Boys’ Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin covering the head of the penis. It is performed for cultural, medical, or personal reasons. Medical benefits include a reduced risk of urinary tract infections and some diseases later in life.
Risks and side effects may include bleeding, infection, pain, and scarring.
The procedure is done in our clinic under local anaesthesia, and recovery usually takes 7-14 days.
Alternatives to circumcision include steroid creams, manual stretching, and preputioplasty or dorsal slit.
Both parents must give consent for the body of circumcision under 16 years old. It is essential to make an informed consent to you and your son to understand and consult with our specialist surgeon before deciding whether to circumcise your son.
London Circumcision Clinic by Child Surgeon
Our specialists, with 30 years of experience as doctors, have performed over 8,000 circumcisions on boys and adults in the UK.
They are at the top of their field and have excellent results with stitches, glue, revisions, and redoing circumcisions in boys and teenagers.
Our doctors are an expert in methods of circumcision such as Circumplast or Plastibell circumcision, sleeve, suture-less (Glue), freehand, forceps guided method, stitches, dorsal slit, revision, and redo circumcision.
Procedure
Local anaesthetist cream (EMLA or LMX4) is applied one hour before the injection.
The local anaesthetic medicine is injected into the base of the penis and all around the shaft of the penis with 2-3 pricks. This provides safe and effective pain relief during the operation.
This is the sole form of anaesthesia around the wound; the patient is NOT asleep during the procedure.
This minimises post-operative pain as well for 2-3 hours. The entire foreskin is removed using an incision just behind the head of the penis. This leaves the head of the penis wholly exposed permanently.
Clinic Locations
- Leyton Healthcare – East London
Oliver Road Polyclinic, 4th Floor, 75 Oliver Rd, London E10 5LG - Cambridge Circumcision Clinic – Trumpington
The Courtyard, Anstey Hall, Maris Lane, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 9LN
Indications
Circumcision may be performed for the following reasons:
- Hygiene, cultural or religious
- Tight foreskin due to scarring (BXO)
- Paraphimosis
- Tight foreskin during sexual activity in older children
- Phimosis
- Infection of the foreskin (Balanitis)
Alternatives to Circumcision
Alternatives to full circumcisions include frenuloplasty, frenulum excision, V-Y plasty operation, and medical treatments.
These are personal preferences that can be discussed further with our specialist.
Before Operation Assessment
You will usually attend the clinic on the same day for the consultation and surgery. After the consultation, you will meet the nurse and doctor.
Before surgery, we need to know if you have any of the following:
- Family history of bleeding disorders
- Medication
- Allergy to any medication such as penicillin
- Abnormality of external genitalia
Immediate Care
You might experience discomfort for a few days after the procedure, but painkillers help to reduce this.
Glue or absorbable stitches are typically used, which can be allowed to fall off after 2-3 weeks. Vaseline should be applied to the tip of the penis. A dressing is applied around the wound line to prevent the wound from sticking to your underclothes, and this stays in place for 24 hours in the case of glue circumcision or 2-3 days in cases of stitches.
It is advisable to wear light clothing for 2-3 days. Passing urine is painless and is not affected by the operation.
If the circumcision is done using the glue method (the glue is called dermobound or Derma-flex), please follow the following instructions.
- Please keep the wound dry for three days.
- Do not scratch, rub, or pick at the wound or glue; doing so may loosen the film before the wound fully recovers.
- Please gently remove the bandage after three days; you may take a brief shower or bath. After showering or bathing, gently blot the wound dry with a soft towel. Caution! Do not peel off the glue with the bandage.
- Do not soak or scrub your wound or swim until the adhesive film has fallen off naturally.
- Stay out of direct sunlight, and do not use tanning lamps.
- Do not apply liquid, ointment medications, or any other product to the wound while the glue is in place. It could loosen the film before the wound is fully healed.
- You may have 1-2 stitches underneath the penis (at the frenulum); these will dissolve in 3-4 weeks. There is no need to remove the stitches using the glue method.
What Should I Expect When I Get Home
Healing will take at least 7 to 14 days, and you may return to school or college when you are comfortable enough.
Most people require at least a week off from school or college.
You should refrain from physical activity for at least 3-4 weeks. When you leave the clinic, you will send a GP letter by email.
Care at Home
There will be swelling of the penis for a few days after the procedure. This will last 8-15 days, then subside gradually, and should not cause alarm.
However, if you develop a temperature, increased redness, throbbing or discharge at the operation site, please get in touch with us for advice.
