Your child will be admitted to hospital for one day and the operation will usually take between 45 minutes and one hour. This includes the anaesthetic, operation and time spent in the recovery room.
A circumcision can be done in several ways. The procedure usually takes about 15 minutes or less. The procedure goes like this: The healthcare provider will give your baby a local anesthetic.
This pain often gets better in 3 or 4 days. But it may last for up to 2 weeks. Even though your baby's penis will likely start to feel better after 3 or 4 days, it may look worse. The penis often starts to look like it's getting better after about 7 to 10 days.
The procedure generally takes about 10 minutes. Circumcision is similar for older boys and adults. However, the procedure might need to be done under general anesthesia, recovery might take longer and the risk of complications might be greater when done later in life.
Like all surgery, circumcision is painful. To relieve pain, anesthetic is given to numb the area. About one hour before the procedure, a numbing cream is placed on your baby's penis. Right before the procedure, the doctor injects a local anesthetic at the base of the penis.
After surgery, your child's penis may be painful, swollen, and bruised. In an older baby or child, there may be some blood coming from the wound edge. The penis may have petroleum jelly and gauze on it from surgery.
The penis will be sore and inflamed for a few days after the operation. Ointment may be prescribed to use for a few days to help the area heal. Your child will also need regular pain relief for at least 3 days. They can take paracetamol or ibuprofen following the instructions on the packet.
It usually takes at least 10 days for your penis to heal after circumcision. You'll probably be advised to take at least 1 week off work to recover.
Circumcision can be done at any age. Traditionally, the most common time to do it is soon after your baby is born, or within the first month of life. Because the process is painful, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area and the surgery is performed while the baby is still awake.
Healing may take up to 3 weeks. In most cases, the child will be released from the hospital on the day of the surgery. At home, children should avoid vigorous exercise while the wound heals. If bleeding occurs during the first 24 hours after surgery, use a clean cloth to apply pressure to the wound for 10 minutes.
Urine will not hurt the circumcision and should not cause pain since surgery was not performed on the area where the urine comes out. Urine is sterile and does not cause infections. It is not unusual to see a small amount of bleeding from the incision for the first day or two.
After your son's circumcision is done, petroleum jelly or gauze impregnated with petroleum jelly is usually applied. The gauze can be removed after 24 hours. To do this, apply Vaseline to the gauze with a diaper change, then at the next diaper change take the gauze off.
Wear underwear that is comfortable for you. You may prefer a snug fit for support. Or you might like loose-fitting briefs. The underwear should hold the penis upright.
Toddlers may resume normal quiet activities such as walking, climbing stairs and going outside with supervision. Keep your toddler away from rough play and put straddle toys out of sight for the first week, as they can cause oozing from the incision. You do not need to restrict the activities of babies and newborns.
The Surgery
After your child is asleep, the doctor will begin the circumcision. The penis will be cleaned and the foreskin of the penis will be removed. Fine sutures (SOO-chers) or stitches that dissolve on their own will be placed at the time of the surgery. The surgery itself will take only about 15 to 30 minutes.
The benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended the procedure for years. The association argues that the overall benefits outweigh the risks, which most often include bleeding and infection at the site of circumcision.
After your baby has a circumcision, you will need to keep the area clean. Gently clean with warm water — do not use diaper wipes. Soapy water can be used if needed. If there is a dressing on the surgery site, put a new one on (with petroleum jelly) every time you change a diaper for the first day or two.
Put plenty of petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) on the circumcision area during each diaper change. This will prevent your baby's penis from sticking to the diaper while it heals. Fasten your baby's diapers loosely so that there is less pressure on the penis while it heals.
Studies have concluded that circumcised infants have a slightly lower risk of urinary tract infections, although these are not common in boys and occur less often in circumcised boys mostly in the first year of life. Neonatal circumcision also provides some protection from penile cancer, a very rare condition.
Call your pediatrician right away if: Your baby does not urinate normally within 6 to 8 hours after the circumcision. There is persistent bleeding. There is redness around the tip of the penis that gets worse after 3 to 5 days.
About 48 hours after surgery you may bath or shower, allowing the water to soak off the wound dressing. Avoid the use of bubble baths and scented soaps. Dry your genital area carefully afterwards.
This surgery is most often done 1 or 2 days after a baby boy's birth. Circumcision can also be done on older boys. This can be more complex. An older boy may need medicine (general anesthesia) to put him to sleep during the procedure.
It takes 4-6 weeks to heal after teen circumcision.