Circumcision

What is circumcision?

Circumcision is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove the skin that covers the tip of the penis. 

Adults may opt to have a circumcision later in life for cultural, medical, and religious reasons. You may also consider circumcision for hygienic and preventive health reasons, such as reducing risk factors for urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

In some cases, circumcision is medically necessary if the foreskin is very tight and causes complications, like chronic inflammation in the foreskin or penis.

What happens during an adult circumcision?

Adult circumcision is done under general anesthesia.

Your provider first moves the foreskin away from the head of your penis and takes measurements to determine how much skin they need to remove. Using a scalpel, your Gulf Coast Urology specialist cuts away the excess skin and stitches what remains back to the penile shaft. They apply dissolvable sutures that close the wound.  

Once your circumcision is complete, you can expect to spend time in recovery before going home to rest. If you have general anesthesia, you may need to spend a longer time in recovery where the team monitors your overall health.

How long does it take to recover from a circumcision?

Immediately following your circumcision, it’s normal to experience some discomfort and swelling in the surgical area. You may also notice bruising as you continue to heal.

Your Gulf Coast Urology physician may recommend ice therapy to minimize swelling and keep you comfortable. You also need to keep the dressings around the surgical area clean and dry to reduce your risk for infection. During a follow-up appointment, your provider will remove the dressings to check your skin and provides new dressings to protect the wound.

It can take 2-3 weeks for you to heal from circumcision as an adult, and you should expect to limit work and other activities during the first week of your recovery. The Gulf Coast Urology team provides comprehensive after-care information and instructions for returning to your usual activities before you leave the office on the day of your surgery.

To schedule a consultation for circumcision or to discuss any questions or concerns you have about the procedure, contact Gulf Coast Urology today using the online booking feature or by calling the office.