Complications

Complications are rare but the following are important aspects you need to be aware of.

Swelling and bruising

An inevitable amount of swelling will occur after any circumcision and is a reflection of the local anaesthetic administration and the natural healing process.

Bleeding

This is rare and you should follow the advice given when you attended for the procedure.

Infection

This is extremely rare. Often redness, swelling, tenderness are confused for infection, when it is in fact normal inflammation after any surgical procedure. However, should you have any concerns call the emergency number provided.

Pain

Many practitioners claim that a circumcision should be a painless procedure, which is indeed so in the vast majority of cases. However due to variations in body habitus, natural anatomical variations, an individuals pain threshold, some patients may be perceived as being in pain during the procedure. If this is the case during the procedure the doctor will discuss the case with you.

Post procedure, once the local anesthetic has worn off, slight discomfort should be expected in the first 12- 24 hours, which can be brought under control with, over the counter painkillers. Should it be felt that this is not the case, then the emergency number should be called.

Cosmetics

Although every effort is made to ensure a satisfactory cosmetic result, occasionally the post procedure result may give the appearance of residual skin remaining. If this is the case, as the child grows this will normally resolve itself and a second procedure is very rarely required.

Buried Penis

This is the term applied when the penile length is small and buried within the fatty area surrounding it. During erections it comes out and the shaft is clearly seen. However when the flaccid states resumes, it once again shrinks within the surrounding fatty area giving, a once again, wrinkled appearance of foreskin.

Occasionally a circumcision can take place when the area to be circumcised is small or, when on the day of presentation a small amount of erection being present gives the impression that it is bigger than it normally is, compared to its normal soft flaccid state. This appearance can also develop, if a few weeks to months after the procedure, the child develops a large amount of peripubic fat around the area.

In such circumstances, should a circumcision be undertaken, concerns are often raised that the procedure has not been undertaken correctly. This is not the case.

With time, as the area grows and develops in size, coupled with a reduction in the associated peripubic surrounding fatty area this normally self-resolves.

Should this be of any concern feel free to contact us.