What this experience covers
This is a composite account of what people experience with infrared coagulation (IRC) for hemorrhoids — a brief, in-office procedure that uses infrared light to shrink internal hemorrhoids. It draws from many anonymised stories.
The pattern
The procedure
Infrared coagulation is one of the simpler office-based hemorrhoid treatments. People consistently describe it as quick and more tolerable than expected:
- Done in a clinic or doctor’s office, without anaesthesia in most cases
- The device applies a burst of infrared light to the base of the hemorrhoid
- Each application takes a few seconds
- Most people describe a brief, warm sensation followed by a feeling of pressure
- The entire appointment is typically 15 to 30 minutes
- You go home immediately afterwards
The first few days
The recovery is generally mild compared to surgical options:
- Mild discomfort or aching in the area for one to three days
- Some people notice a small amount of bleeding — typically light
- Normal activities can usually resume the next day
- A dull, heavy feeling in the rectum that fades over a few days
What people wish they knew
- IRC works best for smaller, earlier-stage internal hemorrhoids (grades 1 and 2)
- Multiple sessions may be needed — it is common to require two to four treatments spaced weeks apart
- It is not a cure for larger or more advanced hemorrhoids
- The results are more subtle than surgical removal — hemorrhoids shrink rather than disappear
If something about your recovery does not feel right, or you just want reassurance about what is normal, our chat can help you think it through.
When to contact your doctor
Seek medical attention if you experience:
- Heavy rectal bleeding or blood clots
- Severe pain that is getting worse
- Fever or signs of infection
- Difficulty passing stools after the procedure