Aftercare: Ultimate Guide to Adult Circumcision Recovery at Home

When undergoing adult circumcision, one concern is the healing process. After all, you need to take care of your bodies properly after the surgery so you can heal properly. As circumcision is a surgical procedure, it’s crucial that you know the dos and don’ts for after your surgery.

The healing process after the procedure varies from person to person. So, this is a general guide for how to ensure a safe and faster circumcision recovery.

What to do After an Adult Circumcision

According to the CDC, over 71.2% of men in the US have undergone circumcision as children or adults. No matter the age though, there are a lot of things to keep in mind so when it comes to aftercare.

Here are 11 things to remember following surgery at a circumcision center.

#1 – Dressing

Before leaving the circumcision clinic, ask your doctor when is the best time to remove the dressing. It is usually removed between the first 24 to 48 hours. To remove the dressing, simply soak it in a warm bath and refrain from pulling or scratching while it’s healing.

#2 – Stitches

The sutures or stitches must be in place for 1 to 2 weeks to ensure that the cut edges are knit together to allow the skin to heal fully. Most circumcision clinics use soluble stitches that are self-dissolving. However, if they’re still in place after 2 weeks, you need to ask your doctor to remove them.

Leaving the stitches for over 2 weeks increases the risk of acquiring stitch tunnels or small holes in the skin.

#3 – Diet

Patients can return to their normal diet post-surgery. However, they may feel some nausea within the first 6-8 hours after the circumcision. This is usually because of the anesthesia given to them before the surgery. Thankfully, it will resolve soon after.

If you’re experiencing an upset stomach, try eating bland, low-fat foods like toast and yogurt.

#4 – Bathing

Patients are not allowed to shower to prevent wetting the bandage, but they may sponge bathe within the first 48 hours after the surgery. Then, two days after circumcision, they may remove the bandage and shower again.

Here’s what to do on the first shower:

● Stand in a warm shower for a couple of minutes to moisten the dressing and unravel the bandage easily.

● Once the bandage is off, patients can again take a shower regularly.

Keep in mind that if you’re still in the healing process, you should not take a bath or submerge yourself in any water (bathtub, pool, etc.).

#5 – Bruising and Swelling

It’s normal for the penis to be swollen and look bruised after a circumcision. But if it’s still swollen and bruised after 30 days, ‌contact your doctor or the circumcision center. Patients can also put an ice pack on their groin for 10 to 20 minutes every 2 hours to relieve swelling. Make sure to put a thin cloth between the ice pack and the skin to prevent skin irritation and burning.

#6 – Bleeding/Secretions

It’s also common to notice small spots of blood after the procedure. However, you should call your doctor or the circumcision center when you see continuous bleeding or excessive swelling around your penis. Additionally, it’s normal to see a yellow-whitish film around the penis in the first few weeks after circumcision and it is not a sign of infection.

#7 – Medicine

If taking prescription or maintenance medicine, patient should ask their doctor post-surgery if it’s okay to continue taking them or when to restart their prescriptions.

● If you’re taking aspirin or any blood thinning medicine, ask the doctor when you can start retaking them. Be sure that it’s clear and you fully understand what your doctor tells you to do.

● If the doctor gives you a prescription medicine for pain management, take it as prescribed. If there are no prescribed medicines, you can ask for over-the-counter pain relief medication to help relieve pain.

● Do not drink two or more pain medicines simultaneously unless directed by your doctor. Taking too much pain medicine (especially medicines containing Tylenol) can be harmful.

● If given prescription antibiotics, see ‌that you finish the complete cycle of antibiotics. Don’t stop taking them when you think you’re feeling better. If you stop taking antibiotics before the full course, you might become resistant to the antibiotic in the future.

If you’re still experiencing pain or the medicine makes you sick to your stomach, try taking them after your meals or ask for different pain medicine from your doctor.

#8 – Antiseptic Cream

Patients should not put any antiseptic cream on the surgery site. Additionally, they should not add any antiseptic cream to their bathwater because even though it kill germs, it can harm new skin and slow healing.

To soothe the pain, patients should soak the wound for about 10 to 15 minutes in warm water with a teaspoon of salt, and they can do this multiple times a day.

#9 – Sexual Activity

It’s best that you don’t engage in any sexual activities, including masturbation, for 4 weeks after circumcision to allow the penis to heal fully. After that, it is recommended they use condoms for 2 more weeks during any sexual activity to prevent damage and irritation.

#10 – Alcohol or Smoking

As with other surgical procedures, patients cannot drink alcoholic beverages for at least 1 week after the surgery. Likewise, they should refrain from smoking or vaping for 1 month. This is because drinking and smoking can slow down the circumcision recovery, and the longer the wound heals, the more prone it is to infections.

#11 – Work or Fitness

Some patients may not need time off school or work after circumcision, but it’s common to find it challenging to focus on work for the first few days. We often suggest to take a week off if possible. However, it’s more recommended if your work requires heavy lifting or more strenuous physical activity.

When it comes to fitness, patients should also avoid intense exercise activities for 4 weeks or until your doctor says it’s okay.

Proper Aftercare For Better Circumcision Recovery

Knowing the proper home care procedures for circumcision is critical to ensure that healing process goes correctly and comfortably. It also helps to notice if there are any complications to the circumcision recovery process.

If you have more concerns or questions about circumcision, ‌contact our circumcision center. We are more than happy to help you and address all your problems. Remember that circumcision is a very common procedure with a high success rate, so there’s if you take proper care—you can heal properly and be on your way in no time.

Schedule a free phone consultation with us to learn more about adult circumcision. Contact us today!

References:

Aftercare For Older Boys and Adult Men (circumcisioncentre.co.uk)

Circumcision in men – NHS (www.nhs.uk )

Adult Circumcision: What to Expect at Home (alberta.ca)

Adult Aftercare – Gentle Circumcision

Post Circumcision Aftercare and Advice for Adult Men (circumcisioncentre.co.uk)

Microsoft Word – Website Circumcision Adult Post Op.docx (alaskaurology.com)

Medical Male Circumcision (kznhealth.gov.za)