Circumcision in men is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the excess skin that covers the tip of the penis. Most boys, when they are babies, or just born have a loose flap skin, which protects and covers the rounded part of the penis. The term used for the excess skin is the “foreskin,” and it contains tiny muscle parts, blood vessels, and nerves.
When a person is born, the foreskin remains stuck on the head of the penis and separates eventually as they grow up. This would also allow better exit of urine from the body and allows proper pulling back of the skin at the time of an erection.
When it comes to the circumcision on adult, it is the oldest surgical procedures they choose, for social, cultural, and medical reasons. The CDC often encourages men to go through the snip since it helps to reduce the risks of the HIV virus. However, this is something that not all authorities agree upon and the recommendations often remain controversial.
What Happens in the Procedure?
Several clinics across the USA perform the surgery in their Circumcision Center, and regardless of whom you choose you should make sure that you evaluate your options. No matter the surgery, it is always best to be sure of what to expect and have the results that you desire.
The common surgical technique is the sleeve resection method, and this often involves making incisions with a scalpel. The incisions are in the outer as well as mucosal surfaces of the foreskin of the penis. The removal of the foreskin is in the form of a ring tissue. Depending on the choice of the patient, or their preference, the surgeon may proceed with frenulum removal or frenulectomy.
With electrocautery, the doctors then stop the bleeding and complete the surgery with medical suture closures (often absorbable and fine sutures). The needle that they utilize for the surgery is the atraumatic type. To reduce tension on the wounds, they use a paper closure tape to reduce the tension and reapproximate the incision edges. The last step is to use a sterile compression dressing to aid in quick healing, and minimize the risks of suture marks. Your surgeon would then guide you on the precautionary and care tips to follow.
How Long Does the Procedure Take
As mentioned above, this surgery is a common one performed on newborns and it takes about 5 to 10 minutes when they are infants. However, in adult men, this procedure could take about an hour and the recovery period lasts about 2-3 weeks. In infants, the recovery period is often sooner.
The Recovery Stage
Since the circumcision, procedure would involve the surgical removal of the penis and have incisions. It is normal to notice some bruising and swelling for the first 2 days of the surgery. In general, at the time of the surgery, you will not actually feel any pain, and you can turn to some over-the-counter painkillers for pain relief.
Over the penis, you will have dressing, so make sure that you follow your surgeon’s guidance on when to take off the dressing. It is advisable that you wear underwear that’s soft and comfortable for you. You can choose snug fit underwear or go for loose fitting briefs. Wearing a snug fit one should keep your penis in an upright position, and help with the swelling to subside. As mentioned above, you will need about 2-3 weeks of rest for the swelling to subside. Return to your normal routine only when you feel it’s the right time and you experience no pain.
To speed up recovery phase, you should make sure that you:
- Rest well when you feel tired. You need to get enough sleep during this recovery time.
- Walk slowly and increase your time gradually.
- Avoid any form of strenuous activities like jogging, bicycle riding, aerobic exercise, weight lifting, or any other activity for at least four weeks.
- After every shower, pat the incisions dry and take short baths.
You can return to work and normal activities, including driving, when you are comfortable doing them.
Also, ensure that you stick to a healthy diet and normal diet. If you have an upset stomach, you should try some low fat foods, bland, yogurt, toast, and broiled chicken. You should also ensure that you drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated. However, follow the pattern your doctor advises you to follow.
Follow up care is quite important, and you should always ensure that you seek the help of your physician. At anytime, if you feel you have an infection, you should show this to your doctor who proceeds with the circumcision on adult and try to follow the precautionary measures they advise you to follow.
