Circumcision Specialist

What is circumcision?

A hood of skin, called the foreskin, covers the tip of the penis, called the glans. Circumcision is the surgical removal of this skin. Whether for personal or religious reasons, many newborn boys in the United States get circumcised.   

The team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists performs circumcision for baby boys during their first 30 days of life. 

What are the benefits of circumcision?

There is no medical need for newborn circumcision, but you may want to have your son circumcised for various reasons. Your provider at Nevada Pediatric Specialists reviews the various health benefits of circumcision, including:

• Easier to maintain good hygiene
• Decreased risk of penile cancer
• Decreased risk of urinary tract infections in infancy
• Decreased risk of certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV

Circumcision as a newborn also prevents your son from developing certain penile problems that affect the foreskin, such as balanitis, balanoposthitis, and phimosis. These conditions may lead to a medically necessary circumcision later in life. 

What are the risks of circumcision?

As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks associated with circumcision. The risk of complications during a newborn circumcision are uncommon but include minor bleeding and local infection. The team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists can easily treat both of these complications.

Contact your pediatrician right away if your baby has problems after a circumcision, including persistent bleeding, a foul-smelling drainage, and failure to resume urinating within 12 hours after the procedure.  

What does newborn circumcision involve?

The team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists performs newborn circumcisions right in the office. They carefully place your son on his back and secure his arms and legs. Then, they clean the penis and the surrounding area and numb it with a local anesthetic. They place a special clamp around the penis and remove the foreskin. 

A circumcision procedure usually takes about 10 minutes. Afterward, your pediatrician applies an ointment to the penis and uses gauze or a plastic ring to prevent infection. 

They provide you with instructions on how to care for the circumcision at home, including washing the penis and changing bandages frequently. Most circumcision wounds heal in about 7-10 days.  

To find out if circumcision is right for your newborn baby boy, call Nevada Pediatric Specialists, or book an appointment online today.