Hemorrhoid Treatment & HemWell™ in Port Charlotte, FL
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins inside the rectum (internal) or under the skin around the anus (external). They are very common, and most improve with simple care, but bleeding, prolapse or pain that keeps coming back can be treated. We care for patients from Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, Englewood and across Charlotte County and Southwest Florida.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids
- Painless bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowl
- Itching or irritation around the anus
- A lump or swelling near the anus, or tissue that bulges out (prolapse)
- Sudden pain and a firm lump from a clotted (thrombosed) external hemorrhoid
When to see a surgeon
Rectal bleeding should always be checked, because bleeding can have other causes, including colorectal cancer, and a colonoscopy may be recommended. See a surgeon if symptoms continue despite fiber, fluids and over-the-counter care, or if hemorrhoids prolapse. Heavy bleeding, dizziness, or severe pain with fever needs urgent care. See our screening colonoscopy page.
Treatment options and recovery
Treatment starts with more fiber and water and avoiding straining. When that is not enough, options include HemWell™ non-thermal ligation, rubber band ligation and surgical hemorrhoidectomy, each described below. Recovery depends on the treatment: banding and HemWell™ usually involve little downtime, while hemorrhoidectomy takes longer to heal. Hemorrhoid care at Charlotte Harbor Surgical is provided by John Guarino M.D., F.A.C.S., Matthew Tufts M.D., F.A.C.S., and Vincent Brown M.D..
Hemorrhoid questions
Should rectal bleeding always be checked?
Yes. Hemorrhoids are a common cause of bright red bleeding, but bleeding can also come from other conditions, including colorectal cancer. Your surgeon may recommend a colonoscopy to find the cause.
Do hemorrhoids always need a procedure?
No. Many improve with more fiber and water, not straining, and limiting time on the toilet. A procedure is considered when symptoms continue or keep coming back.
What treatment options are there?
Options range from fiber and over-the-counter care to office or outpatient procedures such as banding, and surgical removal (hemorrhoidectomy) for larger or more severe hemorrhoids. Your surgeon will recommend what fits your symptoms.
Can hemorrhoids come back after treatment?
They can. Keeping stools soft with fiber and fluids and avoiding straining helps prevent new hemorrhoids.
Related: Screening colonoscopy · Colon cancer surgery · Diverticulitis
FDA-Cleared · Non-Thermal · No Cutting or Stitches · Performed at Murdock Surgery Center & AdventHealth Port Charlotte
HemWell™ (Hemwellectomy): Gentle, No-Downtime Hemorrhoid Relief in Port Charlotte, FL
For decades, patients with bothersome internal hemorrhoids felt stuck between two frustrating choices: temporary creams and repeat rubber-band visits, or painful traditional surgery with weeks of recovery. At Charlotte Harbor Surgical, Dr. Matthew Tufts, Dr. John Guarino, Dr. Vincent Brown, and Dr. Charles Campbell now offer HemWell™ (Hemwellectomy)—an FDA-cleared, non-thermal, minimally invasive procedure that shrinks internal hemorrhoids from the inside without cutting, burning, or stitches.
Best of all: HemWell™ takes only about 10 to 15 minutes and can be performed right at the end of your screening or diagnostic colonoscopy while you are already comfortably sedated—meaning no second bowel prep, no second anesthesia, and virtually no downtime.
Treats All 4 Grades (I–IV)
FDA-cleared for Grades I, II, III, and IV internal hemorrhoids—including larger or prolapsing hemorrhoids that rubber banding cannot treat—and can treat multiple hemorrhoids in a single session.
Minimal Pain
Uses a gentle, pacemaker-level low electrical current—not heat, burning, or cutting. Because the healthy rectal lining is left intact, most patients wake up with minimal to no discomfort.
Done During Colonoscopy
Performed in about 10–15 minutes under comfortable sedation at Murdock Surgery Center right after your colonoscopy—requiring no additional bowel preparation.
>90% Relief · Fast Recovery
Over 90% of patients experience lasting relief after just 1 treatment, and most return to work, exercise, and normal activities the same day or the very next day.
How Does HemWell™ (Hemwellectomy) Work? (In Plain English)
Unlike traditional hemorrhoid surgery (which cuts tissue out) or rubber band ligation (which ties off tissue until it dies and sloughs off), HemWell™ works at the cellular and blood-vessel level to quietly shut off the blood supply feeding the swollen hemorrhoid:
Gentle Microcurrent Turns Off the “Faucet” (Vasospasm)
While you are comfortably asleep under sedation, your surgeon touches the base of the internal hemorrhoid with a smooth, rounded two-tip probe (called an electro-stylus). It delivers a steady, very low electrical current—in the same safe energy range as a cardiac pacemaker, with no heat. This causes the tiny arteries feeding the hemorrhoid to tighten and close off, while the veins stay open so trapped blood drains out.
Harmless Micro-Bubbles Shrink the Tissue from Inside (Electrolysis)
As the gentle current passes through the blood inside the hemorrhoid, it interacts with natural salts and water to create harmless microscopic hydrogen bubbles and a mildly alkaline environment. This natural reaction breaks down the swollen hemorrhoid from the inside without burning, cutting, or harming the sensitive rectal lining.
Your Body Seals the Vessel & the Hemorrhoid Shrinks Away
Your body’s natural clotting system forms a tiny internal seal inside the feeding vessels, permanently shutting off the excess blood supply. Shrinkage begins right during the procedure and continues over the next 24–48 hours and the following 2–3 weeks—with no stitches, no open wounds, and virtually no recovery downtime.
Compare HemWell™ vs. Rubber Banding vs. Traditional Surgery
Here is how HemWell™ (Hemwellectomy) compares side-by-side with traditional rubber band ligation and conventional surgical hemorrhoidectomy:
| Feature | HemWell™ (Hemwellectomy) | Traditional Rubber Banding | Traditional Surgery (Hemorrhoidectomy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA-Cleared Grades | All Grades I, II, III & IV | Grades I & II (some Grade III) | Grades III & IV / Large External |
| How It Works | Gentle non-thermal microcurrent closes feeding vessels from inside; surface lining stays intact | Tight rubber band chokes off tissue until it dies and falls off in 5–7 days | Surgical excision (cutting out) of hemorrhoid tissue with sutures/cautery |
| Pain & Comfort | None to Minimal | Mild to Moderate aching / pressure | Moderate to High post-op pain |
| Typical Recovery Time | 1–2 Hours / Same or Next Day | 3–7 Days | Several Weeks (2–4+ weeks) |
| Number of Sessions | Usually 1 session (can treat multiple hemorrhoids at once) | Often 2–4 visits (1 quadrant per visit) | 1 surgery |
| Done During Colonoscopy? | Yes! (~10–15 min right at the end of your colonoscopy) | Yes / Office visits | Separate operating room procedure |
| Complication Risk | Extremely Rare (<0.1%) | Rare (band slippage or delayed bleeding) | Higher (bleeding, pain, urinary retention) |
Comprehensive Hemorrhoid Care Tailored to You
Because our physicians are board-certified general surgeons, we offer the entire spectrum of hemorrhoid treatments at Murdock Surgery Center and AdventHealth Port Charlotte—so we can recommend what truly fits your anatomy and symptoms:
- HemWell™ Non-Thermal Hemorrhoid Ligation (Hemwellectomy): Our featured no-cutting, no-downtime treatment for internal hemorrhoids of all grades (Grades I–IV), performed under comfortable sedation (often right during your colonoscopy).
- Hemorrhoid Banding (Rubber Band Ligation): A quick elastic-band procedure for selected smaller internal hemorrhoids.
- Surgical Hemorrhoidectomy: Definitive surgical removal when patients have large external hemorrhoids, thrombosed external hemorrhoids, or combined internal-external tissue that requires excision.
- Prevention & Daily Fiber Regimen: Keeping stools soft with daily psyllium husk fiber and hydration to stop straining and prevent new hemorrhoids from forming.
Frequently Asked Questions About HemWell™
Is HemWell™ painful?
Most patients report minimal pain during or after HemWell™. You are comfortably asleep under sedation during the procedure, and because HemWell™ uses non-thermal energy (no heat, burning, or cutting), most patients feel only mild temporary fullness or nothing at all afterward.
What preparation is required?
If your HemWell™ treatment is performed at the end of your colonoscopy, no extra preparation is required beyond your normal 1-Day or 2-Day Colonoscopy Prep. You only prep once and receive sedation once!
Is HemWell™ covered by Medicare & insurance?
Yes! HemWell™ is FDA-cleared and billed under established medical procedure codes (CPT 46945 / 46946 — internal hemorrhoid ligation other than rubber band). It is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most major commercial insurance plans. Our office team will verify your benefits before your procedure.
How soon can I return to normal activities?
Because there are no incisions, stitches, or raw open wounds, there is virtually no recovery downtime. After resting from your colonoscopy sedation on the day of your procedure, most patients resume normal work, walking, and daily activities the very next day.
Want to Read More About the Science & Patient Stories Behind HemWell™?
Visit the official HemWellMD Patient’s Guide for animations, clinical comparisons, insurance CPT code details, and real patient recovery stories, or call our Port Charlotte office at (941) 391-5102 to schedule your evaluation.
Port Charlotte Location: 4245 Kings Hwy, Unit A, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
Call (941) 391-5102 · Mon–Thu 7:30 am–4:00 pm, Fri 7:30 am–12:00 pm. If you need urgent care and you have decided to go to an emergency room please use AdventHealth Port Charlotte.