You’re in the middle of a flare and want to know: How Long Does it Take for a Hemorrhoid to Shrink? Short answer: Small hemorrhoids often calm down in a few days and usually within a week with steady home care. Larger or stubborn hemorrhoids can take longer, or shrink faster with in-office treatments like infrared coagulation, rubber band ligation, or sclerotherapy. Your exact timeline depends on the type and size of the hemorrhoid, your daily habits, and whether you choose a procedure.
How Long Hemorrhoids Take to Shrink
Without Procedures (Home Care & Natural Recovery)
If you’re managing hemorrhoids with home treatments—like increasing fiber, softening stools, and avoiding straining—here’s what you can typically expect:
- Mild cases (home care): Often improve in a few days; many settle by 1 week when stools are soft and you don’t strain.
- Thrombosed external hemorrhoid: Pain subsides after 48 to 72 hours; the firm lump can take 1 to 4 or more weeks to flatten as the clot is reabsorbed.
After Medical Procedures
If you undergo treatment for hemorrhoids, recovery timelines will vary depending on the procedure:
- Rubber band ligation: Banded tissue usually shrinks and falls off in about 1 week; light bleeding around days 7 to 10 is common.
- Infrared coagulation (IRC): Recovery is measured in days; most people resume normal activity the same day.
- Sclerotherapy: Steady shrinking over 1 to 2 or more weeks, with continued improvement after that.
What Makes a Hemorrhoid “Shrink”?
A hemorrhoid is an enlarged vein. It shrinks when:
- Pressure drops. Softer stools, less straining, shorter toilet time, and regular movement reduce venous pressure.
- Blood flow is cut off. Office treatments safely reduce or stop blood supply to the swollen tissue so it withers and symptoms fade.
That’s why lifestyle steps help mild cases, and why in-office procedures provide faster, more predictable results when you want a clear answer to How Long Does it Take for a Hemorrhoid to Shrink.
How to Manage a Mild Hemorrhoid Flare at Home
For a mild flare, expect a few days to about a week. Focus on the basics, consistently:
- Fiber: 25 to 35 grams daily, added gradually, from produce, whole grains, or a fiber supplement.
- Fluids: Aim for pale yellow urine.
- Toilet habits: Do not linger or strain; keep visits brief and skip the phone.
- Warm baths or sitz baths: 10 to 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times per day.
- Activity: Take short walks after meals to stimulate the bowels.
If pain or bleeding persists past a week or worsens, get evaluated. Rectal bleeding is not always from hemorrhoids.
Thrombosed External Hemorrhoids: A Different Timeline
A thrombosed external hemorrhoid is a sudden, very tender lump at the anal edge caused by a clot under the skin.
Pain curve: Usually peaks at 48 to 72 hours, then eases.
Shrink time: The firm lump often takes 1 to 4 or more weeks to go away as your body reabsorbs the clot.
Early self-care: Sitz baths, soft stools, gentle cleaning, and avoiding heavy lifting help.
When to be seen: If you are within the first 24 to 72 hours and pain is severe, or if bleeding is significant, an exam helps decide whether conservative care or a small office procedure is best.
Expectations: Pain improves first; the lump shrinks later. A small skin tag can remain afterward; if it is bothersome, we will discuss options.
Office Treatments That Speed up the Timeline
If you’re looking for a quicker, more reliable answer to how long it takes a hemorrhoid to shrink, in-office treatments cut off blood flow to the hemorrhoid so it shrinks rapidly, with no hospital stay and minimal downtime.
Infrared Coagulation (IRC)
Best for: Internal hemorrhoids with bleeding or irritation, typically early grades.
How it works: A brief infrared pulse seals tiny feeding vessels.
Visit time: About 10 minutes; no incisions or anesthesia.
Downtime: Back to normal the same day; don’t strain for a few days.
Timeline: Relief builds over days to a couple of weeks; some cases do best with a short series of sessions.
Rubber Band Ligation (Banding)
Best for: Internal hemorrhoids that prolapse or keep bleeding.
How it works: A tiny elastic band at the base cuts off blood flow.
Visit time: About 10 minutes.
Downtime: Normal routines the same day; keep fiber and fluids up.
Timeline: Tissue typically falls off in about 1 week; expect light spotting around days 7 to 10. Larger or multiple hemorrhoids may need staged sessions.
Sclerotherapy (Injection)
Best for: Early internal hemorrhoids or when banding is not ideal.
How it works: A small injection causes the vein lining to scar, so the hemorrhoid collapses and shrinks.
Visit time: About 10 minutes.
Downtime: Same day return to regular activity.
Timeline: Noticeable shrinking over 1 to 2 or more weeks, with continued improvement afterward.
Factors That Change Your Timeline
Type and grade: internal or external, size, and whether it prolapses.
Bowel habits: constipation and straining, slow healing.
Daily routine: long sitting, heavy lifting, low fiber, and dehydration.
Pregnancy or postpartum: Many hemorrhoids improve after delivery, but timing varies.
Tip: Set yourself up for quicker relief. Adding fiber, drinking more water, staying active, and limiting bathroom time can all influence How Long Does it Take for a Hemorrhoid to Shrink.
When to Call a Specialist
- Persistent or heavy bleeding.
- Severe pain, fever, or a rapidly enlarging lump.
- No improvement after a week of home care.
A quick exam will confirm the cause and match you with the fastest, most convenient option. We will map out your timeline and, when appropriate, plan next steps so you can get back to normal, treatment usually happens at a future visit rather than the same day.
The Hemorrhoid Institute, Same Day Results
At The Hemorrhoid Institute, we offer in-office, nonsurgical care, including IRC, banding, and sclerotherapy that fits your schedule and gets you back to normal fast. Stop guessing. Start healing. Contact us to see a specialist. We will map out your timeline and, when appropriate, treat the same day so you can get back to normal.