Circumcision Care | London Children Surgery

The Portland Hospital, 234 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5QT

info@londonchildrensurgery.co.uk

020 7390 8322

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What is a circumcision? Circumcision is an operation where the end of the foreskin is removed.

Why do patients need this procedure? Your child may have a circumcision because of tightness, ballooning or inflammation of the foreskin, or because they have a skin condition called balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO).

Do patients need general anaesthetic? Your child will have a general anaesthetic and in the vast majority of children who are otherwise well, there is no reason for blood tests or investigations to be done prior to the operation.

What happens during the procedure? You will be able to bring your child into the theatre and be there while they drift off to sleep.

Are there any risks? Occasionally the surgery wound can bleed, especially within the first few hours but this does settle. Sometimes if bleeding does not stop your child may need to return to theatre shortly after the operation to have this looked at but this is extremely uncommon.

Too much or too little skin may be removed during the operation but this is rare. There is also a small risk of infection with a procedure like a circumcision. If you are concerned about anything please contact your GP or the surgical team for assessment

How long will it take to recover? There may be some redness, swelling and discomfort that can last for quite a number of days, but this does settle. The stitches will absorb and go away by themselves in around two weeks. It is not unusual for the surgeon to use tissue glue which can also take around two weeks to absorb.

How do I care for my son when he gets home? You will need to keep the area dry and clean for five days following the procedure.

Does the patient need any medication? Your son won’t need any specific prescribed medication after the operation. However, if there is an abnormality of the foreskin and some scarring already present, the tissue will be sent for histological review. If there is the evidence of BXO your child may require treatment with mild steroid cream after they have had the operation.

And finally…

The vast majority of children who have routine circumcisions done by us do extremely well with very little complications. Patients are very happy with the results, experience very little pain and are extremely comfortable afterwards.

We aim to ensure this procedure is stress-free for parents and their children and are here to support and advise the family where possible.

Testimonials

Client says about us

Mrs E – Mother of elven year old son who suffers from nocturnal and day time wetting, seen by Mr Feilim Murphy

[My son] did not have surgery but he was treated with advice and guidance. After years of treatment and depressing failure my son made incredible progress within weeks - so much so that I would really describe him as ’sorted’ now.

Mr & Mrs L – parents of eight year old boy who underwent SP lines and cystoscopy under Mr Murphy at Portland Hospital

Couldn’t be happier with the standard of the professionalism we received! [our son] underwent SP lines and cystoscopy with Mr Murphy.

Mr A – Father of 2 week old son who underwent neonatal plastibell circumcision under Mr Bruce Okoye

We attended Mr Okoye’s walk in walk out neonatal clinic with [our son] for a circumcision. The whole process was very straightforward and we were able to take [our son] home straight after procedure

Mr & Mrs N – Parents of one year old girl who underwent repair of congenital right sided diaphragmatic hernia with Mr Bruce Okoye at Portland Hospital

We had been so worried for so long that something wasn’t right with [our daughter], Finding out she had diaphragmatic hernia and hiatus hernia was devastating,

Mrs J – son underwent left sided hydrocele repair under Mr Feilim Murphy at Portland Hospital

Mr Feilim Murphy was extremely reassuring and the preoperative meetings put us all at ease. My 3 1/2 year-old son enjoyed the meetings I did not feel in anyway nervous and was very entertained by Mr Murphy.