Circumcision Postoperative Instructions for an Adult

Diet: After anesthesia, begin with clear liquids. Avoid any heavy meals on the day of the procedure. Depending on how you feel the following day, you may resume the diet you normally follow. Be sure to drink plenty of water.

After anesthesia: Do not drive a car or operate machinery for 24 hours after anesthesia. Do not consume alcohol, tranquilizers, sleeping medications, or any non-prescribed medications for 24 hours after anesthesia. Do not make important decisions or sign any important papers in the next 24 hours after anesthesia.

Activity: You should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for two to three weeks. This includes activities such as going to the gym, golf, tennis, cutting the grass, stretching exercises and so forth. You must avoid sexual activity for six weeks.

Postoperative care: It will be normal to have bruising and moderate swelling near the circumcision site that can last up to a week. There may be a Vaseline dressing placed around the circumcision site. This should be removed the day after surgery. If the Vaseline dressing becomes dislodged before that, it does not need to be replaced. It is not necessary to place any creams or ointments over the incision site.

Bathing: Wait 24 hours to take a bath or shower. Stitches in the skin will dissolve on their own over the next two to three weeks. There may be some redness and irritation as they dissolve.

Medication: You can obtain good pain relief if you take 2 acetaminophen (Tylenol) (regular or extra strength) every 6-8 hours while awake for the first several days at home. You may use over the counter ibuprofen every 6-8 hours in addition. You may also get a prescription for pain pills. You can use these prescription pain pills in addition. Do not exceed more than 300 mg of acetaminophen per day. You can take the pain pills as needed according to the directions on the bottle.

Constipation: Anesthesia and prescription pain medication can cause constipation. Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat plenty of vegetables and fruit. Use over the counter stool softener (docusate, Colace) or laxative (Sena, Senokot).

Postoperative appointment: You should have a postoperative visit within 2-3 weeks after your surgery. Call for an appointment if you do not already have one.