How long do circumcision stitches take to dissolve

A circumcision (sir cum SI zhun) is the surgery to remove the foreskin (extra skin) at the end of the penis (Picture 1).

What to expect after surgery

• The penis may have a dressing around it. The dressing may fall off on its own during the first couple of days after surgery. If it does not fall off on its own, soak the area in warm water for at least 15 minutes or until the dressing loosens. Then gently remove the dressing from the penis.
• Once the dressing is off, apply triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin®) to the area several times a day or with each diaper change.
• You may see stitches. These will dissolve over the next 7 to 10 days.

Pain control

• Most boys will have some pain for 6 to 8 hours. Some may experience pain for up to several days after surgery.
• If your child is playful or active, you can assume he is comfortable.
• If your son is uncomfortable, you may give him Tylenol® (see Helping Hand HH-V-58, Acetaminophen).

Follow the doctor’s orders for giving Tylenol for pain:

• Do not give more than 5 doses of this medicine in a 24-hour period unless ordered by your child’s doctor.
• Read the label each time before you give your child any medicine.
• If the medicine is a liquid, always use a measuring device to get the exact dose. Do not measure liquid medicines in kitchen spoons.
• Store all medicine out of the reach of children.
• If your child or someone else takes too much of this medicine, first call the Central Ohio Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. They will tell you what to do.
• Check for soft daily bowel movements after surgery. Constipation can cause more pain for your son.

When to call the doctor

Call your child’s doctor if your child has:

• Severe pain that does not get better with pain medicine.
• Fever over 101 degrees F rectally.
• Continuous oozing of blood or more than a few drops of blood on penis or dressing.
• Redness that starts to spread from the tip up the penis toward the abdomen (belly).
• Pus-like drainage or foul odor from the penis.
• Less urine than before

Your child may have nausea and vomiting 12 to 24 hours after the surgery. If this continues, please call the Pediatric Surgery office at 614-722-6630.

Diet

When your child gets home, start giving him clear juices, water, Pedialyte® or popsicles. When he can keep these down, slowly add foods he regularly eats.

Activity

• Your child should avoid straddle toys for two weeks.
• There are no other restrictions.

There are NO restrictions for the use of car seats. Your child should ride in his car seat as usual.

Bathing       

Resume your child’s normal bathing routine after two days.

Follow-up

If your child’s circumcision was done by Pediatric Surgery, a nurse from surgery clinic will call you in 2 to 4 weeks.

If you have any questions or your child is having problems after regular office hours, call the doctor on call:

Our urologist will perform the operation using the Forceps Guided method under local anaesthetic and Dermabond© glue. You will be fit to go home after the operation, you can also drive, but it is advisable to stop somewhere and stretch your legs especially if you are going to drive for more than 2 hours.

Post Op

After the operation your penis will be swollen and look very bruised. This is a normal effect of both the injected anaesthetic and the handling it will receive during the operation. These will gradually reduce over the next week or two.

The Bandage

The bandage will normally be wound tightly around the penis; you can obtain Sterile Gauze Swabs 4 Packs and Micropore Tape One 1” from your pharmacy or GP practice nurse if you require anymore. You should remove the bandage after 24 hours.

The Glue

The glue will dissolve itself in 5 to 10 days and will naturally fall off the skin. Do not apply liquid or ointment medications or any other product to the wound whilst the glue is still in place. You can shower 24 hours after the operation but do not bath until the wound is healed. Do not soak or scrub the wound whilst showering, gently blot the area to dry it using a soft towel.

Pain Killers

You may need to take pain killers for a few days afterwards, please follow the instructions on the packet. Do not take Aspirin or any other medicine which may thin the blood and have an anti-clotting action which can increase bleeding from a wound.

Erections

To reduce the effect of night erections pulling on the wound or bleeding during the first few days, empty your bladder before retiring and a few times during the night.

Healing

Too allow for healing a week off work or school is desirable, however, if you need to go back it would be advisable to stick with sedentary work. It is not advisable to drive heavy goods or do any heavy lifting until the wound has healed. You should naturally avoid cardio vascular exercises, energetic or contact sports, cycling and swimming for 3 weeks. The healing time for each male is different, but you should allow at least six weeks. We can give you a letter for work or school if you require one, please ask at reception on the day.

Patients with Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans (BXO) and/or an inflamed surgical site will require antibiotics orally and topically.

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