Circumcision is surgery to remove the skin that covers the head of the penis. This skin is called the foreskin.
Your child will likely be asleep during the surgery. The doctor may use pain medicine to numb the nerves in the surgery area. This is called a nerve block. It helps control pain for several hours after surgery.
You will probably be able to take your child home 2 to 4 hours after the surgery. You can expect your child to fully recover in several weeks. But in some cases it may take a little longer.
If your doctor told you how to care for your child's incision, follow your doctor's instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:
Surgery can be stressful for both your child and you. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for your child's surgery.
Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if your child has any problems.
After surgery, your child's penis may be painful, swollen, and bruised. In an older baby or child, there may be some blood coming from the wound edge. The penis may have petroleum jelly and gauze on it from surgery. If gauze is used, follow your doctor's directions about when to remove it. When you remove the gauze, first soak it in warm water, and then gently loosen it.
Your child may not sleep as well and may seem fussy while the circumcision site heals. Let your child return to normal activities when your child seems ready or when your doctor says it's okay. This is usually in 2 or 3 days.
If your child wears diapers, use petroleum jelly on the stitches with each diaper change. Fasten the diapers loosely. If your child wears underpants, make sure that the pants aren't rubbing on the penis.
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