Newborn Circumcision Recovery & Healing

If the parents are not already in the room during the procedure, we invite them in immediately afterwards to have a close look at the results of the circumcision. We encourage parents to see the results of the procedure so they can better appreciate how it will evolve during the healing, and to see that there were no surgical complications.

Note: In the rare event of a surgical complication, parents are still brought in so they can be shown anything that is abnormal and discuss next steps in management.

Parents can expect to find their child lying on their backs with their legs gently strapped to a specially designed board. An assistant will be using a gloved finger or a pacifier to soothe the baby.

Most babies, especially those less than two months old at the time of the procedure, will be calm and not showing any discomfort when parents are brought into the room.

Babies older than 2 months are typically much more active and don't respond the same way to the sucrose sedation. Parents can expect them to be fussy throughout all elements of the circumcision process – even when the nerve block is working perfectly.

Some babies will be fussy, either due to some discomfort from being restrained, maybe they are gassy and uncomfortable on their backs (we never know for sure). In cases where the baby is obviously uncomfortable, we will speed up the discussion of the anatomy and healing to get the child back into a comfortable position in the parents' arms.

On occasion, if the child is crying, rather than keep them in the procedure suite, we return them to the parents and allow them to be held or fed while they settle. Once they have calmed down, we open the diaper with the parents and talk through the healing anatomy.

Below is a video of a typical post-procedure interaction. The baby is calm and the doctor is explaining the important features of the wound, what normal and abnormal bleeding would look like, and teaching how to apply petroleum jelly in the diaper.

Expect the head to look raw and red at first. Below the head will develop swelling and a whitish-yellow scab that can resemble mucous. The incision line is usually fully healed by two weeks.

The doctors at The Circumcision Clinic all use a Mogen clamp to guide the incision. When the circular shaft skin is squeezed in the straight clamp, pinched skin results at the top (12 o'clock / dorsal) and underside (6 o'clock / ventral). Immediately after the surgery, these pinches are present. As the wound heals, they disappear, resulting in the expected final cosmetic appearance.

The pinch at the underside (6 o'clock / ventral) is typically more pronounced. Sometimes the scar thickens at this point leading to an appearance like a small pimple. As children grow, this invariably softens, falls flat and becomes imperceptible by sexual maturity (puberty).

As the healing progresses, the wound may develop a scab.

• If present, the scab will be a whitish or light yellowish crust.
• This scab will be mixing with urine / petroleum jelly and stool - so rather than appearing as a crust, it can have a mucous-like appearance, often confused with pus.
• This crust / secretions will be adherent to the penis and will slough off on their own. It should not be removed with forceful wiping.
• By two weeks, the incision line should be fully healed.
• There can be different pigmentation of the shaft skin and mucosal collar, which is normal.

Immediately after the circumcision, the head and area underneath (mucosal skin) will be raw and red; there is minimal swelling at this point so parents will gain a sense of the final proportions. The cut line is the transitional line between the mucosal skin, which will have a pink or red colour, and the shaft skin that you are used to seeing from before the circumcision.

Over the next few minutes and hours, the areas adjacent to the cut line (the mucosal skin and shaft skin) may get very swollen. The mucosal skin often appears as a doughnut, or pink lifesaver candy sitting under the head.

Note: even after the wound has fully healed, there can be some fullness, or puffiness of the mucosal collar just below the head of the penis for months.

The head of the penis (glans) is typically slightly red. This is because the foreskin of newborns is adherent to the head. During the circumcision, the inner foreskin is peeled off of the head. In the act of separating the foreskin from the head, a thin layer of skin cells is stripped away, leading to some redness (similar to a skin exfoliation).

You may see sterile ink near the incision site—this is applied with a sterile marker and will disappear over time.

In select cases we may apply a skin glue (Dermabond or SkinAffix). The skin glue has a light purple hue. As the glue hardens, it can look like small dried flakes of plastic that will slough off into the diaper while the wound heals—do not pull off these flakes. See the section on skin glue for more information.

You may see small white- or cream-coloured speckles called smegma (normal dried skin that had been trapped behind the foreskin before it was removed). The smegma will slough off with time.

Our usual practice is to leave the penis naked in the diaper without a dressing / wrap or bandage. Approximately 1/20 babies will have some bleeding that requires a bandage to be applied. Having a bandage is the exception rather than the rule. Please see the section on the bandage for more information.

Over the first few hours after the procedure, the wound swells and bleeds as it clots naturally. Therefore, it is normal and expected to see blood streaks on the surface of the diaper for the first few diapers as the cut is establishing a scab. Please see the section on bleeding for a more detailed explanation.

With newborn circumcision, the healing occurs by a process called 'primary or secondary intention', whereby the body forms a clot, the clot transitions to a scab which eventually falls away leaving a thin scar.

Healing by 'primary intention' is when the cut edges stay in close contact during the healing, and there is typically minimal scabbing which often looks like mucous (rather than the crust most people think about when they think of a scab). This mucous appearance is because the scab is kept moist with petroleum jelly in the diaper.

Often, areas of the cut line separate by a few millimeters. This gap undergoes a healing process called 'secondary intention' where the body develops granulation tissue (which appears like a straw-coloured plaque) spanning the gap as new skin develops underneath. The most common area for the wound to separate and undergo healing by secondary intention is the underside.

Note: The healing process is different from older child or adult circumcision which requires the skin edges to be stitched or glued together.

We only perform suture-less circumcision and limit our practice to babies and children that are young enough for this approach. Usually, within 1–2 weeks the scab has resolved and the incision is fully healed.

For older children, in cases where the doctor feels there is a higher risk that the cut skin edges might separate, or there is a higher bleeding risk, we occasionally apply a surgical skin glue / topical skin adhesive. This is a sterile medical glue often used in emergency departments or by outdoor enthusiasts instead of stitches.

• The generic name for the skin glue is 2-octyl cyanoacrylate.
• Brand names include Dermabond®, Skin Affix® or GluStitch®.
• It is a sterile, liquid, skin adhesive that holds wound edges together.
• The film will usually remain in place for 5 to 10 days, then naturally slough (fall) off.
• It appears like small plastic flakes when it sloughs off (like superglue coming off of your fingers!).
• Do not actively remove the dried glue as it can sometimes pull away the scab leading to some fresh bleeding. Allow the glue to naturally slough (fall) off.

If a skin glue was used for your child, the doctor will let you know so you can anticipate what is described above.

Most babies (about 95%) go home with no bandage at all. If one was applied and hasn't fallen off within three days, soften it with Vaseline and unravel the layers over several diaper changes, never pull it off with force.

On occasion there is more bleeding than usual immediately after the procedure and we apply a dressing / bandage to contain the bleeding while the wound establishes a clot. We only apply a dressing for about 5% of patients – the majority are left naked in the diaper after the circumcision. I.e., don't be alarmed or surprised if there is not a bandage or dressing. Most babies do not have anything on the penis after the procedure.

Typically, the inner layer of the bandage is a sterile Vaseline-impregnated gauze, or an absorbable hemostatic fabric (a fabric that encourages the blood to clot), then overtop is an elastic bandage, followed by some tape. This dressing helps to control any fresh bleeding as the wound clots in the first few minutes. The dressing is not essential to the wound healing and may fall off early (even as early as the first diaper change). If the dressing falls off, just continue to apply Vaseline to the penis and diaper as described below.

If the dressing has not fallen off on its own within three days of the circumcision, it should be gently removed. Sometimes the clot and scab are integrated into the bandage such that the bandage won't slide off easily when it is time to be removed (3 days after the procedure).

Do not pull the bandage off with force. Rather, unwrap or slip off the bandage partially (whatever can be achieved), apply a thick application of Vaseline, and allow the Vaseline to continue to soften the attachment for another diaper change. Repeat over as many diaper changes as necessary until the bandage slips off.

If the scab pulls off with the bandage, it can lead to some fresh spotting of blood. This is normal and no cause for concern. This type of bleeding almost always clots off naturally and does not require re-application of a dressing. If the bleeding is excessive at this point, please go directly to the nearest emergency department.

Spotting or fresh bleeding a few days after the circumcision does not alter the final cosmetic outcome and will clot and heal as though there was never an issue.

Blood streaks in the diaper for the first day or two are normal. More blood than expected warrants photos to the clinic and a call. Brisk, active bleeding, or large amounts of blood and clot in the diaper, is an emergency, go directly to your nearest emergency department.

Scenario – Blood streaking and/or blood diluted with urine and Vaseline in the diaper, but no blood flowing from the wound:

This is common, normal and expected for the first 1–2 days after circumcision. This is a result of the wound undergoing the normal process of clotting and healing. There is no need for any medical attention.

Scenario – Moderate bleeding, more blood in the diaper than expected, but no blood flowing from the wound:

This is relatively common and a challenge for parents and providers. Our approach is to ask patients to upload photos of the blood in the diaper which triggered the concern, and then to send a second photo of the diaper 1–2 hours later. Please also call the clinic to alert us. If the amount of blood is not excessive, and the rate of bleeding is slowing, then there is nothing extra to do. If the bleeding is significant and persistent it is important to have the wound evaluated and potentially treated. Treatment may include ongoing observation, skin glue, cautery, stitching, or compressive bandaging depending on the specific case.

If a physician from The Circumcision Clinic is available, they will ask you to return to the clinic to offer treatment. If someone from The Circumcision Clinic is not available, it is best to go to your nearest emergency department. We do our best to answer calls and check our inboxes consistently, and have almost always been available to guide families. However, we cannot guarantee timely response or availability to see you personally in emergency situations. It is always best to err on the side of caution and report to the emergency department if you are concerned.

Scenario – Large volume bleeding or brisk active bleeding:

Large volume bleeding (bleeding that soaks a diaper or where there are clots on the surface) or brisk, active bleeding is an emergency, and you should report to your local emergency department. It may represent an underlying bleeding disorder, or an injured vessel that needs specific treatment including cautery, stitching or compressive bandaging. The risk of delayed treatment is life-threatening blood loss.

Please reach out to The Circumcision Clinic to let us know what is happening. In these cases, someone from our team will try to contact the emergency department while you are en route to alert them of your scenario and imminent arrival.

Questions before booking? See available clinic days

Infection after routine circumcision is rare. A straw-coloured discharge that can look like pus is often a normal part of healing. A pocket that is draining pus (like a pimple), increasing pain after the first few days, foul smell, and fever are the signs that need medical attention.

If there is a true infection it requires specialized treatment that can include surgical drainage and antibiotics as part of comprehensive care. Infection can present with increasing sensitivity and pain of the wound, pus, foul smell, and fever which typically begins a few days after the surgery. If you have a concern about infection, reach out to the clinic. If there is a shared concern for infection, the team will coordinate care with a specialist.

More commonly, as part of normal healing, the wound secretes a straw-colour liquid. This, mixed with petroleum jelly, may look like pus. In the absence of other symptoms, this is normal and will resolve as the wound heals. Most of the time, when parents send photos with a concern about infection, it is in fact normal secretions. The Circumcision Clinic will let you know if the photos look normal so you have peace of mind and can avoid unnecessary emergency care.

• When we respond to photos and questions about wound secretions, the medical team can comment on the appearance being typical and consistent with normal healing. However, it is impossible to completely rule out infection based on a photo. We may ask for ongoing photos over the next few days to track the evolution of the healing.
• Infection after circumcision is rare. At the point of writing, after providing care to thousands of patients, The Circumcision Clinic has yet to have a patient return with an infection. We do not attribute this to anything specific that the clinic is doing to limit infection 'better' than anyone else that offers circumcision. We use meticulous sterile technique during the procedure – and then immediately close the same diaper that the child was in at the start. This diaper is covered in the baby's normal bacteria and this quickly covers the wound. The body and the skin have a robust system to protect from this bacteria. The circumcision wound is a skin incision and the infection rate is similar to the rate at which any small cut on the body develops an infection.

If you think about all the small scratches, cuts in the kitchen, cuts while shaving, skinned knees and elbows that someone encounters in their life, developing an infection (abscess or collection of pus) is rare. This is the same with the circumcision wound. We describe this to inform parents just how rare an infection is – and to help them feel comfortable when they face the inevitable scenario of stool that comes into contact with the wound. This doesn't mean that there will not be an infection. But we believe that there is nothing more than usual diaper care and hand hygiene that parents need to do.

If we identify an infection that requires specific treatment, The Circumcision Clinic team will coordinate care with a pediatric urology specialist for ongoing management. The team will do everything necessary to ensure appropriate care is received as quickly as needed. While we do our best to communicate consistently, and have almost always been available to guide families, we cannot guarantee timely response or availability to see you personally. It is always best to err on the side of caution and report to the emergency department if you are concerned.

Up to 10% of cases develop some wound sticking, puffiness, or a partially covered head as babies gain weight. None of these is an emergency, and almost all resolve on their own or can be corrected in the clinic.

While most cases heal without issue, up to 10% of cases will develop some degree of wound sticking, asymmetrical swelling, partial or complete re-covering of the head by the shaft skin (concealed appearance) as babies gain weight and grow. None of these problems are an emergency and will often self-resolve with growth and time.

Wound sticking

In the case of wound sticking, a problem called a skin bridge (abnormal attachment of the wound to the head) can occur. It is relatively straightforward to release these attachments in the clinic with pain controlled with topical anesthetic cream or local injection. If you have concern of inappropriate wound sticking, you are welcome to contact our office. If intervention is required, you will be offered a follow-up appointment.

Persistent puffiness under the head, mild to moderate asymmetry, mild to moderate redundancy (partial foreskin left behind)

If there is persistent or asymmetrical swelling, or partial or complete covering of the head due to weight gain, this will almost always resolve over time and requires no extra intervention. Sometimes it is only during puberty that rapid growth leads to improvement in the cosmetic outcome. We are always happy to counsel parents and patients if there are concerns.

Significant asymmetry or redundancy

If the asymmetry or redundancy is significant, we coordinate referral to a pediatric urologist for consideration for a touch-up to revise the wound. This is rare.

This is usually normal. In chubby babies, fat at the base of the penis pushes the shaft skin forward over the head; as your child grows, the fat redistributes and the expected appearance returns.

It can be completely normal to see the shaft skin sliding over and covering the head. When babies are chubby and carry their fat at the base of the penis, this pushes the shaft skin forward such that it may completely or partially cover the head. When your children grow, the fat redistributes, and the final cosmetic outcome will be as you might expect, with the head resting uncovered when flaccid. This may take years depending on how they gain and carry their weight. Sometimes it is only at puberty that the final cosmetic outcome matches the expectations.

Parents may be concerned that there is redundant or left-over skin that was not completely removed. This is seldom the case. If you are worried about this, photos uploaded through our secure electronic portal within our electronic medical records, or an in-person exam can help differentiate the cause and inform ongoing care. A few things that are normal and expected with babies when the shaft skin is covering the head:

1. The skin touching the head can adhere or stick to the head. Most of the time, these adhesions release spontaneously as the baby grows and there is no need to mechanically separate the adhesions. Similarly, there is no need for steroid creams to treat these. When parents are particularly concerned about the adhesions and want to see the head of the penis uncovered, we are happy to bring the child into the clinic and use a blunt probe and finger traction to pull apart the stuck skin. We typically ask parents to apply a topical anesthetic cream, such as EMLA, to minimize the discomfort that is related to this maneuver. Unsticking adhesions does not require cutting. When the skin layers pull apart the newly exposed skin can look raw and there can be a bit of spotting of fresh blood. The best analogy is like pulling a scab a few days before it is meant to release on its own. We perform this maneuver primarily to ease parental anxiety – so they can get a view of the normal penis and see how easily the layers unstick. It is likely that the adhesions will re-occur and at that point we hope parents have a better understanding of the nature of the adhesions and can fully appreciate how this will self-resolve with growth, movement, and spontaneous erections.
2. Dried skin cells and oils can collect underneath the skin. This is called smegma and appears as a white or cream-coloured discharge. This does not represent an infection and should not be treated with medicated ointments or anti-fungal creams. This can be cleaned with soapy water at bath time. The best analogy for these collections is to think of them as similar to the lint that collects in the bellybutton. Though it may smell and appear concerning, regular bathing and hygiene is all that is needed.
3. If you are unable to easily slide the skin back to expose the head, this might represent a type of thick scarring called a post-circumcision phimosis. Thick scarring such that the skin doesn't slide back and forth will benefit from treatment with low-dose steroid creams to soften the scar and ensure appropriate sliding and growth. A post-circumcision phimosis commonly resolves with 6–12 weeks of twice-daily treatments with low-dose steroid creams (0.05% Betamethasone cream). In rare cases a minor surgical procedure is required to release the scar. In very rare cases, the scar can constrict to leave a very small opening in front of the head, creating an obstruction to urinary flow. If there is ballooning of the skin in front of the head when the child urinates, a very thin urinary stream, or a stream that sprays in multiple directions, this can require a more urgent stretching of the skin or surgical release of the scar – otherwise it can lead to kidney damage. A restriction or obstruction to the flow of urine caused by a post-circumcision phimosis should be treated as an emergency.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol® or Tempra®) is safe and optional for post-circumcision pain when dosed correctly. Check the concentration on your bottle, wait at least 6 hours between doses, and stop after 3 days.

• Acetaminophen is the generic medication name for Tylenol® or Tempra®.
• Acetaminophen is a pain medication that can help babies feel better during recovery.
• Some parents prefer not to use Acetaminophen during recovery - this is an acceptable option.
• This medication can reduce pain, but will not completely eliminate pain during recovery. Therefore, it is still expected for children to be fussy and cry despite the use of this medication.
• If Acetaminophen is given at the correct dose and at the correct frequency it is safe.
• Dosing errors or overuse can cause harm.
• Acetaminophen comes in liquid formulation at various concentrations, so it is important to check the bottle and do the correct calculations to dose the medication safely.

Do not give a dose if less than 6 hours has passed from the previous dose.

Do not continue to use after 3 days from the procedure.

If your child has a fever after circumcision, they need to be assessed by a pediatrician urgently. The circumcision will not cause a fever.

• There are no limits to how you should hold or move your baby.
• Car seats, carriers, and strollers are all fine to use immediately.
• If you sense that your baby is uncomfortable in a particular position, adjust as necessary.
• Do not fear that these routine positions will impact the healing of the wound.

• Sponge baths are suggested for the first three days after the circumcision.
• During this time, the penis can be cleaned, if necessary, by squeezing warm water over it from a washcloth.
• Immersion may take place beginning with the fourth day.
• Drying should be accomplished by gentle patting.
• Soaps are permitted.

Children should urinate normally after the procedure. If there is no urine in the diaper in the first 12 hours after the circumcision, this is abnormal and you should be seen in the emergency department immediately.

For typical, uncomplicated procedures there is no scheduled follow-up. The clinic attempts to call every family the next day, and you can send photos or questions any time through the secure patient portal.

Following a circumcision procedure in patients with normal or typical anatomy that proceed uneventfully (without complication) there is no scheduled follow-up. The clinic attempts to call every family on the day after the procedure to check in and offer guidance for issues the family might be navigating. Most patients transition through the recovery uneventfully, and therefore, a visit with the clinic does not improve the outcome or change management.

There are some situations where the clinic physician will plan a follow-up after a circumcision. These are usually in cases where there is something about the anatomy or the procedure that can lead to specific complications without early or ongoing assessment. The most common situation where we pre-emptively organize follow-up is for babies that have an inconspicuous, concealed or hidden appearance (see separate section for more information) as these patients have a higher risk of developing adhesions (skin sticking) or post-circumcision phimosis (wound closing in front of the head) without specific aftercare which can include retractions or creams.

The clinic aims to provide all the information parents need to navigate the recovery independently following the procedure. This is achieved through parent and care-giver education. Parent education includes:

• Materials available on this website.
• Materials sent through email at the time of the appointment booking and sent as reminders closer to the appointment date.
• Materials sent through the secure electronic medical record portal on the date of the circumcision.
• Informed consent discussion with the healthcare team during the appointment, prior to the procedure (this is an opportunity for parents to ask any questions before the procedure).
• Thorough overview of the wound and aftercare with the physician after the procedure.

Following the procedure, if parents are not already in the procedure room to watch the surgery, parents are typically brought into the room to closely examine the circumcision wound and shown how to apply Vaseline with routine diaper care. During this interaction, the evolution of the healing wound will be described, while specific parts of the anatomy are pointed out. The doctors will show you the incision line, the areas to expect swelling, bleeding and scabbing etc. This is all done to help parents understand normal healing.

It is during this interaction that we can reinforce:

• What to do in situations of normal vs excessive bleeding (superficial bleeding on the surface of the diaper is normal and expected for a few diaper changes as the cut clots and begins to form a scab. Blood soaking deep into the layers of the diaper, or thick clots in the diaper represent a dangerous amount of bleeding and children should be taken urgently to the closest emergency department).
• What to do during diapering, specifically when there is stool in contact with the penis: wipe away gently with normal wet-wipes or warm water and a cloth – whatever is the normal routine can be maintained.
• Maintain a normal diapering routine; change the diaper when you would otherwise, when it is saturated with urine, or there is a poo.
• Be a bit gentler when wiping the wound itself, as the wound is sensitive for up to 3 days.

Note: the wound can be touched lightly to clean. Try not to intentionally wipe away any clot or scab. This can re-open the wound and lead to some new bleeding. If this happens, the bleeding will re-clot and the wound will move through the healing process again. This might delay healing by a few days but does not cause any difference in the outcome (there won't be more scarring or a higher rate of infection when this happens – so no need to worry).

Crying is normal and expected. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is an option and can be used to help ease the discomfort. Crying without a secondary symptom such as excessive bleeding does not indicate a further complication (this is a commonly asked question – 'my child is crying, could this indicate some complication from the circumcision that needs to be fixed?'). Unfortunately, this is not a data point or information that can help point to a specific problem. Crying can be related to pain, or many other normal processes such as gas, hunger, tiredness etc.

Despite the effort to provide as much information as necessary for parents to navigate recovery independently, it is common and understandable that parents remain concerned and worried about:

• The appearance of the healing wound.
• Changes in their child's behaviour.
• What to do in the face of other parenting concerns, e.g.: Can my child get a routine vaccine after a circumcision? – yes. My child is leaking through their diapers more often, is this normal? – yes (the Vaseline that we instruct you to layer on the front of the diaper makes it less absorbent). Etc etc!

To help parents address these types of questions, we have tried to make accessing our medical team as seamless, secure and convenient as possible by offering a secure app-based portal offered through our electronic medical record. We encourage parents to send messages and photos through this portal any time they have a concern. We strive to reply to all messages by the end of the day. Depending on the issue, we may reply to the messages with a telephone call as well. (For security and privacy reasons we will not leave a telephone voice message.)

An overwhelming majority of the questions we receive are related to the appearance of the healing wound, and almost all these questions can be addressed by the healthcare provider after seeing images of the wound – without seeing the wound in-person.

On the day of the clinic appointment parents receive an email inviting them to access the parent portal app. Once logged in and linked with your child's chart, we instruct parents to list:

• Parent name(s)
• Best telephone number to call
• Date of circumcision
• Child's Health Card Number (with version code). Health Card Number must include version code if available.

Please give a brief description of the concern, and if you are sending photos, please make sure to attach the images. If possible, kindly use a circle or arrow to point out the specific areas of concern in the photo:

1. From above
2. From below
3. From the left
4. From the right

Please see the section below for a step-by-step guide on how to download, set-up and register the app.

In some circumstances, after reviewing photos, or learning about a problem from the messages sent through the app, the health care team identifies issues that require in-person follow-up. In these cases, the family is contacted by the clinic admin to arrange the appointment. Similarly, some parents simply prefer an in-person appointment and aren't comfortable sending photos. We are happy to accommodate these requests.

The Circumcision Clinic is decentralized – meaning the team moves to different locations throughout the month. Follow-up appointments can be offered at a different location than the one where the circumcision took place. For urgent appointments, this might require the family to travel. For less urgent appointments, we can accommodate at the clinic location closest to you. Similarly, we work with a shared-care model, so your appointment may be with a physician that is different than the one who performed the procedure. We can also address some follow-up concerns through a virtual video appointment.

Depending on the concern, follow-up can be achieved by:

• Messaging through the secure app.
• Virtual video appointment.
• In-person clinic appointment.

The preferred form of communication for any after-circumcision concern is through the app-based secure portal. We are happy to help over the phone or by email as well. We ask parents to sign a waiver acknowledging the cybersecurity risks of communicating medical information online via email to ensure everyone is aware before transmitting sensitive information.

Follow-up messaging and appointments are best for non-urgent, non-life-threatening issues. Any life-threatening concern should prompt an urgent visit to your nearest emergency department. Life-threatening concerns are extremely rare on the day of the circumcision.

Excessive bleeding. In rare circumstances, we can discover a child has a bleeding disorder and cannot establish a clot. Though this is incredibly rare, excessive bleeding in a newborn must be urgently addressed.

Anaphylactic or other allergic-type reaction to the local anesthetic or skin cleaning solution. Any difficulty breathing, rash, or lethargy should be treated urgently. This is incredibly rare and at the time of writing, The Circumcision Clinic has never had a patient that has had this type of reaction.

Note: There is a tendency we see for parents to associate any new behaviours / rashes / fevers / changes in bowel or urination with the circumcision. It is important to keep in mind that there can be changes in health that occur at the same time as the circumcision that might not be related. The Circumcision Clinic can offer expert advice related to the circumcision. If an issue is unrelated, we will suggest contacting a primary care provider (family doctor, pediatrician or emergency department).

If you encounter a life-threatening issue related to the circumcision, you can contact our clinic on your way to hospital. If we are able, the clinic staff will call ahead to the emergency department to provide information to the receiving team to help them prepare ahead of the child's arrival.