrence.
If you are unsure of which haemorrhoid removal procedure is going to be most effective for you. We recommend booking a no-obligation consultation with one of our top colorectal surgeons. They will go through all your options in detail. They will also perform an examination which will enable them to give their professional advice on which procedure is going to be most effective for you.
Meet our Medical Experts
We have some of the most experienced Colorectal surgeons working with us who offer the most effective treatments for haemorrhoids and piles.
You can trust our experts to deliver a fast, effective and discreet service.
Consultant Laparoscopic, General & Colorectal Consultant Surgeon
Consultant Laparoscopic General & Colorectal Surgeon
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About The Private Clinic
The Private Clinic is a multi award winning medical group with clinics located across the UK. We have over 40 years’ experience in offering the best in advanced minimally invasive non surgical treatments and expert led surgical procedures in our clinics and hospitals. Our surgeons are all registered with the GMC (General Medical Council) and we are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC is an independent regulator for health and social care in England. Last review March 10th 2023.
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