What is a circumcision?
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the skin that covers the tip of your baby’s penis. It’s usually performed while the baby is still a newborn.
Why do parents choose circumcision?
Parents choose circumcision for their child for different reasons. For some parents, circumcision is required by their religion. Other parents may choose to circumcise their baby for social reasons.
Circumcision may offer some health benefits as well, including:
- Easier hygiene
- Lower risk of penile cancer
- Lower risk of sexually transmitted infections
- Lower risk of urinary tract infections
In some cases, parents may choose to circumcise a baby for a combination of these reasons.
What happens during the procedure?
During the circumcision procedure, your baby’s doctor will begin by placing him on his back with his legs and arms immobilized. The doctor will clean the area and treat it with an anesthetic to prevent pain during the procedure. Next, the doctor will attach a clamp or plastic ring to your child’s penis and remove the foreskin with surgical instruments.
The entire circumcision procedure takes only 10 minutes to complete. The recovery period takes approximately seven to 10 days. During this time, your baby’s penis may look red, swollen, or bruised. Your baby’s penis may also be sore during this time, and it may develop a yellow crust near the site of the surgery. All of these symptoms should resolve within the recovery period.
Is a circumcision safe?
The risks associated with circumcising a newborn are low. However, there’s a small risk of a reaction to the anesthesia, excessive bleeding, or infection. In some cases, the foreskin may also be cut too short or left too long. In addition, there’s a possibility that the remaining foreskin may attach itself to the end of the penis, and your baby may need a minor surgery to repair it.
Can circumcision be performed on older children?
In order to perform the circumcision in an office, it should be done within the first two weeks of life. Please note this is subject to a cash rate. After that, it would require referral to a specialist to be done in a surgical center.
