Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a newer energy-based approach to treating hemorrhoids, using controlled radiofrequency energy to shrink hemorrhoidal tissue — conceptually similar to infrared or electrocoagulation, but with its own specific technology and a shorter track record.
- Radiofrequency energy is delivered directly to hemorrhoidal tissue, causing controlled coagulation and shrinkage.
- It’s a newer addition to the office-procedure landscape compared to rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, or infrared coagulation, with a correspondingly smaller research base.
- Availability is more limited, given the specialized equipment required.
How it works
A radiofrequency device delivers controlled energy directly to hemorrhoidal tissue, generating heat that causes coagulation and subsequent shrinkage — mechanistically similar in overall goal to infrared coagulation or bipolar electrocoagulation, using a different specific energy delivery method.
How established is it
Radiofrequency ablation has a shorter history of use for hemorrhoids specifically compared to rubber band ligation (decades of established use) or even infrared coagulation. This doesn’t mean it’s ineffective — the underlying principle (controlled thermal injury leading to tissue shrinkage and scarring) is shared with more established techniques — but it does mean the volume of long-term comparative outcome data is smaller, and it’s reasonable to ask a doctor recommending this option about their specific experience and success rates with it.
What to expect
Similar to other office-based energy procedures in this section: a quick, in-office treatment, generally low pain given treatment is above the more sensitive lower anal canal, and minimal recovery time.
Availability
This procedure requires specific equipment not universally available at every practice, so it’s less commonly offered than rubber band ligation, which remains the most widely available and established option across most settings.
When to consider this option
If a doctor with specific training and equipment for radiofrequency ablation recommends it, it’s reasonable to ask about their personal experience and outcomes with the technique specifically, given the comparatively smaller published research base relative to more established alternatives.
This page is for general education. This is a newer procedure with a smaller comparative evidence base than more established alternatives.