The Week Before Your Procedure
Starting fourteen days before the procedure, you must entirely avoid taking any aspirin, NSAIDs, fish oil, or other anti-inflammatory medication. These thin the blood somewhat and increase the risk of bleeding. You can still take other pain relief medication like Tylenol.
You must entirely avoid aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve, Advil, Naproxen, Diclofenac, and others because they may thin the blood and cause unnecessary bleeding.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is acceptable because it does not impact your risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Don’t take aspirin and the other anti-inflammatories for your own safety.
The doctor may not perform your procedure if you have taken these drugs recently. If you have a medical requirement to do so, please discuss with Dr. McAuliff prior to your appointment.
Preparing for Your Circumcision
Take it easy the night before your procedure. Do your best to have a good sleep the night before and follow your normal breakfast routine (except for minimizing coffee) so that you will feel your normal self. Some patients find it stressful to skip coffee, so if you are one of those people who really needs his coffee in the morning – maybe just have one cup.
The goal is to minimize your stress, so have a cup of coffee if skipping it is will cause distress. If you have taken the prescribed Valium, you must have someone come with you to drive you home as well. Valium can slow your reaction time, thus it would be dangerous to drive yourself.
The morning of your circumcision it is best if you are both physically and mentally calm. You may bring your headphones and listen to your favorite relaxing music on your phone or other small music player during the surgery, if you wish.
The Surgery
The consultation and appointment will take about an hour in total.
The procedure itself is painless. The local anesthesia ensures that you will feel no discomfort during the circumcision.
Following the procedure, we ask you to go eat lunch or get a cup of coffee and then come back to the clinic in about an hour for a check to ensure there is no post-operative bleeding.
Follow-up is required following the procedure. The first appointment will be the day after the surgery to change the surgery dressing and to teach you how to take care at home. The next appointment will be in 7 day, with another in 14 days, and a last one in 21 days if necessary. Please plan your procedure date with these follow-ups in mind.
After the Procedure
You will be given detailed After-Care Instructions. Read this carefully.
Your penis may swell in the first 2 days. It is generally not very painful, and over-the-counter pain relievers are all you usually need. Wear snug-fitting underwear that will hold the penis upright. This will help the swelling to go down.
Apply a cold pack as instructed.
You will have a dressing over the head of your penis. When the bandage is changed at the first post-op follow-up appointment, you will be instructed how and when to change the dressings again. Detailed instructions are also given in the Take-Home Packet.
You must wait at least 48 hours before you can return to your normal routine. Some men return to sedentary work 2 – 3 days after circumcision. You will need to wait longer before returning to very physical work.
A detailed care sheet will be provided with specific instructions to follow after your operation. The information on this page gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover, but each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the care instructions to heal as fast as possible.
Dr. McAuliff will address your specific case and your detailed questions.
Post Circumcision Activity & Care
Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover more quickly. Follow Dr. McAuliff’s instructions regarding showering and bathing. You may take baths after the bandage is removed.
You can return to work and normal activities, including driving, when you feel you are ready.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for at least 2 days after the procedure. Two days after the procedure, you may return to these activities at about half strength for a couple more days and, if that activity is well tolerated, then back to normal.
What to eat after circumcision
You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt. Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to). There is no medical reason to change from your usual meals in the days after getting circumcised. You will likely prefer to eat at home at least for the first day or two to maximize your comfort.
Incision care
Remove any dressing when your doctor says it is okay, following his instructions. Wear underwear that is comfortable for you. After the first few days, some men continue to prefer a snug fit for support, while others prefer loose-fitting briefs. Do what feels best for you.
Ice and elevation
Put ice or a cold pack on your groin for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the first day. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. Position your penis so that your underwear keeps it upright.
Sex After Circumcision
Do not have intercourse or masturbate for 3 weeks, or until your doctor says it is okay. An occasional erection is not harmful as long as you leave it alone. Do not stimulate the penis.
Medications After Circumcision
Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medications. He will also give you instructions about taking any new medications.
If you take blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin, be sure to talk to your prescribing doctor. He or she will tell you if and when to start taking those medications again. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
Take pain medications exactly as directed. If the doctor gave you a prescription medication for pain, take it as prescribed. If you are not taking a prescription pain medication, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medication.
Do not take two or more pain medications at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
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