Circumcision: You will be going home on the day of your surgery after you are able to eat and drink and have passed urine. You will stay in the hospital for a minimum of one hour for observations. You will need a responsible adult to pick you up from the hospital and stay with you overnight.
Leaflet Details
| Title | Circumcision |
| Department | Day Surgery Unit |
| Author(s) | Claire Ellson-Credo, RN |
| Review Date | January 2022 |
| Next Review | January 2025 |
| Download | A5 Booklet PDF |
| Accessibility Options | Click on the Recite Me button to show our accessibility resources |
Patient Information
After your surgery
- You will be going home on the day of your surgery after you are able to eat and drink and have passed urine. You will stay in the hospital for a minimum of one hour for observations. You will need a responsible adult to pick you up from the hospital and stay with you overnight.
Dressings
- You may have a thin, medicated net-like dressing (jelonet) and gauze on the tip of your penis; this should fall off within 24-48 hours. If it does not or it becomes soaked with urine, you should remove this. Please do not pull the dressing forcefully as this can cause pain and bleeding.
- Once this has come off, you do not need any further dressings. You can apply a little Vaseline to keep it from sticking to your underwear and help decrease the sensitivity after surgery.
Wound Care
- You will have some swelling and bruising that can last for a few days.
- It usually takes at least 10-14 days for your penis to heal after circumcision. It can take up to 6 weeks before it returns to its final cosmetic appearance.
Stitches
- Stitches are usually dissolvable and do not need to be removed. This can take a few weeks to completely dissolve.
Hygiene
- It is important to keep the area clean and dry to encourage healing and avoid infection. You can use plain water and/or plain unscented soap if you prefer.
- You can have a shower after 24-48 hours but avoid baths for at least two weeks. Pat the area dry, do not rub as this will cause pain.
- You need to wear light cotton loose-fitting clothing for 2 to 3 days.
Pain
- It is common to have pain around the area for a few days. Please take regular pain relief until this wears off.
- Your penis will feel very sensitive for the first two weeks. This will settle down and feel more comfortable after this time.
Activities
- You need to take it easy for a few days. You are advised to take short walks the day after surgery, slowly building up to your normal activities.
- Avoid sexual intercourse / masturbation for 6 weeks and until you feel comfortable. You may feel some tightness and discomfort around the scar tissue during erection; this will regain its normal elasticity within a few months. Emptying your bladder before going to sleep can help prevent night time erections especially during the first few days.
- Avoid any strenuous exercises or contact sports for 2-4 weeks.
- You should not drive for a week and until you are comfortable enough to do so. It is also advisable to check with your insurance company as they may have different policies.
- Providing that your job does not involve physical exertion, you may return to work as soon as you feel able to do so. Most people feel ready to return to work in a week or two.
Blood clot prevention
- It is important that you resume normal activities as advised and keep active. You must wear the anti-embolic stockings given to you for 7 days, both during the day and at night. They can be removed while you have a shower and applied again afterwards.
- You will have been given a blood thinning injection either during or after surgery. These help prevent blood clots such as in the leg (deep vein thrombosis) or the lung (pulmonary embolus). Depending on your medical risk factors, you may need to have this injection for a few days at home. You will be given instructions on how to administer them by your nurse.
Follow up appointment
- Usually, you do not need any follow up appointment after your operation. A copy of your discharge letter will be sent to your GP to inform them of your surgery.
- If you need a follow-up appointment in the outpatient clinic, an appointment letter will be sent to you with the details by your surgeon’s secretary.
What to watch out for:
Please contact your GP if:
- The area looks very swollen, hot to touch, has an offensive discharge and you have a temperature as these are signs of infection
- If you need further pain relief
Please attend Accident and Emergency department if:
- The pain becomes severe and unmanageable
- The bleeding becomes excessive and uncontrolled
- You are unable to pass urine and experience severe pain in your lower abdomen
Useful contact numbers:
- Urology Centre 01932 722033 or 01932 722167 Monday to Friday
- Day Surgery Unit Ashford hospital 01784 884609 or 01784 884189 between 8am-9pm Monday to Friday
- Eliot ward 01784 884005 or 01784 884575 after 9pm on weekdays, all day weekends and bank holidays
- ASPH Main Switchboard 01932 872000 and ask to be connected to your surgeon’s secretary for appointment queries
If you feel unwell and needed urgent medical care, please go to your nearest Accident and Emergency Department immediately and bring your discharge letter with you.
