Over a 2-year period 52 patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids were treated by rubber band ligation using a Baron haemorrhoidal ligator. Of a total of 123 haemorrhoids 94 resolved after the initial procedure, 17 required a second treatment before resolution, and 12 required a third treatment. In spite of physical resolution of all haemorrhoids treated, 6 patients still had symptoms, although 5 of these reported an improvement. Symptoms which appeared after ligation in 7 cases were of a minor nature and disappeared without further therapy. The procedure is recommended as first-line treatment for symptomatic haemorrhoids.