FISSURECTOMY – Southwest Surgical Associates

What is a fissurectomy?

A fissurectomy is a surgical treatment option for an anal fissure, a tear in the lining of the anal canal.

An anal fissure develops due to trauma in the inner lining of your anus. Trauma can result from the stretching the anal canal during bowel movements or pressure from chronic constipation. You might also be at increased risk for anal fissures if you have overly tight anal sphincter muscles.

Surgery aims to remove the fissure and some of the surrounding skin, so the wound can heal correctly.

Why would I need a fissurectomy?

Symptoms of an anal fissure can include anal pain during bowel movements and noticeable lumps on the skin near your anus. You may also notice bright red blood on the toilet paper after wiping. Without treatment, anal fissures can reoccur and cause severe pain or an infection.

The Southwest Surgical Associates providers may recommend surgery to treat a fissurectomy if nonsurgical treatments like diet changes and stool softeners don’t relieve your symptoms or if you’re prone to chronic fissures.

You may also need a fissurectomy if you develop an abscess, a severe infection that can spread to other areas of your body and cause long-term health complications.

What happens during a fissurectomy?

During a fissurectomy, the Southwest Surgical Associates surgeons focus on relaxing the anal sphincter muscles to reduce anal pain and support the healing of the fissure.

They use minimally invasive techniques to divide the inner part of the sphincter to help the muscle relax. You may also benefit from injections of Botox®, a prescription medication that temporarily paralyzes muscles by blocking nerve signals from the brain.

The surgeons perform a fissurectomy on an outpatient basis. Following a brief period of recovery from anesthesia, you can go home to rest and begin your recovery.

How long does it take to recover from a fissurectomy?

After your fissurectomy, you can expect to return to your usual activities within a few days. It can take up to 10 weeks for your skin to heal completely.

Southwest Surgical Associates offer after-care services to support your recovery. Your surgeon can also recommend lifestyle and diet changes you can make to prevent constipation and new fissures from forming.

Call the Southwest Surgical Associates office near you to find out if you’re a candidate for a fissurectomy or book an appointment online today.

Fissurectomy Surgery

Strain during bowel movements due to constipation can put you at risk of developing painful anal fissures. At Southwest Surgical Associates, the experienced surgeons offer minimally invasive fissurectomy procedures to repair tears in the lining of your anal canal.

Surgery supports your skin’s healing and can reduce your risk for infections and other serious health complications. Call the office in Pearland, Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, or Cypress, Texas, to learn more about the benefits of a fissurectomy or book a consultation online today.