What this experience covers
This experience describes what happens when a fissure persists or recurs after LIS surgery and a second procedure becomes part of the conversation. It covers the reasons this happens, how people navigate the decision, and how the second experience compares to the first.
The pattern
Why a second LIS might be needed
LIS has high success rates, but it does not work for everyone. Reasons a second surgery may be considered:
- The initial cut was insufficient to relieve the sphincter spasm
- The fissure healed but then recurred
- The fissure was more chronic or complex than initially assessed
- Factors like scarring or fibrosis affected healing
The emotional weight
People describe the prospect of a second surgery as harder emotionally than the first. The first time, there was hope that it would resolve everything. The second time, that certainty is gone.
How recovery compares
Most people describe the second LIS recovery as similar to the first, sometimes slightly easier because they know what to expect. The surgical team will assess how much sphincter has already been divided before deciding how much additional cutting is appropriate — continence preservation remains the priority.
What people wish they had known
- That a small percentage of people do need a second procedure, and this does not mean the first one failed
- That their surgeon would carefully assess sphincter function before recommending further surgery
- That the second recovery was manageable, particularly with experience from the first
When to contact your doctor
Seek medical attention if you experience:
- Heavy or persistent bleeding
- Severe pain that is getting worse
- Difficulty controlling gas or bowel movements
- Symptoms that concern you