Neonatal and Infant Circumcision

What Is Neonatal and Infant Circumcision?

A neonate is a newborn baby less than 28 days old. An infant is a baby between 28 days and 1 year old.

Circumcision is a procedure involving removal of the foreskin - the skin that covers the tip of the penis. When performed during the neonatal or early infant period, the procedure is typically straightforward, recovery is quick, and risks are minimal. Your provider will go over all of this at the time of your first meeting.

Our Care Pathway

Our circumcisions are performed by a physician using methods proven in newborns and infants. After being shown to your private procedure room, we will complete a history and physical examination, detailed explanation of the procedure and the informed consent process. The procedure typically takes less than 5 minutes. Up to 2 caregivers are welcome to remain in the procedure room for the entire visit. Should caregivers wish to not remain in the procedure room during the circumcision, please feel free to make yourself comfortable in our waiting room. Though this is a routine procedure for our physician, we realize it is incredibly significant for your son, you and your family. We understand that you may feel anxious, nervous or tearful and it is not uncommon for caregivers to experience these emotions. Our goal is to provide a safe, compassionate and supportive environment for all entering our circumcision clinic.

Consent to Treatment

Detailed Procedure Overview:

Preparation: Our goal is to prioritize your son's comfort. We use soft leg or thigh straps to secure your newborn or infant to a surface specifically designed for circumcision. An oral sugar solution is provided to your baby to help soothe him during the initial stages of the procedure. A small area of the penis and skin around it is cleansed with a disinfectant followed by administration of a local anesthetic injection in the same area. While this injection is typically considered the most uncomfortable part of the procedure, it is meant to numb the penis and minimize discomfort during the circumcision itself.
Circumcision: After local anesthetic has had time to take effect, the entire penis is cleansed with a disinfectant solution. Sterile gloves and instruments are then used to separate adhesions (tissue attachments) holding the foreskin onto the head of the penis. Next, the foreskin is isolated and a specialized, shield-style clamp is applied. The clamp protects the penis while separating it from the foreskin that will be removed. A scalpel blade is then used to cut off the foreskin and the clamp is removed. Immediately after clamp removal, the head of the penis appears hidden. With gentle, downward pressure on the penis at this stage, the head of the penis is expected to be easily revealed. Finally, a protective dressing is applied. Staff will exit the room and you will have an opportunity to comfort your baby.
Post-Procedure Care: Staff will return after approximately 10-15 minutes to inspect the circumcision site. Parents/caregivers receive detailed wound care and pain management instructions.

Recovery

The overall healing process takes approximately 10-14 days with some changes persisting up to a month or longer. Mild redness, swelling or a small amount of bleeding is normal. Our team remains available after the procedure to address any concerns and provide follow-up support if needed. Our circumcision clinic gives parents/caregivers a direct phone number for the physician who performed their baby's procedure. Our secure patient portal is also available for upload of photographs should physician review be necessary.