Adult circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin, or loose fold of skin that covers the head of the penis. It may be done for medical reasons or in accordance with religious or cultural traditions.
When having this procedure done, you may experience some pain and swelling for the first few days; however, these should subside over time.
What is the procedure?
Circumcision Melbourne is a medical procedure that removes the skin on the penis. It can be performed on newborns, but many males choose to undergo it as adults for aesthetic, cultural, hygienic or medical reasons.
Before surgery, numbing cream is often applied to reduce pain and discomfort. Your doctor will use a device to stop blood flow to the foreskin before removing it for surgery.
Your doctor will retract the foreskin away from the penis shaft and trim it off. They also cauterize any bleeding with heat (cauterization).
Small, absorbable sutures will be used to close up the incisions. You should wait around 10 days before your penis heals completely; during this time, avoid sexual activity and masturbation as this may tear your stitches.
How is the procedure performed?
Many people associate circumcision with infants, but it can also be performed on adults for health-related reasons such as a penile infection or to adhere to cultural traditions.
Doctors may use a plastibell procedure to numb the area and separate the foreskin from the head of the penis. They then proceed with cutting away at this tissue with either a surgical blade or scissors.
Phimosis, or an abnormal condition where the foreskin fails to pull back over the penis, causes it to tighten and trap urine beneath the skin, can be prevented with this method.
Research suggests that men who undergo circumcision may have a lower risk of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections compared to those who don’t.
What are the risks of the procedure?
Circumcision is typically performed on newborns, though some adults choose to have it as well. To make an informed decision about whether circumcision is right for you, it’s essential that you understand both its advantages and potential risks.
Studies have demonstrated the health benefits of circumcision. For instance, it may reduce the risk of urinary tract infections and penile cancer.
Research is still uncertain as to why but some believe it may be due to how the foreskin traps bacteria and viruses during sexual contact.
The procedure carries some minor risks, such as granulomas along the cut edge and keloid formation. Although these complications are rare, they can cause pain and discomfort in the affected area.
How long will the procedure take?
Depending on the type of anesthesia you receive, the procedure can take as little as 30 minutes. Local or spinal anesthesia numbs the skin around your penis area.
After numbing the skin, incisions are made and your foreskin removed. The area is then covered with ointment and bandage for protection.
Some people experience more bleeding than usual during or around their incision for several hours to days afterward. If you experience any pain or discomfort after the procedure, contact your doctor immediately.
Circumcision is generally safe, with few complications occurring. The two most frequent issues experienced after circumcision are excessive bleeding and infection.
How will I recover from the procedure?
After the procedure, you will be taken to a recovery area where nurses can check on you and administer pain medicine. Additionally, you will receive aftercare instructions for when you return home.
Swelling and bruising may occur for the first few days after surgery, but should clear up within a week. Your penis may look “crusty” with clear or straw-colored fluid oozing out, which is normal.
The surgeon will cover the area with lubricated gauze, which usually falls off on its own.
If you notice a crust of blood or yellowish coating around the head of your penis, do not remove it. This is not indicative of an infection.
If your doctor used stitches to close the incisions, they must remain in place long enough for the edges to knit together but not so long that skin around them fails to heal. Eventually, these soluble (or self-dissolving) stitches will fall off naturally over the course of four weeks.