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Information

POST-PROCEDURE CARE

General care

  • Give your child Calpol and / or Nurofen syrup as instructed by the surgeon. Calpol or Nurofen is not advisable for children under 3 months.
  • Check and report any bleeding or signs of infection.
  • Check for soiling and make sure that the wound is clean with each nappy change - you can bathe your child in water, but do not put ointment, cream, oil, vaseline or soap until the ring drops off.

Instructions to prevent slipping of ring

Do not apply vaseline (white petrolatum), ointment, oil, cream or soap to the area until after the Plastibell falls off. Otherwise, the ring will slip and a second procedure will be needed to remove the ring.

Instructions to prevent stenosis

After the Plastibell falls off retract the infant's penile shaft skin back from the corona and apply vaseline (white petrolatum) to the area.

COMPLICATIONS

The following complications have been reported after circumcision -

  • Bleeding - a few drops of blood in the nappy is common for the first few days. Continuous bleeding is uncommon - if this happens then you may have to take your child back to the surgeon or to your local hospital.
  • Infection - redness in the wound, a slight smell and yellowish discharge is common and part of wound healing. Rarely, if these are steadily getting worse then it may indicate infection. Consult your surgeon for advice if you are worried.
  • Ring slippage - this is usually the result of parents applying ointment, oil, vaseline, cream, soap etc to the site. The ring will fail to drop off within 7 days - consult your surgeon for advice if you are worried.
  • Trauma to the glans or urethra - a rare complication.
  • Poor cosmetic result - a rare complication, more common in children with penis sunken in pre-pubic fat. The surgeon will advise you if your child has a sunken penis. If you choose to go ahead with the procedure then you will have to apply vaseline daily after the ring separates and push out the penis gently until the wounds heal over completely. Rarely, a revision may be required - there will be a fee for the service.
  • Paraphimosis - a rare complication, more common in children with penis sunken in pre-pubic fat.
  • Degloving of penile shaft skin - a rare complication.
  • Meatal stenosis - rare, but a possible late complication

Contact us if you are worried.

FAQ

When should I have my child circumcised?

It is usual to perform this within a month of birth - it is best to circumcise your child at a young age, as the likelihood of complications are lower. Occasionally, circumcision may have to be postponed if your is child suffering from illness like jaundice, infection etc - the procedure can then be done on recovering health.

How will the circumcision be performed?

The surgeon will usually perform circumcision using the plastibell technique - a suture technique is sometimes used, if the surgeon considers it advisable. There will be an extra supplemental fee for the suture technique.

How long will the procedure take?

The procedure usually takes 10 minutes. Sutured circumcision will usually take 30 minutes.

Do you use local anaesthetic?

Yes, it is usual to use local anaesthetic injection.

Do we need to do anything before the appointment?

Ideally, do not give your child any milk or food for 2 hours before the appointment. This is because most young children have a tendency to vomit when they have a full stomach - some of this vomit can enter the baby's lungs and cause chest infection.

Do we need to do anything after the appointment?

It is good to do the following:

  1. Keep the child in a clean and dry nappy - check the nappy frequently and change it immediately if it becomes soiled. If the operation site becomes soiled then wash it immediately with warm water.
  2. If the child is over 2 months old, then give the child regular Calpol and Nurofen - the dose depends on the age of the child. You can buy the medicines over the counter at the Chemist.
  3. Avoid applying ointment, oil, vaseline, cream, soap etc to the site.
  4. Bathe the child daily in lukewarm water and dry him with a clean towel.

What equipment will you use?

We will use the following equipment:

  1. Plastibell
  2. Surgical scissors
  3. Local anaesthetic injection
  4. Antiseptic solution

What is the fee for the circumcision?

The fee for the service is small and competitive. The exact fee will depend on the age of the child and the technique used. In case of revisions, a further fee will be required.

How do I book an appointment?

Please contact us using the telephone numbers in the Appointments section.

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