| Having a circumcision |
| |
Your specialist has recommended
that you have a circumcision and this leaflet provides some standard
information and advice about the procedure. However, you should
always follow the instructions of your own specialist.
If you have any unanswered questions or concerns, please do not
hesitate to ask your specialist or nurse for more information.
It is natural to feel anxious, but often knowing what to expect
can help. |
| |
| What is circumcision? |
| |
Circumcision is a simple
operation to remove the foreskin from the penis. The foreskin
is the sleeve of skin around the tip (glans) of the penis.
The procedure is routinely carried out as a day case, with no
overnight stay. It is usually performed under a general anaesthetic
- this leaflet describes this method. For more details on general
anaesthesia, please see a separate leaflet.
Circumcision can also be successfully performed under local anaesthetic.
You do not have to fast beforehand and can generally go home sooner
than after a general anaesthetic. |
| |
| Preparing for your operation
|
| |
Your specialist or hospital
will give you some information about when and how to check into
hospital.
In some cases, you may be invited to attend a pre-admission clinic
for some routine tests.
Before you come into hospital your circumcision, you will be asked
to:
- Have a bath or shower at home on the day of your
admission
- Remove any jewellery
- Follow the fasting instructions given by your
specialist or hospital. Typically, you must not eat or drink
for about six hours before a general anaesthetic. However,
some anaesthetists allow occasional sips of water until two
hours before
When you arrive at the hospital, a nurse will explain how you
will be cared for during your stay and will perform some simple
tests such as checking your pulse and blood pressure and testing
your urine. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will also visit you.
This is a good time to ask any outstanding questions about your
treatment. |
| |
| Consent |
| |
You will be given a consent
form to sign. By doing this, you confirm that you understand what
the procedure involves, including the benefits and risks, and
give your permission for it to go ahead.
Please see the back of this leaflet for further information about
the possible side-effects and complications of this procedure.
You need to know about these in order to give your informed consent.
|
| |
| About the operation |
| |
Once you are soundly asleep,
the foreskin is pulled forward and cut so that it can be removed.
The skin is stitched together, and a loose dressing is applied.
The stitches are dissolvable and do not need to be removed. The
operation usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.
At the end of the operation, and before you wake up, the surgeon
will give you a long-acting local anaesthetic, either by injection,
or by applying gel to the area. This makes the operation site
pain-free for a few hours after surgery. |
| |
| Back on the ward |
| |
You will need to rest on
your bed until the effects of the anaesthetic have passed. The
local anaesthetic will last for up to eight hours. If you are
sore after this, you may require painkillers, which can usually
be taken every four to six hours. Please discuss this with your
nurse, surgeon or anaesthetist.
When you feel ready, you can begin to drink and eat, starting
with clear fluids such as water or apple juice. |
| |
| Going home |
| |
If your operation has been
planned as a day case, you will be able to go home once you have
made a full recovery from the anaesthetic. It is also best if
you try to pass urine before you go home.
You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home and then
stay with you for the first 24 hours. If you stay overnight following
your operation, you will asked to be ready to leave your room
the next morning.
Before you are discharged, the nurse will advise you about caring
for surgical wounds, hygiene and bathing. The nurse will also
give you a contact telephone number for the hospital, in case
you need to ask for any further advice. |
| |
| After you return home |
| |
If you need them, continue
taking painkillers as advised by the hospital. A general anaesthetic
can temporarily affect your coordination and reasoning skills,
so you should avoid driving, drinking alcohol, using power tools,
making any vital decisions or signing legal documents for 24 hours
after the operation.
As you will be quite sore, you need to be prepared to take it
easy for a few days. Don¡¦t do any strenuous exercise, lifting
or carrying.
The day after your operation, try to get out of bed and take regular
walks around the house. It is most comfortable to wear loose clothing
such as boxer shorts, or a dressing gown with no underpants or
trousers, because the rubbing of clothing may make the wound sore.
To stop clothes sticking to the operation site, you can apply
a little Vaseline.
You should try to keep the area dry for 48 hours after the operation.
After this, take warm baths, without adding bubble bath or oils,
once or twice a day. It is important to keep the tip of the penis
clean to stop it crusting over, which can prevent you from passing
urine.
The stitches will dissolve and drop out in the bath over a period
of up to three weeks. The wound may bleed slightly or ooze until
all the stitches have dissolved, and will take about two weeks
to heal.
You should avoid driving for five to seven days, or until you
feel could perform an emergency stop without feeling discomfort.
|
| |
| What are the risks? |
| |
| Circumcision is generally
a safe surgical procedure. For most people, the benefits in terms
of improved symptoms are greater than the disadvantages. However,
all surgery does carry some element of risk. This can be divided
into the risk of side-effects and the risk of complications. |
| |
| Side-effects |
| |
| Examples of short-lived
side-effects include nausea or vomiting as a result of the general
anaesthetic. There is also likely to be some pain, swelling and
bruising of the skin around the penis, which may last for several
weeks. There may also some be bleeding. |
| |
| Complications |
| |
This is when there are problems
during or after the operation. Most people are not affected.
The main possible complications of any surgery are bleeding during
or very soon after the operation, infection, and an unexpected
reaction to the anaesthetic.
Specific complications of circumcision are uncommon but can include
infection, which can usually be treated with antibiotics, and
excessive bleeding from the operation site, which may require
further treatment in theatre.
The chance of complications depends on the exact type of operation
you are having and other factors such as your general health.
You should ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to
you. |
| |
| Further information |
| |
NORM ¡V UK
http://www.norm-uk.org/
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org/handouts/042.html
Circumcision Information and Resource Pages
http://www.cirp.org/ |
| |
Healthwise (Health Information Resource
Centre)
Tel : (852) 2849 2400
Fax : (852) 2849 2900
Email : info@healthwise.org.hk
Homepage : http://www.healthwise.org.hk/
This leaflet is for information only. For a detailed
opinion or personal advice, please consult with your own
doctor |
|
| |
| |
|
|
|