It's best to avoid full-body bathing until the second day after surgery, but sponge baths are fine. After the second day, you can shower or bathe as normal, but don't scrub the incision site — just let the soapy warm water run over the incision and pat it dry.
Remove the bandage 48hrs after your procedure during the first shower. Stand in a warm shower for several minutes allowing the bandage to moisten. This will allow you to unravel the bandage easily. Once the bandage is off, you may shower regularly up to once a day.
You can shower the day after the operation, and showering daily is recommended to keep the wound clean. Apply the antibiotic ointment to the wound lightly twice a day. Continue to use this each day until the tube runs out (usually 5-7 days). You may return back to your normal activities when it is comfortable to do so.
Pat the cut (incision) dry. You may also take short baths if you wish. Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 4 weeks or until your doctor says it is okay. You can return to work and normal activities, including driving, when you are comfortable doing them.
After your baby has a circumcision, you will need to keep the area clean. Gently clean with warm water — do not use diaper wipes. Soapy water can be used if needed. If there is a dressing on the surgery site, put a new one on (with petroleum jelly) every time you change a diaper for the first day or two.
Wash the area daily with warm water and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.
There will be some swelling of the penis after the procedure, which should go away during the first week. By the second day, a yellowish-white discharge may cover the end of the penis. This discharge is normal and part of the healing process; do not try to wipe or wash it off. It will clear up in 2-3 days.
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.
It's best to avoid full-body bathing until the second day after surgery, but sponge bathing is fine. After the second day, you can bathe your baby or toddler as normal; with newborns, you should wait until the umbilical cord has fallen off, at about two weeks. Avoid very warm water.
You should remain relatively inactive the first 72 hours following surgery. We do encourage walking around for a few minutes every two hours to maintain good circulation, but otherwise, no activity.
These however, may be signs of an infection and medical advice should be sought as soon as possible: discharge that includes pus (cloudy, yellowish/white, foul-smelling fluid) hot skin and/or spreading redness around the wound site.
The tip may be sore, and the penis itself may look red and swollen. You may see a yellow crust on the tip as well. This is normal and should go away on its own in a few days. It will take a week to 10 days for your son's penis to heal completely.
The introduction of a newly modified circumcision method has made it possible to improve the results of the procedure. This method is called the 8-figure non-absorbable suture (8FNS) technique.
Recovery and Outlook
Recovery from circumcision takes about eight to 10 days. While the penis heals, it may look swollen and red.
It usually takes at least 10 days for your penis to heal after circumcision. You'll probably be advised to take at least 1 week off work to recover. You don't need to tell the DVLA if you have had a routine circumcision and don't have any other medical conditions that affect your ability to drive.
If you get an erection in the healing period just after your procedure it will be painful. It is therefore better if you avoid anything that might lead to an erection. You can put something cold, like an icepack, on your groin to help the erection go away.
You will want to avoid putting pressure on the circumcised penis in the first few days. 3) Most babies sleep quite well following the circumcision. The best sleeping position for your baby is on his side, supported by a blanket roll. 4) Healing is promoted by keeping the area clean and dry.
The penis will be sore and inflamed for a few days after the operation. Ointment may be prescribed to use for a few days to help the area heal. Your child will also need regular pain relief for at least 3 days. They can take paracetamol or ibuprofen following the instructions on the packet.
Once the membrane is exposed, it thickens and becomes darker. Your child's glans may have off-white or yellowish patches in the first few days after surgery. These are a type of scab and are completely normal. Two or three days after the circumcision, the skin may look green and yellow.
It is prudent to apply the petroleum jelly on glans and meatal area of circumcised boys after each diaper change for 6 months post-circumcision.
Your baby may seem fussy while the area heals. It may hurt for your baby to urinate. This pain often gets better in 3 or 4 days. But it may last for up to 2 weeks.
Drink plenty of water – about 6 to 8 glasses per day. If you are not having regular bowel movements, you may need to take a stool softener or a laxative. Speak to a pharmacist about which one to use. If you do not have a bowel movement in the 3 days after surgery, call your doctor.
Normal Circumcision Healing
The scab at the incision line comes off in 7 to 10 days. If a Plastibell (plastic ring) was used, it should fall off by 14 days. 10 days is the average. While it can't fall off too early, pulling it off can cause bleeding.
New babies need sponge baths only until the umbilical cord falls off and circumcision heals (for boys) in order to keep these areas free from infection and allow them to stay dry and heal.
Conclusions: This study confirms the importance of the foreskin for penile sensitivity, overall sexual satisfaction, and penile functioning. Furthermore, this study shows that a higher percentage of circumcised men experience discomfort or pain and unusual sensations as compared with the uncircumcised population.