Circumcision Care

Care After Circumcision

Circumcision is a quick, simple procedure.  It is most often done in the nursery before a baby boy goes home from the hospital.  It can also be done later, but then it is a little more complicated.  There are a number of ways to do circumcision.  The healthcare provider will explain the procedure and tell you what to expect.

For a Newborn: The Plastibell Device

The head of the penis is first cleaned.  Then a plastic cap is put over the head, and the foreskin is removed.  The cap remains on until the penis heals.  To care for your son after circumcision:

• Keep his penis clean.  Gently wash it with warm water and a soft washcloth.  Let the skin air-dry.
• Change diapers often.  This helps prevent infection.  Coat the head of the penis with petroleum jelly if the healthcare provider says to. 
• Let the cap fall off by itself.  This takes 3 to 10 days.
• Call the healthcare provider if the cap falls off within the first 2 days or stays on for more than 10 days.

For a Newborn: the Gamco or Morgan Clamp

The head of the penis is first cleaned.  Then a clamp is used to remove the foreskin.  To care for your son after circumcision:

• Keep his penis clean.  Gently wash it with warm water and a soft washcloth.  Let the skin air-dry.
• Cover the head of the penis with a lubricant, such as petroleum jelly.  This will help keep the diaper from rubbing against the circumcision site.
• Change diapers often.  If there is gauze or a bandage on the penis, you may be asked either to remove it the next day, or to change it each time you change diapers.

For an Older Child

If circumcision is done when a boy is older, a urologist or other specialist surgically removes the foreskin.  The incision is then closed with stitches in most cases.  Often the penis is covered with a dressing.  To care for your son after circumcision:

• If your son goes home with a dressing on the penis, remove it the next day.  You can sit the child in warm water just long enough to loosen the dressing if it sticks to the penis.
• Sponge bathe your son with warm water and a soft washcloth until the stitches dissolve.  This usually takes 7 to 10 days.

What to Expect

During the first few days, any of the following is normal:

• A crust of blood or a yellowish coating appears around the head of the penis.
• The head of the penis is red or slightly black-and-blue.
• The penis swells a little around the incision.
• Your child cries at first when he urinates, or is fussy for the first few days.

When to Call a Healthcare Provider

Call the healthcare provider if any of the following occurs:

• The discharge becomes heavy, is a greenish color, or lasts more than a week.
• The penis is very red or sells a lot.
• Bleeding cannot be stopped by applying gentle pressure.
• Your child does not urinate, or he cries a lot when he urinates after the first day.
• Your child has a fever over 100.2 degrees Fahrenheit

Removing the Foreskin

A boy is born with a layer of skin that covers the rounded head (glans) of the penis.  This is called the foreskin.  During circumcision, the foreskin is removed.  This can make it easier to keep the penis clean.  It may also help prevent urinary tract infections.

After Circumcision