Circumcision in Easton & Bethlehem, PA
What You Should Know About Circumcision
Congratulations, you are having a baby boy! Now, you must decide if your soon-to-be infant boy should have minor medical surgery days after birth.
Male infants usually undergo a surgery called a circumcision. This procedure removes the baby's foreskin from the tip of the penis. Dr. Ramesh Kadewari of Pediatric Medical Center of Lehigh Valley, can help you through this process.
What To Expect: Surgery And Aftercare
Worldwide, babies have foreskin surgery every day, soon after birth. This surgery is routinely performed on babies anywhere from two - to eight days old. Pediatric Medical Center of Lehigh Valley explains that this surgery is a simple procedure of removing the foreskin off the tip of the penis. The surgery is an average of 20 minutes long and has a recovery time of about a week.
If you decide you don't want your infant to have this surgery after birth, the surgery can be scheduled when your child is older or even as an adult, but the surgery will take longer, as is the recovery time.
The surgery is as follows:
- The healthcare professional performing the surgery will place your baby on their back.
- A surgical team member helps to hold your child's arms and legs so that they are still for the surgery.
- The penis is cleaned for surgery.
- The foreskin is removed from the penis.
Dr. Kadewari of Pediatric Medical Center of Lehigh Valley explains that the area will be red for a few days and may spot blood, or you may see a yellowish film, which is normal. Our doctor gives you aftercare instructions upon your discharge from the hospital. Keeping the area clean and dry will help the area heal quickly. Apply a skin ointment to the affected area to help keep it clean.
This surgery is very safe, with only a 3% chance of complications. If you see complications such as swelling, spreading redness, heat, or no urination after 12 hours, contact our pediatrician immediately. Our doctor will advise you about possible pain relief medication in your newborn.
Although the choice to circumcise is up to each parent, there are certain benefits to circumcision, such as the reduced chance of urinary tract infections, reduced risk of penile cancer, or certain conditions that affect the foreskin, such as the ability to move the foreskin to free the tip of the penis.