Preparation for Adult Circumcision, Frenuloplasty or Preputioplasty
Pubic Hair
There is no need to completely shave your pubic hair, but it is desirable to trim it fairly short. This aids asepsis (prevent infection) during the operation and prevents hairs becoming painfully trapped in the bandaging afterwards. Trim your pubic hair a few days in advance of the operation to allow time for the cut ends to soften again.
Sex
There will be a period of up to six weeks after circumcision when you will notbe able to indulge in sex. It is desirable therefore that you reduce your desires beforehand. On the morning of the operation either have sex with your partner or masturbate to climax.
Alcohol
Do not take any alcohol, whether with or without a meal, prior to the circumcision as it can dehydrate you and may reduce the effectiveness of the local anaesthetic.
Hygiene
On the morning of the circumcision ensure that you take a good bath or shower and pay particular attention to your genitals. Retract your foreskin as far as you can and clean well under it.
Immediately before the time of the circumcision empty your bladder.
Underwear
Adult men after the circumcision should bring a pair of tight fitting briefs to wear afterwards which will keep the surgical dressing in place. Continue to wear these at home until the swelling and soreness has eased.
Eat and Drinks:
If you are having a local anaesthetic, eat and drink as per normal. Keep your fluids going as this will ensure that you are well hydrated.
Smoking
If you smoke, then stop as this interferes with the healing of the wound. Smoking can slow this down and your recovery in general so stop smoking before your surgery.
Time off from work
Arrange time off school/work from 2-7 days.
After adult circumcision
After the circumcision, preputioplasty or frenuloplasty, your penis will be swollen and look very bruised. This is a normal effect of both the injected anaesthetic and the handling it necessarily receives during the operation. These will gradually reduce over the next week or two.
Underwear
If you normally wear boxers you may find that they give insufficient support immediately post-operative. You may wish to consider some form of briefs which will hold your penis in position and thus reduce the frictional stimulation which it would otherwise receive if allowed to swing freely.
The Bandage after circumcision
The doctor will bandage only the immediate area of the cut of circumcision. This bandage will normally be wound tightly around the penis. It serves two purposes, to protect the wound and to contain and reduce the swelling.
Removal of the initial bandage is a compromise between maintaining the compression for as long as possible to reduce swelling as fast as possible and changing the dressing on the wound before it sticks too much to the healing skin.
2 to 3 days after the operation is generally regarded as the most opportune time to change the dressing. The bandage will, most likely, be well caked in blood (particularly the inner layers) and will need to be soaked off in the shower to avoid tearing the healing wound.
A thin coating of an ointment, e.g. Vaseline or Fucidin cream, before applying the bandage will reduce the possibility of blood making it stick to the skin. Use Fucidin cream according to Dr Khan advice.
If you choose not to use a bandage, then a gauze pad may be useful to prevent the stitches catching in your underwear.
Promoting Healing
Do not apply any antiseptic cream to your penis, nor add any antiseptic to bath water. Whilst they do help to kill germs, most are corrosive to new skin and actually slow down healing. In the rare cases where an infection develops, see a doctor as soon as possible. You can take Vitamin C regularly for 10 days, this will promote healing.
Pain Killers
Everyone reacts differently in respect of pain. For most people circumcision will not be truly painful, but a degree of discomfort is to be expected during the first few days.
If you choose to take pain killing tablets, then follow the instructions precisely. Do not take more than the recommended maximum dose.
If you have a favourite brand of pain killer and the doctor has prescribed something else, be sure to ask about the effects of 'mixing and matching'.
Do not take Aspirin or any blood thinning medicine after your doctor (GP) advice since these thin the blood and have an anti-clotting action which can increase bleeding from a wound after the circumcision.
The Stitches and Glue
Circumcision with stitches (sutures in medical parlance) need to remain in place long enough for the cut edges to knit together but not so long as to allow the skin around them to fully heal. In practice this usually means they should remain for between 2 and 3 weeks. These soluble (or self-dissolving) stitches will fall off spontaneously in due course.
Circumcision with glue usually comes off within 10 days. If there is any loose glue, you can cut this loose part of the glue but do not peel off rest of the glue from the wound.
Travelling
You can travel home safely within 1-2 hours distanceafter the circumcision or any other foreskin procedure. Avoid long journey for 24 hours. Do not fly for 24-48 hours. Take a flight after 48 hours if your flight is more than 4 hours.
Erections
To reduce the effect of nocturnal erections pulling on the stitches or glue during the first few days after the circumcision, empty your bladder before retiring and a few times during the night. Do not lie on your back, but on your side. It may be helpful to draw your knees up a bit into a more foetal position.
Sex after circumcision
Do not be over eager to have sex until your circumcision has healed, which will normally take up to six weeks. If you need relief during the healing process then try techniques which stimulate places other than the glans and scar line. These can include squeezing the shaft alone, massaging the nipples or prostate massage.
To avoid excessive friction on the healing scar line you may wish to consider the use of a condom. A condom should always be used for penetrative sex (even with a regular partner) until the scar line is completely healed and settled down, which may take two to three months to achieve.
Time off School or Work after circumcision
There is no absolute need to take time off school or work after circumcision, but you may find it very hard to concentrate on work for the first few days and so may find it useful to take a week off.
A week (or even two) off work is very desirable if you do heavy lifting or if your job keeps you seated and unable to move around freely for long periods.
Do not schedule a circumcision immediately before major examinations if you wish to pass them, as you cannot get up and walk around to relieve any pressure on your penis.
You should naturally avoid fast-moving or contact sports, cycling and swimming until your circumcision has fully healed for at least 2-3 weeks.
NOTE: The content on our information page is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice from Dr. Khan regarding any medical questions or conditions developed before or after circumcision.
