Most of the time it takes between 7 to 10 days for a penis to heal. At first the tip of the penis may appear slightly swollen and red and you may notice a small amount of blood on the diaper. You may also notice a slight yellow discharge or crust after a couple of days. This is a normal part of healing.
Normal Circumcision Healing
The incision starts off red and tender. The tenderness should be much less by day 3. The scab at the incision line comes off in 7 to 10 days. If a Plastibell (plastic ring) was used, it should fall off by 14 days.
As the circumcision heals, you will probably see a red "bloody" scab; more likely you will see a white to yellow to gray "wet scab" - this is not pus - it is a normal healing process. Do not mistakenly wipe it off - it will take the penis longer to heal if you remove it!
It's best to avoid full-body bathing until the second day after surgery, but sponge baths are fine. After the second day, you can shower or bathe as normal, but don't scrub the incision site — just let the soapy warm water run over the incision and pat it dry.
Apply Vaseline for several days. This helps keep the area clean and keeps the wound site from adhering to the diaper. At first, the penis will appear red. In a few days, you may notice a soft yellow scab.
The foreskin is removed and stitched onto the remaining skin of the penis. Stitches that dissolve are used to close the wound. They will be absorbed by the body within 7 to 10 days. The wound may take up to 3 weeks to heal.
The wound may look swollen and unpleasant for up to a week after surgery and may ooze a small amount of clear fluid, this will settle on its own. Contact your GP or Practice Nurse for advice if: The wound becomes very red, swollen or tender after at least four days. This may indicate infection.
At first, the incision (cut) will be red and the glans (head of the penis) will look like it has been scraped. The area may be tender, but this will lessen over the first couple of days. The penis may also have some redness and swelling and have some yellow pus on the head in particular for up to a couple of weeks.
Use a Vaseline and gauze bandage every diaper change for 1-to-2 days. Then apply a large amount of Vaseline to coat the end of the penis. Do this every diaper change for 3-to-4 more days until it no longer looks red or raw. A small amount of bleeding is normal.
After the circumcision has healed:
Occasionally a small piece of the foreskin remains. You should pull back this skin gently each time the child is bathed.
Incision care
Wash the area daily with warm water and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.
Most children with major complications need revised surgery. The main factors leading to complications are age, lack of sterility, improper cauterization, and inexperienced circumcisers. The total complication rate of circumcision is 0%–16% (1.5%).
Redness getting worse or not going away after 7 to 10 days. Fever. Other signs of infection, such as swelling or discharge getting worse, or pus-filled blisters. Not peeing normally within 12 hours after the circumcision.
“Incomplete” Circumcision
Sometimes the foreskin still covers the head of the penis and it looks like nothing was done. Other times, there's more skin left on one side than the other.
Put antibiotic ointment (bacitracin) on the surgical cut 2 to 3 times each day. Or do it every time you change your child's diaper, if he wears diapers. Use the antibiotic ointment (bacitracin) for 2 weeks. Use it on the stitches, too, if your child has them.
As with any wound, the possibility for abnormal healing is present with circumcision. Although an unusual occurrence, granulomas along the cut edge and keloid formation have been reported. If the patient has any condition that might increase the risk of abnormal healing, circumcision may be contraindicated.
With a low & loose circumcision, only the inner foreskin is removed, the outer foreskin remains and is sewn back on directly under the glans (low). In this case, the remaining foreskin often goes slightly above the corona, so the penis head is not completely exposed in the non-erect state.
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Recovery from an adult circumcision may take up to 6 weeks. The penis may feel very sensitive for the first 2 weeks, and dissolvable stitches may last for 2–3 weeks. It is also advisable to keep the area dry for 48 hours and avoid swimming for up to 2 weeks.
It's best to avoid full-body bathing until the second day after surgery, but sponge bathing is fine. After the second day, you can bathe your baby or toddler as normal; with newborns, you should wait until the umbilical cord has fallen off, at about two weeks. Avoid very warm water.
If stitches start to separate, the incision should be covered with a clean bandage. Keep an eye on the wound in case it opens up further, and see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
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.
You can add a few tablespoons of salt to the bath water to help with the healing process. Use the Fucidin cream that was prescribed 3 times a day and in between nappy changes, apply some Vaseline or Olive oil. Please do not interfere with the wound, other than to make sure it is kept clean.
The diaper area can be cleaned with warm water for the first 24 hours. After that you may use your favorite wet-wipe. It is recommended to wait a minimum of one week before a full bath, and until the umbilical cord has fallen off. 3.