Circumcision

Overview

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin from the head of the penis. Although a majority of males are circumcised at birth, it is not uncommon to be circumcised later in life. At Arkansas Urology, we perform adult circumcisions and childhood re-circumcisions.

Adult Circumcision
Adult circumcision is performed less often than infant circumcision. In most cases, it is performed to treat a medical condition or urological emergency, including:

• Paraphimosis: the retracted foreskin can’t return to it’s normal position
• Phimosis: the foreskin is too tight to retract from the head of the penis
• Recurrent inflammation of the foreskin

The risks associated with adult circumcision include

• Pain
• Risk of bleeding and infection at the site of the circumcision
• Irritation
• Increased inflammation

Childhood Re-circumcision
In some cases, male infants and children require re-circumcision due to complications that arise following the initial circumcision. In some cases, the foreskin may re-adhere to the head of the penis. This can cause problems with urination or lead to infection. A re-circumcision may also be necessary if too much or too little skin is initially removed. Keep in mind that your child may have to wait until at least the age of 6 months to undergo a re-circumcision. The reason for this delay is the need for general anesthesia. By 6 months of age, infants are healthy and strong enough to tolerate general anesthesia.