What is the Healing Process like for Adult Circumcision

Adult circumcision is a surgical procedure that’s usually carried out on a day patient basis. This means that you will undergo the procedure the same day you’re admitted and won’t have to stay overnight.

Circumcision is when doctors remove the skin that covers the penis head, called the foreskin. After trimming off the foreskin, the doctor will sew the edges with small stitches that usually dissolve on their own. When the stitches are in place and the penis is wrapped in a protective dressing, the nurse or doctor will escort you to the recovery room.

If no immediate complications occur during and after the surgery, you can go home on the same day as your surgery.

Circumcision Healing Process

Recovery from adult circumcision usually takes at least 10 days until your penis heals after the surgery. You may need to file a request for a week off from work after the surgery as it can be uncomfortable, requiring you to rest more.

Most of the healing process occurs in the first few weeks after the procedure. And the first few days are the most crucial. Also, the healing duration varies from person to person. The healing process continues for several months, at which point the results of adult circumcision will be almost similar to those circumcised as infants.

Regardless of the technique used during adult circumcision, the skin surrounding your penis must be incised and sutured. For the first 2 days after the procedure, you may notice some swelling and signs of bruising on your penis. This is normal and expected.

However, here are two things you can do if you feel pain in your groin area after the surgery:

● Drink over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

● Apply an ice pack to your groin for around 10 to 20 minutes every two hours, and make sure you’re putting a thin cloth between the ice pack and your skin to prevent skin irritation.

To reduce the risk of infection, ensure that the dressing around your penis remains clean. You can also schedule another trip to the circumcision clinic to have your dressings replaced.

Infections after a Circumcision

In rare cases, infection occurs in the penis after circumcision and occurs in 1 out of 200 infants. Still, that’s only a rate of 2% and the risk is lower for adults. Here are some signs that you have an infection:

● Fever

● Increased redness in your penis

● Bleeding

● Persistent pain or throbbing of your penis

When you experience these symptoms after the procedure, immediately contact your doctor or proceed to the circumcision clinic or hospital.

Incisions for Circumcisions

After circumcision, your doctor will put a bandage on your penis to protect your sutures. You will need to remove the dressing between 24 to 48 hours after surgery, although in most cases, it falls off naturally with minimal bleeding.

However, it’s better to ask for advice from your doctor about how long they recommend the bandage must be left in place. To remove the dressing, soak off your genitals in a warm bath.

You should be able to urinate normally, although with some care while bandaged. If you feel any discomfort while urinating, ‌contact the circumcision clinic for help, as it may also be a symptom of a urinary tract infection.

Once the dressing is off, you may see some bruising, swelling, and redness around the circumcision wound. This is normal and should fade within a week or two. You may also notice that your penis looks different. Give yourself a few weeks before you start judging your new look.

Erections after Circumcision

When you have erections, it pulls the stitches in your healing penis and can cause pain and discomfort. So, as much as it’s part of the circumcision healing process, you have to make sure that it doesn’t cause severe pain or bleeding.

If you find yourself having persistent erections, what you can do is get up and take a walk. Doing so helps divert the blood from your penis into your leg muscles, resulting in faster deflation of your erection.

However, having nighttime and morning erections actually helps heal your penis properly, as it straightens out any folds in the skin that may be present when it’s flaccid.

Sex

Any sexual activity is not advisable for at least 4 weeks after circumcision to allow complete healing of your penis. Similarly, you should not also masturbate to prevent any injuries caused by irritation and friction.

After the initial 4 weeks of restraint from sexual activities, it’s advisable to use condoms to protect the scar from the surgery.

Activities after Circumcision

You should take at least a week off from work or school after circumcision. However, if you have to go back to work, it’s advised that you stick with desk work. Avoid driving or doing any heavy lifting until the wound has healed.

It would be best if you also refrained from doing any cardiovascular exercises, contact sports, and swimming for 3 weeks. As much as possible, keep the wound dry for faster healing.

Outfits after Circumcision

Wear light and loose-fitting clothes the first 3 days after your surgery to avoid irritation while your wound heals. You can also apply petroleum jelly around the tip of your penis to prevent it from sticking to your underwear and causing pain.

When to Call for Help after a Circumcision

While adult circumcision is a simple procedure, it is still a surgery. This means that complications may arise after the procedure. Contact your doctor or the circumcision clinic immediately when you experience the following:

● You are experiencing pain that doesn’t get relieved after taking pain medications.

● The stitches around your wound loosen or suddenly open.

● You see bright red blood soaking through the bandage.

● When you notice any signs of infection.

● You have difficulty or experiencing pain when urinating.

A Well-Planned Surgery Leads to Faster Recovery

Choosing to undergo adult circumcision requires some initiative and planning, including being well-informed on what the healing process looks like for men. In addition, preparing yourself for the recovery process helps ensure you’ll have the best experience possible after surgery and enables you to enjoy the results for the rest of your life.

If you’re considering circumcision, you can discuss it with our doctors, and we will be more than happy to help you make a safe and informed decision.

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

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