What does a circumcision involve? Are there any complications?
Circumcision in children is usually done under general anesthesia, as a day case procedure. The stitches are dissolvable and need not require removal. There can be a variable degree of swelling and the penis may look ugly for 2 weeks. As the head of penis has not been exposed, it undergoes drying and scabbing over it. Bleeding is a rare complication and usually settles spontaneously. The urinary opening on the penis can become narrow, especially if there is a skin problem called BXO. If this develops, it might require dilatation under general anesthesia. It normally takes 7 - 10 days to heal after the procedure.
Like any another surgical procedure, circumcision too carries a few risks. Some of them are-
- Excessive bleeding, infection, irritation and pain
- Urinary fistulas,
- Meatal Stenosis, cysts, chordee
- Lymphedema, Cyst
- Ulceration of the glans, necrosis of the penis
- Secondary phimosis or impotence may also result
