Adult circumcision
Our world-renowned surgeons have performed thousands of circumcisions. They’ll take the time to understand your needs, talk you through the options, and answer your questions.
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What is it for?
Surgery to remove the foreskin of the penis
Treatment overview
Adult circumcision is an operation that removes the foreskin. The foreskin is the flexible fold of skin covering the end of the penis.
It can usually be pulled back to show the glans and the urethral opening.
Children may sometimes be circumcised for religious reasons. In adults, a specialist may recommend circumcision if your foreskin is too tight, if it keeps getting infected, or if there are problems with the skin in the area.
Foreskin problems can be painful and can have an impact on your well being and sex life.
Our leading urology surgeons are experts in circumcision and can offer calm and reassuring advice and guidance for your concerns, however sensitive they might be.
Your circumcision surgery at The London Clinic
Our expert surgeons who offer circumcision have years of experience and extensive training.
Your expert care team will guide you through your treatment and recovery plan.We offer extra touches, such as personalised food menus, to make your stay as much like home as possible.
You’ll have your own nurse, supported by an entire nursing team, who’ll help you get you feeling like yourself again.
You can also choose additional therapies to help you make the most of your recovery and reduce any discomfort including reiki and acupuncture.
Once you’re ready to leave The London Clinic, we’ll give you advice to follow once you’re home for a speedy recovery.
We’ll promise to keep in contact with you over the following weeks to ensure everything is going smoothly.
Why choose The London Clinic
Excellence in one place
We operate as teams of experts with world-class resources dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of medical care. You are surrounded by the latest treatments and advice with everything you need to get back to your best health.
Personal care, every time
Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. Our nurses, clinicians and support teams are dedicated to the care of a very small number of patients, so have more time for you. They’ll be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care around you and giving the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing you’re in the best hands.
Effortlessly simple
We work together as one to guide you through each step of your experience, with complexities unravelled and answers readily to hand. Your personal treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
What's included in your package?
Choosing The London Clinic means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
Your treatment package will include:
- Enhanced pre-admission assessment
- Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
- Personalised aftercare and follow-up
We want you to be in control of your health. That’s why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us.
How to pay
- You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
- You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
- If you’re paying for yourself, we have finance options available with Chrysalis
FAQs
Circumcision works by removing the foreskin.
Your surgeon will use a surgical sterile scalpel or scissors to carefully cut away the foreskin from behind the head of the penis.
They will seal any bleeding blood vessels using heat.
Finally, they will stitch together the skin edges using fine, dissolvable stitches that will not need to be removed.The operation itself is carried out under general anaesthetic while you’re asleep.
A local or spinal anaesthetic to numb your penis might also be an option. An adult circumcision is usually a day-case procedure, so you will not need to stay in our hospital overnight.
The procedure will typically last around 30 minutes or less.
Your surgeon will be able to advise you on the exact time required at your consultation.
The benefits you can expect from circumcision depends on your personal circumstances.
Your surgeon will discuss these with you during a consultation. Circumcision is sometimes recommended to treat the following conditions:
- Phimosis- when the foreskin is too tight and cannot be pulled back, which can make sex painful and sometimes causes bleeding.
- Paraphimosis- when the foreskin is tight and is stuck in the retracted position causing pain and swelling.
- Balanitis- when there is recurrent infection of the foreskin and the end of the penis
- Balanitis xerotica obliterans- when the foreskin becomes white, thickened, and difficult to pull back.
- Cancer of the penis- when a tumour grows from the tissue of the penis, foreskin or nearby structures.
- Circumcision can also reduce HIV risk in some people.
You’ll usually be able to go home on the day of your surgery.
However, some of our patients may need to stay overnight, so we can monitor their recovery.
Your care team will be on hand to give you any medication you might need for pain relief.We recommend that you simply rest as much as possible, avoiding exercise and generally taking it slow. Following circumcision surgery, you'll have discomfort and swelling around the wound and the penile head for 3-4 days.
It takes around ten days for your penis to fully heal.
During this time, it’s a good idea to wear loose, light and comfortable clothing to prevent rubbing and irritation.
Applying a little Vaseline to the end of your penis can prevent the wound from sticking to your clothes or underwear.
It is sensible to take at least one week off work to rest and recover.
This is more important if you work in a physically demanding role.
You should not have sex for at least four weeks.
The exact time it takes you to recover from circumcision surgery will depend entirely on you and your body.
We will help you prepare for your surgery so you know exactly what to expect afterwards.
Your surgeon will work with other specialists to give you advice on pre-habitation including things you can do before your operation for a head start on recovery.
We’ll help you recover as fully and quickly as possible by having regular follow-ups with you.
If there’s anything you’re worried about, you can contact your care team at any time.
Having a circumcision is not a decision to be taken lightly and it is important to be aware of the possible side effects.
Your surgeon and care team will discuss these with you. We will make sure you’re well informed about your surgery before you have it.
The most common temporary side effects of circumcision surgery are:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection
Here at The London Clinic, we work hard to reduce complications and ensure that you recover fully after surgery.
Complications after a circumcision are uncommon.
More rare complications include a reduction in sensation, scar tenderness, and the need for further surgery to remove additional skin.
Many studies show no change in penis sensation after a circumcision.
However, some people do report a change in sexual sensation.
This could be due to pre-existing conditions like BXO, psychological conditions, or as a result of the operation.
The great majority of circumcision patients do not experience sensation changes.