Many mothers of boys may ask a completely natural question about the specifics of the procedure called circumcision in boys. What is it and why can it be carried out? Removing the foreskin, which is what is done during surgery, can be done for good reasons. For example, religious beliefs, or if there is evidence.
Circumcision for boys is a painful procedure. To eliminate discomfort, local anesthesia is required. If you properly care for the genital organ in the future, you can avoid complications. Let us consider in more detail what needs to be done if boys are circumcised, how it is done and other nuances.
General information
Circumcision of children is a specific surgical intervention during which the doctor performs an excision of the free foreskin of the penis. The operation can be performed using several methods. Either a scalpel and scissors or special rings are used. Also, some clinics offer laser circumcision.
Considering the question of what circumcision is for boys, it must be said that this procedure is carried out in Jewish, Muslim and some African communities, countries for religious reasons, and is mandatory for all representatives of the stronger sex. It can be performed both shortly after birth and during adolescence as an initiation.
In the world scientific community there is no consensus regarding pediatric circumcision. Some argue that this procedure should become mandatory, like vaccination, as it reduces the financial burden of diseases associated with this part of the body. Others do not see any particular need for this. In general, everyone recognizes the fact that careful personal hygiene and the use of condoms help to avoid most problems associated with the foreskin.
What is circumcision of the foreskin
Male circumcision is one of the most common urological operations. It is widely believed that circumcision of the foreskin is a very simple, routine procedure. But it is not so! In order to get an excellent aesthetic result after surgery (and not a rough, tugging, asymmetrical scar), it is very important that the procedure is performed by an experienced urologist surgeon.
In our clinic, the operation is performed by a urologist-andrologist, surgeon, Ph.D. BABIKIN Anton Vasilievich. The procedure is carried out according to the standards of aesthetic medicine: after circumcision, an invisible scar is formed.
Male circumcision performed for medical reasons is somewhat different from traditional circumcision and is more effective in treating phimosis, balanoposthitis, rapid ejaculation or eliminating hygiene problems.
Peculiarities
If parents are thinking about how to circumcise their son, then the nuances of the procedure depend on the age of the patient. Circumcision for a child can be performed under either local or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia is more preferable - it eliminates the risks associated with general anesthesia and has a shorter recovery period. It is good for babies and teenagers. In children who are able to resist, usually over six months, general anesthesia is used.
Circumcision lasts no more than 20 minutes. The procedure is easily tolerated. If you use local anesthesia, you can go home straight away. With general anesthesia, you must wait until you wake up. A week later, during the examination, the surgeon will remove the previously applied sutures. Throughout this time, you should care for the wound to avoid complications.
Age
If we talk about the age at which boys are circumcised, the younger the child, the better the healing. If there are medical indications, age is not taken into account, since the benefits outweigh all other risks. The procedure is simple, the wound surface is relatively small and heals quite quickly at any age.
If circumcision is performed at the request of the parents, then both social factors and the age of the child are taken into account. Up to six months, circumcision is performed under local anesthesia. Once the child has developed enough to resist, general anesthesia becomes the only choice. During adolescence, boys begin to experience wet dreams and morning erections. This can lead to quite severe pain during the wound healing period. Accordingly, circumcision during infancy is most preferable.
In Judaism, circumcision is prescribed on the eighth day after birth. But if this has not been done, it can be performed at any other age.
In other cultures, age is not strictly regulated and can vary widely. For example, in Turkey, circumcision is carried out until the age of 14-15 years. Often, the ceremony and celebration are organized immediately for all the boys growing up in the family.
In which countries and why is a child circumcised?
The need to change a boy’s penis is dictated by the religious canons of different faiths:
- Muslims believe that childhood circumcision will turn a child into a real man. The ritual is performed at the 7th week from birth, at 7 or 13 years.
- Jewish communities preach that circumcised men are given the opportunity to grow closer to God. Jews perform circumcision on their sons at the age of 8 days or 8 years.
- In African settlements, the foreskin is removed to increase strength and health. From a medical point of view, the ritual often gives a negative result due to the impossibility of proper care: heat, lack of sufficient water, unsanitary conditions.
Regardless of their country of residence and religion, young men undergo surgery for aesthetic reasons, believing that in this way they will increase their intimate attractiveness in the eyes of the opposite sex.
Preparation
Parents must clearly decide whether circumcision will be performed, why it is necessary, or whether it is possible to do without it. Today, most specialized clinics offer this procedure in modern conditions, where the patient is properly prepared beforehand. All tests will be taken from the child and a visual examination of the genital organ will be carried out.
If he is of a conscious age, then they will have a conversation, and some will even be given a lecture, which will help him to tune in psychologically. As a result of this, specialists will be able to determine the presence or absence of contraindications, as well as the type of pain relief. As for preparation, before the procedure you need to perform genital hygiene and remove hair, if any.
Procedure
A child's circumcision should be performed by experienced surgeons in specialized clinics. After the intervention is completed, which takes no more than 20 minutes, the baby and his parents are sent home. It is important that during the operation there is an anesthesiologist in the office, since he is entrusted with the task of selecting the type of painkiller.
The algorithm for performing circumcision of the foreskin is as follows:
- Initially, anesthesia is administered and the patient waits for it to take effect;
- Then the lines along which the cut is made are determined and drawn;
- Treat the genitals and the area around them with an antiseptic;
- After this, the foreskin is excised using the chosen method;
- If necessary, stitches are applied;
- Final treatment of the wound and application of a bandage are performed.
With local anesthesia, microinjections of drugs are performed that promote loss of sensitivity. General anesthesia is administered intravenously and the patient falls asleep. With the epidural type of anesthesia, an injection is given in the lumbar region, then they check whether the drug has worked. If the effect occurs, the doctor will begin performing the necessary manipulations.
There are several types of surgery, both in terms of the degree of skin removal and the technique used. Modern medicine offers both classic circumcision, performed with a scalpel, and circumcision using various devices, as well as a laser. All improvements are designed to reduce blood loss and the intensity of postoperative pain.
Care
Features of care may differ from the chosen surgical technique. For example, sutures may dissolve on their own or may require removal. The operation can be carried out without stitches at all, or after circumcision, a ring may remain on the head of the penis, which will fall off on its own (like a clamp on the umbilical wound).
Only the doctor performing the intervention can name all the nuances.
Standard recommendations include monitoring the wound. Daily bathing in a warm bath. This procedure also makes dressing easier. Change the dressing and take anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain.
It is better to place the penis in an erect position. This will facilitate the drainage of fluid and reduce swelling.
After 7-10 days, you should make a second visit to the doctor. At this point, we can consider that the dressing stage has ended, so in the future it is necessary to wait for the wound to completely heal and not neglect the rules of hygiene.
How is circumcision performed?
After treating the skin of the penis with a disinfectant solution, local anesthesia of the surgical area is performed. To do this, a rubber tourniquet is temporarily placed at the base of the penis and an anesthetic is injected into the penis. Skin puncture is the only unpleasant moment of the operation for the patient. After injection of the anesthetic, pain sensitivity is completely disabled for the time necessary for circumcision.
Below is a diagram of the “standard” version of the circumcision operation using the two-incision method:
ATTENTION: this page contains only schematic images of what the penis will look like after circumcision. You can view PHOTOS of our patients AFTER FORESKIN CIRCUMSTANCE on our forum
Through a circular incision around the head of the penis, the layers of the foreskin are mobilized and excised with simultaneous plastic surgery of the frenulum (red dotted lines are the incision sites).
Dr. Babykin A.V.
In the case of “incomplete” circumcision, a second circular incision is made in such a way as to preserve more of the skin of the penis, which will subsequently fold over the head of the penis and imitate the foreskin. The foreskin itself (inner layer) and scar tissue (with phimosis) are removed in any case, so that there is no recurrence of phimosis or the formation of a constriction ring (if circumcision is performed incorrectly).
At the final stage of the circumcision operation, absorbable sutures are placed along the length of the skin incision, as well as sutures in the frenulum area. This concludes the operation. The patient is bandaged. And after 1-2 hours you can go home.
What will the penis look like after circumcision?
After healing of the surgical wound, an invisible scar remains (up to 1 mm wide), located circularly at a distance of 3-5 mm from the coronal groove of the head of the penis.
At the request of the patient, incomplete or partial circumcision is performed (when a large part of the skin of the penis remains, simulating the foreskin and partially covering the head), a standard version (the head is open when the penis is at rest), as well as tight circumcision (after which not only the foreskin is removed , but also most of the skin of the penis).
Look at examples of our work on the forum in the section before and after circumcision surgery
Complications
Complications of circumcision are quite rare. The most common symptoms are pain, swelling and bleeding.
It is also not uncommon for the procedure to be repeated because the foreskin grows back or was not removed enough.
Urethral stenosis and penile deformation are also considered rare but possible complications of circumcision.
At the first signs of increased bleeding (a blood spot more than 2-3 cm in diameter), you should consult a doctor. The same should be done at the first signs of inflammation (severe swelling, fever, purulent discharge).
Recovery
For 3 or 4 days after surgery, there is usually discomfort and swelling around the tip of the penis, while the surgical wound will heal completely within a month, during which it is not recommended to engage in sports or sex.
It is recommended to go to the hospital if:
- fever;
- increased redness;
- bleeding;
- constant pain;
- sensation of pulsation inside the penis.
These symptoms may indicate signs of infection.
It is generally recommended to apply petroleum jelly to the penis to prevent the operated part from sticking to the panties; Wearing light, loose clothing for 2 or 3 days after surgery will help avoid irritation.
Urination usually does not cause any discomfort.
