Anal skin tag surgery. Frightened. Any experience?

[Minime85]

I'm due to have a large skin tag removed in October. It has been making me miserable for about a year. When it's swollen it feels like I'm sitting on a golf ball! It's large enough to pull the inside out sorry TMI. It's more worse than it isn't if that makes sense. But the surgeon told me how bad the recovery is and I'm really worried about it being so painful afterwards and maybe creating other problems. I already suffer with IBS so last thing I need is to make things worse. Has anyone had this op done? Thank you

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear the surgery wasn’t very effective for you - seems like it left you in the exact same position you were prior to it. What was your recovery period following the surgery like and how long before you could return to your normal activities?

I did the surgery without laser and without stitches (it was left open). I bought wipes to carry on my bag because I was worried to use toilet paper. I thought I would need weeks to recover but my doctor said a week was enough. After a week, I was no more concerned about pooping. I was using an ointment and also everytime I had shower (2 - 3 times a day) I would sit in warm water for a few minutes. But I had zero pain or complaints. I took 2 days to poop and after that it got swollen. I couldn’t sleep worried about it’s looks. The total healing took a least a year. When I was not eating fibers and drinking enough water it would get a little bit swollen. I advice you to not be scared and to EAT fibers and drink water everyday. The day I got swollen after surgery for the first time I ate a lot of bread (do not recommend it).

Wow, really, a year to recover? That’s rough. Did you have it done on the NHS?

Hi, I have a query if anyone has advice I'd be super grateful. I had a chronic fissure since Nov '24 and it left me with a large anal skin tag which causes discomfort and I still get flare ups. Ive had botox which has helped the fissure and I have now been given a date for skin tag removal and hemorrhoidectomy in under 2 weeks time on the NHS. I have been waiting some time for this and grateful to be offered it and initially delighted to get the date for op. However I'm now worried as I'm 33yo and eager to start trying for a family. In an ideal world I'd like this procedure over and done with but I am concerned re healing time and whether it would be 'undone' in pregnancy and childbirth. I take laxido regularly anyway as prone to constipation and so would ensure I did my best to avoid this but I don't have experience of pregnancy and how it may exacerbate symptoms. Is it pointless to have the operation before having babies? Any advice would be really appreciated x

Funnily enough I had this conversation with a surgeon last year and he said it was better to fix any rectal issues before pregnancy as pregnancy/birth would likely make them infinitely worse!

Oh that's so reassuring! I just hope I recover well, I've had pain off and on for so long now, id love it to improve symptoms and hopefully not make things worse (although I know it'll feel worse initially). Did they say how long to wait after surgery before trying to conceive? Have you had these surgeries? Thanks so much!

Mine went wrong and are worse than ever. So fed up down there. Amy advice on getting them removed my GP makes me feel really awkward whenever I go like I’m not dying so shouldn’t be there 🤣