After surgery : A guide to Circumcision

Once you have undergone circumcision you are then into the recovery period. This section is aimed at adult men and boys plus their parents.

Recovery after circumcision for boys

This is aimed at parents of boys who have recently undergone or are about to be circumcised.

Your son will be able to go home after the surgery once he has fully recovered from the anaesthetic.

Once home, it is a good idea to dress him in loose clothing. If he is still wearing nappies then fasten these loosely so that they do not catch on the circumcised area.

There may be some pain and discomfort after surgery which painkillers will deal with. You will have been painkillers for your son so give him these as per the instructions. These are likely to be Ibuprofen or Paracetamol. Do not give him aspirin if he is under 16.

Encourage your son to drink plenty of liquids as this will dilute the acidity of his urine. This will also reduce any soreness or stinging when he passes urine. If he experiences any stinging then put a small amount of Petroleum jelly onto the end of his penis which will prevent this.

The penis will be red, swollen and sore the first few days after surgery but this will ease.

It is a good idea to keep your son away from school for a week following his surgery. During that time prevent him from riding a bike or other type of ride-on toy until the wound has healed.

Recovery after circumcision for adult men

This is aimed at men who have undergone or are about to have circumcision.

Once you have recovered from the general anaesthesia you will be able to return home. The surgeon will advise you on how to care for your circumcised wound and recovery.

Keep the dressing on until three days after your surgery. Then soak this first (in the bath may help) before removing it. Wash away any caked blood from your penis and pat dry before applying a fresh dressing.

It helps to apply a thin later of Vaseline before applying the bandage as this will prevent it from sticking to the wound.

Do this every couple of days until the second week after surgery. If you choose not to continue with this then wear a gauze pad inside your underwear to prevent the stitches from snagging on the seams.

Do not use an antiseptic cream on your penis as this can interfere with healing.

You may find it painful when you pass urine for the first day or two after surgery. But applying Vaseline to the tip of your penis before you urinate may prevent this burning sensation.

If you have dissolvable stitches then these will disappear on their own. The other type of stitches will have to be removed after a couple of weeks.

You can return to work as soon as you feel up to doing so. If your job involves heavy lifting or is generally, physical then arrange some time off.

Make sure you get plenty of rest during this time. Avoid unnecessary movement or walking around too much as this will put a strain on the circumcised wound.

Avoid sports and exercise until your circumcision wound has healed. The wound normally heals in about 7 to 10 days in babies but can take up to three weeks in older boys and men.

Avoid sexual activity for six weeks following surgery until you are fully healed.

What if something goes wrong?

Complications are rare but every form of surgery has its risks and circumcision is no different. These are discussed further in the next section.