Circumcision is the removal of a skin fold in the tip of the penis, which forms a closed space and closes the urine outlet, by cutting it with various methods. It is a practice that has been done as a tradition in many societies since the past, and is a prerequisite in many religions from the past. Although it was difficult to fully explain the medical benefits in the past, many benefits have been noticed and become widespread.
Contrary to popular belief, circumcision is not a simple intervention. It is a serious surgical intervention that can cause many physical and psychological problems. For this reason, it should be done by well-trained, experts in the field.
Circumcision is a serious surgical intervention. For this reason, it should be done in a fully healthy manner by experts in a prepared way. If it is not done for an emergency reason, it should be done in full health after simple diseases such as colds have passed. The person who is going to be circumcised should be in a condition called hypospadias and in the “Circumcision of the Prophet” among the people. Because in people with congenital hypospadias disease, the urine exit hole is not where it should be. In order to correct this abnormality, the skin cut in the circumcision should be used. Therefore, circumcision operation should be performed together with circumcision correction surgery in people with hypospadias abnormality.
In overweight children after the operation, the penis may go inside due to lubrication. In this case, the windings may fall prematurely. The foreskin on the penises of these boys may appear to be slightly cut. These are not situations to be worried about. Since the penis will come out and find its exact place with puberty, the foreskin will sit on the penis exactly.
Sometimes, late bleeding can be seen after circumcision. We recommend that you consult your doctor, especially in cases of bleeding that will occur within 24 hours after the intervention.
Even a bandage may not be required after circumcision. After some interventions, a small dressing may be necessary. After 48 hours, this dressing can be easily removed. It may be good for the child to use painkillers for the first 48 hours after circumcision. After some operations, the tip of the penis may show slight swelling. In such cases, there is no need to worry. The penis will return to its normal appearance within 2 weeks following the operation.
With the development of technology, many different methods of circumcision have also been developed.
The skin of the tip of the penis, which is taken with the operation called circumcision, covers the urinary hole. Under this skin fold, an area that does not breathe, accumulates dirt and various secretions, and is in constant contact with urine. If this area is not cleaned regularly, it can cause various infections. In addition, this skin fold can mediate sexually transmitted diseases.
In some children, this skin fold may be adherent. By narrowing the urethra, it can prevent urine output. It can cause many different problems, from penile abscesses to impaired blood flow in the penis.
Both local anesthesia and general anesthesia can be applied easily in circumcision operation. The most important point in this choice is the child’s age and the child’s psychological state. If the age of the child to be circumcised is 6 months and under, in short, if the awareness of the child has not yet been established, local anesthesia can be used. Again, if the child is older and understands the situation and accepts circumcision, local anesthesia can be used again. For other age and psychological conditions, general anesthesia can be preferred in order not to cause fear, stress, trauma to the child and not to upset the child.
While the practice of infant circumcision has become an increasingly popular practice in our country, Antalya also draws attention in terms of circumcision rates. The biggest advantage of infant circumcision, which has many advantages, is that there is no need for general anesthesia and that there is no psychological trauma because awareness has not yet developed in the baby. In addition, because the vessels on the foreskin are not developed in newborns, severe bleeding is not usually seen. Also, recovery is quick and easy to maintain.
Babies can be circumcised in the newborn period and even in the first few days after birth. Early circumcision performed in healthy babies without any health problems is frequently preferred because it accelerates the healing process and does not leave psychological trauma to the baby. The ideal circumcision age for the baby is a few days after birth. Of course, for this situation, they should not have any sucking, breathing or other discomforts.
During the circumcision process, the baby should be comfortable between 15 and 20 minutes. For this reason, doctors who practice circumcision prefer local anesthesia for babies under 2 to 3 months and under 5 kilograms. General anesthesia should be preferred in other age groups. Although general anesthesia is not a risky method like it used to be, the rate of anesthesia in Antalya circumcision practices is quite high. Especially a short general anesthesia of 15-20 minutes will be sufficient for circumcision.
Local anesthesia is preferred in circumcision operations performed within a few months after the birth of the baby. Local anesthesia is not general anesthesia, it just means anesthesia applied to the area to be operated. The only problem at this point is the necessity of starving the baby before the operation. It can be a little difficult for a newborn baby to stay hungry by being away from breast milk for about 4 hours. Usually, the need for pain relief does not occur in newborns after circumcision. After the circumcision operation, no drugs other than antiseptic creams are used.
Baby nurses take care of the newborn after the operation. In this process, they inform parents about home care. They provide detailed information on how to apply the creams to be used and what to do in which situations. After circumcision, creams with antiseptic properties to be applied to the circumcision area should be applied 4 to 5 times a day. After cream applications, it is recommended to cover the operation area with a sterile cloth in order not to get dirty, not to get infected and not to stick. Regular doctor control is absolutely necessary after newborn circumcision. The circumcision area should be checked by the circumcised doctor, especially on the 3rd day following the operation. Since the stitches made after the operation dissolve on their own, they do not need to be removed.
If there is no problem two or three hours after the circumcision operation, you can be discharged and return home. After regular and clean care, if you use antiseptic creams properly, the area will heal within a week.
In the 8-hour period following the circumcision, you should inform your circumcised doctor in cases such as not being able to urinate or urinating dropwise. You should consult your doctor again in case of bleeding, bruising or blackening of the penis, fever and weakness in the baby after circumcision.
There is a possibility that some syndromes may occur in babies born prematurely, known as preterm babies. Circumcision should definitely be postponed for these babies. In addition, circumcision should be postponed for babies who are prone to bleeding until the bleeding problem is eliminated.
In some babies, the urine exit hole may not be in its normal place. Circumcision should be postponed in babies with this condition, which is popularly known as the “Sunnah of the Prophet”. The foreskin will be needed during the circumcision correction surgery to be performed in the future.
Apart from these situations, circumcision is not suitable for babies who have problems such as breathing and circulation after birth and have diseases such as colds. Due to the climate of Antalya, the right method should be chosen at the right time for circumcision.
