Adult circumcision: when is it needed?

Men can go throughout their lives being uncircumcised, however, there may come a point where it feels necessary to have the procedure. From phimosis to cancer of the penis, there are many reasons why circumcision is sometimes done.

We wanted to clarify with a leading consultant urologist, Mr Andrew Ballaro as to why adult circumcision is sometimes necessary, what the risks are and what can be expected from the procedure.
 

Why do some adult men need a circumcision?

Most circumcisions are performed to remove a tight foreskin. Sometimes the foreskin can always be a little on the tight side, then as one gets older the quality of the tissue deteriorates and the skin loses elasticity. When this happens it is more prone to damage when stretched, and the damaged skin turns to stiff in-elastic scar tissue thereby further reducing the ability of the skin to stretch and predisposing to more damage. Eventually, the skin becomes rigid and splits and cracks every time it is pulled back, and then a circumcision is required. There are also scarring skin diseases which cause a white scar to form over the tip of the foreskin. Rarely, the foreskin may also have to be removed because of penile cancer.
 

Is it safe for grown men to have a circumcision? Are there risks?

Circumcision is a very safe procedure and can be performed under both general and local anaesthetic. The risks of the procedure include a change in sexual sensation, as there are some fine touch receptors on the tip of the foreskin that are not present elsewhere and are removed.
 

What can patients expect on the day of the procedure?

The procedure takes about 20 minutes and we normally put a local anaesthetic in so there is no post-operative pain. The patient goes home soon after the procedure, and it can be a little swollen and sore for a few days afterwards but this is readily managed by simple painkillers.
 

Is it painful to have done?

There is likely to be a degree of discomfort either directly after the procedure or during the healing process but this is not severe and is readily managed by simple analgesia.
 

How long does recovery take? What does recovery involve?

The procedure takes a few weeks to heal completely and you should refrain from sexual activity for a month. Despite this the patient is walking around straight after the operation, and may well be able to go back to gentle work activities within a few days.

If you feel you will require circumcision, you may like to get in contact with a leading urologist such as Mr Andrew Ballaro. Visit his Top Doctors profile today for information on appointment availability.