What is Circumcision Surgery?

A circumcision surgery is a surgical procedure done at time of birth on a baby boy, to remove the skin called foreskin, that covers the head of the penis.

It could be performed by various health care providers like pediatricians, obstetricians, etc. 

In most of the cases, it is done at the time of birth, after taking permission from the infant’s parents. There are rare cases where the surgery is done on an adult male. 

So, when the surgery is performed on a newborn, the responsibility of post operative care and preventives are all on the parents. So, it is very necessary that the parents know what to do and how to do because a newborn is very weak and delicate and needs extra care and precautions so that there won’t be any infection or any other risks because of the operation. 

Why Does a Baby Need A Circumcision Surgery?

There are many reasons and aspects why an infant’s parents would go for a circumcision surgery right after the birth: 

  1. There are some cultural and religious  beliefs in many communities and religions and they consider the procedure to be necessary and a holy ritual. 
  2. It is also done for foreskin conditions like Phimosis or Paraphimosis, in which either the foreskin is too tight to pull back or it is pulled back and then got stuck, which is causing pain and other new issues. 
  3. Other reasons are issues like Posthitis and Balanoposthitis, related to inflammation of the foreskin or the inflammation of both foreskin and the head of the penis. 
  4. One of the reasons is prevention, to reduce the chances of Penile cancer later on in the male’s life.
  5. For the better cleaning and overall ease in maintaining the hygiene of the male genitals. 
  6. The risk of a male getting STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) and UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections) is reduced to 10 times, if he already has the circumcision surgery done at time of the birth. 

Do’s and Don’ts For Post- Op Care-

  1. Keeping the area clean of the baby is very important because an unhygienic and not taking care of genitals could lead to infections. 
  2. To wash the penis, use only gentle and unscented soap and warm water. 
  3. Keep the area dry and avoid using towels and tissues, as it could irritate the skin. 
  4. Try to make the baby wear a diaper one size larger than his actual size, to avoid any discomfort and irritation to the baby.
  5. Using petroleum jelly for some days after the operation and covering it with a bandage will help to kee[p infections and discomfort away to some extent. Just make sure to not overdo it or to change it from time to time when needed. 
  6. Put on loose and cotton shorts on the baby, so that he doesn’t feel pain and irritation after the operation. 

The overall recovery period takes about a month maximum and it is very important the parents be patient with the care and make sure the proper hygiene and comfort of the baby. There are chances when the newborn would cry out loud because of discomfort or swelling, just be calm and try to put the baby at ease by making sure he is wearing the right clothes and diapers and that they are not sticking too much on the penis causing the baby to get irritated down there.  

Remember that the operation is not such a risky procedure and if taken care of the baby well, there are certainly nil chances of any issues or complications. The healing takes its time and method and it is important to be patient and not over doing any post- op care guidelines too. 

When to Contract A Doctor?

If you observe certain signs, don’t think for a minute and call your doctor immediately: 

  • If the baby finds it difficult to pee and cries and shows signs of pain when peeing.
  • Blood spots are normal after the surgery but, if there is excessive bleeding and it won’t stop after a certain time, then it is a matter of concern.
  • If the baby runs down with fever continuously.
  • If you notice a foul smelling discharge from the baby’s penis, then it is most likely an infection there. 
  • Redness and swelling is totally normal after the surgery but it starts to leak after 1 or 2 weeks of the surgery. However, if you see no sign of healing and even the swelling and redness is getting more and more day by day, then you should definitely visit your doctor and get the baby checked for any infection or internal bleeding.  

As much as it is important to follow proper guidelines for the post operative care for the circumcision surgery, it is equally necessary to observe closely for the signs of infections or complications in the baby after the surgery.