Rectal Prolapse Specialist
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Boca Care Surgical Associates of Palm Beach County
Avraham Belizon, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Colon and Rectal Surgeon & Minimally Invasive Surgery located in Boca Raton, FL
If symptoms of rectal prolapse are keeping you home out of embarrassment, it may be time to consider surgery. As an experienced rectal surgeon, Avraham Belizon, MD, FACS, FASCRS, understands the impact rectal prolapse can have on your life. At Boca Care Surgical Associates of Palm Beach County, Dr. Belizon uses the latest minimally invasive, robotic surgical techniques to repair the rectum without causing unnecessary trauma to your body. Find out if you’re a candidate for rectal prolapse surgery by calling the office in Boca Raton, Florida, or requesting an appointment online today.
Rectal Prolapse Q&A
What is rectal prolapse?
Your rectum is a structure that starts at the end of your large intestine and connects to the anus. As stool fills the rectum, it gives you the urge to have a bowel movement.
Rectal prolapse is a condition where your rectum protrudes out of the anal canal. This condition results when the structures that keep your rectum in place no longer function correctly.
While there’s no clear cause for rectal prolapse, you may be at increased risk for developing the condition if you’re female and over 50. You may also be at a higher risk for anal prolapse due to straining from chronic constipation or from trauma experienced during childbirth.
What are the symptoms of rectal prolapse?
Rectal prolapse can cause symptoms severe enough to interfere with your quality of life. Often, people confuse symptoms of rectal prolapse with hemorrhoids (swollen anal veins) because both conditions cause tissue to protrude from the anus.
However, hemorrhoids only cause the inner layer of your bowel to protrude through the anal opening. In rectal prolapse, a segment of your bowel protrudes outside of your body.
Another common sign of rectal prolapse is fecal incontinence, the inability to control gas or bowel movements, which can lead to unexpected leakages of stool.
How is rectal prolapse treated?
Surgical repair is often necessary for treating rectal prolapse. Dr. Belizon can determine if you’re a candidate for surgery after a review of your medical history and a physical exam.
Depending on the severity of your condition, Dr. Belizon can determine how best to repair your rectum, and he uses minimally invasive, robot-assisted surgical techniques throughout the procedure. He may need to reposition your rectum and anchor it into place with mesh or other medically safe material.
In some cases, Dr. Belizon may need to remove part of your rectum and reattach it to healthy tissue nearby to keep it in place.
For those who experience rectal prolapse due to the straining of chronic constipation, Dr. Belizon may recommend medications or stool softeners after surgery that make it easier to have a bowel movement. You may also need to make changes to your exercise and diet plan to protect your intestinal health.
To find out if you’re a candidate for surgery for rectal prolapse, call Boca Care Surgical Associates of Palm Beach County or request an appointment online today.