These surgeries includes cutting skin tags around your back passage or surgery to the muscles of the back passage to allow "ulcers" (fissures) to heal.
Q: Why would I need the operation?
Surgery allows removal of skin tags which may cause discomfort or cosmetic issues. Surgery also allows the ulcers to heal thereby relieving pain. Having said this, there are non-surgical treatment of fissures that your surgeon will recommend first. This may include medications or injection with botox.
Q: What symptoms will I experience with this problem?
With skin tags you may just feel a lump. With fissures, you may experience sharp pain when you pass a bowel motion.
Q: How do I know for sure that I have the condition and therefore need this operation?
Your surgeon will examine you prior to making the diagnosis. He may sometime need to book you in to examine you while you are asleep, if examining you while you are awake proves to be to difficult or painful.
Q: What scar will I have?
The scar will be around your back passage.
Q: What anaesthetic will I have and do I have a choice?
Is is usually all done under general anaesthesia to avoid any disconfort.
Q: What are the possible complications and what are the chances that they will occur?
With fissure surgery, incontinence is a possibility although very uncommon. This is because the actual muscle that controls your bowel motion is partially cut.
Q: What can I expect after the operation?
There may be some discomfort after the operation. Your surgeon will prescribe you enough pain relief to help you.
Q: Should I not be doing certain things after the operation?
You should keep you bowel motions frequent which may mean taking a laxative. We also suggest warm baths to sooth the discomfort and aid the healing.
Q: How long should I be off work?
Depending on the nature of your work, you may need 2-3 days off work.
Q: When will I see my surgeon for review?
Your surgeon will review you 4-8 weeks after the operation.