Adult Circumcision

Quick Facts

  • Adult men may choose to undergo circumcision for personal, cultural, or medical reasons

  • Circumcision may reduce the risk of penile cancer, UTIs, and sexually transmitted disease

  • Adult circumcision is an outpatient procedure that will take 4-6 weeks to heal

Adult Circumcision Doctors

Dr. Brian Keuer, Urologist

Brian Keuer, MD

Dr. Christopher Lodowsky - Urologist

Christopher Lodowsky, MD

Ning Z. Wu, MD, PHD - Urologist

Ning Wu, MD

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What is Adult Circumcision?

Adult Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin on the penis after a male has reached adulthood. Although the procedure is typically performed on newborns, many males undergo circumcision as adults for aesthetic, cultural, hygienic, or medical reasons.

Adult circumcision is generally a same-day procedure performed at an outpatient surgery center. Most patients undergo general anesthesia during the procedure. During the circumcision, the physician will use a device to stop the blood flow to the foreskin. Then, the physician will remove the foreskin by making an incision.

Benefits of Circumcision

Circumcision may reduce the risk of certain medical problems. Some of these risks may be avoided with additional genital hygiene and care.

Benefits of circumcision include:

  • Increased ease of genital hygiene
  • Reduced risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases
  • Reduced risk of urinary tract infections
  • Reduced risk of penile cancer

Risks of Circumcision 

  • Complications during surgery, if the patient has a blood clotting disorder
  • Complications in the healing process
  • Incomplete removal of the foreskin
  • Penile adhesion, a reattachment of the skin in the shaft of the penis to the head

Medically necessary adult circumcision

Though many men elect to have adult circumcision for personal or cultural reasons, it is also performed to resolve certain medical conditions:

  • Genital wart removal, to remove warts on the foreskin.
  • Lichen sclerosus, a skin condition that may scar foreskin and result in infection.
  • Phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back over the head of the penis. In patients with phimosis, urine may become trapped underneath the foreskin, which may lead to inflammation or infection of the penis or of the urinary tract.

Adult circumcision after care

Rest is crucial in the 24-48 hour period following the circumcision to ensure proper healing. Most patients return to work within a week and may resume exercise after two weeks. Patients should avoid sex for 4-6 weeks until the penis is fully healed.

Follow up may be required if any of the following symptoms develop:

  • Increased pain
  • Difficult urination
  • Bleeding
  • Signs of infection, including fever, redness, inflammation, and discharge