Circumcision FAQs

Circumcision may be performed for religious, cultural, family or medical reasons and is typically performed on newborns. However, many adolescents and adults decide to have this procedure as well because of persistent infections of the foreskin, urinary tract infections, or pain and bleeding during erections. Circumcised males have fewer urinary infections and are better protected against sexually transmitted diseases later in life. According to the National Institutes of Health, adult circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by 50 percent.

There are a number of benefits to consider when thinking about circumcision, including:

• Easier hygiene
• Decreased risk of urinary tract infections
• Prevention of penile problems. Occasionally, the foreskin on an uncircumcised penis may narrow so much that it’s difficult or impossible to retract. This can also lead to inflammation of the head of the penis.
• Decreased risk of penile cancer. Although cancer of the penis is very rare, it’s less common in circumcised men.
• Decreased risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

For these reasons, more and more men are opting for this procedure.

Anesthesia is applied to numb the penis, the procedure only lasts for about 30-45 minutes. After the anesthesia is applied a probe is used to remove the foreskin from the shaft of the penis, the procedure is done with extreme care as to not injure the penis head.

Several techniques may be used:

• The guided forceps technique: Using this technique, a small amount of extra foreskin may be left around the ridge at the bottom of the glans.
• The dorsal slit: This technique is harder to perform, but a cleaner outcome may result. Here the foreskin is pulled forward and a slit is made along the top. With the foreskin pulled taut, dissection scissors are used to cut in a circle from the slit.
• The sleeve resection: This involves making two parallel, circular cuts farther down the shaft. This frees up a band of foreskin that can be dissected off of the penis, revealing a ringlike gap. The remaining portions of foreskin can be pulled together and sewn up, with very attractive results.

Regardless of what technique is used to circumcise the penis, the patient should the patient should refrain from all masturbation or sexual activity for four to six weeks. Most normal activities can be resumed in a few days.

I suggest a week of moderate activity following circumcision. Sedentary activity and travel is possible the same day.

Absolutely not. The structures of the penis that give it length and girth are deeper in the anatomy than the skin. The skin is the only component that is altered with a circumcision, therefore there is no possibility of altering penile size with a circumcision.

Yes, this is a frequently performed procedure in the office.

No, in fact, I have performed circumcision for men over eighty years of age. The more important factor is the state of their general health to allow for minor surgery.

If you are afraid of needles and/or tend to become faint at the sight of needles, it would be best to have your procedure performed under general anesthesia. Please contact our office to speak with a member of my about scheduling the procedure to be performed under general anesthesia.

I respect the aesthetic wishes of my patients and will gladly perform circumcisions for purely cosmetic reasons.