Stein Circumcision Clinic
(905) 686-3900

Circumcisions are indicated for social or religious reasons only. Babies must be otherwise healthy with no jaundice, fever or other concurrent illness. They should weigh between 6 and 13 pounds. A baby with a family history of a bleeding disorder should have this risk screened first. There should be no abnormalities of the penis such as hypospadias or chordae (bend in penis when erect or opening in side rather than tip of penis).

Babies should not be fed ˝ hour prior to or after the procedure. Please give acetaminophen 40 mgs. (0.5 mls. of the infant drops) a half hour prior to this procedure. EMLA cream can be applied and left on the penile shaft under plastic wrap one hour prior to the procedure and should only be used once. This cream can be obtained over the counter from any pharmacy. Local anesthetic will be injected at the base of the penis as well at the time of the procedure. Parents are welcome to stay with their baby in the room during the procedure, which generally lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Parents should bring extra diapers and Vaseline with them.

Circumcisions usually take about a week to heal. Acetaminophen can be continued every 4 hours if the baby is irritable after the procedure. We ask that you report any complications of the procedure. These are uncommon – serious bleeding or infection occurs less than 1 in 100 times. It is normal to expect some blood in the baby’s diaper for the first day or two. Applying generous amounts of Vaseline to the diaper area in contact with the penis can minimize this. Please report any spurting blood or blood clot larger than dime size. Please do not get the groin area soaking wet with a bath for 48 hours after the circumcision is done.

It is normal to expect a yellowish haze or discharge at the head of the penis as well as some cheesy material around the base of the head. Swelling at the base of the penis from injection of the local anesthetic often lasts a day. However, fever, a bad odour, excessive discharge or frank pus, or marked swelling lasting longer than one day, are abnormal and should be reported as well. Occasionally, the skin of the shaft of the penis can stick to the head of the penis, giving a “buried” appearance. These are called adhesions. If this occurs, see Dr. Stein again in the office, within the first week after the procedure, so that it can be corrected. Very rarely, trauma to the penis or an abnormal curve to the penis can occur as a result of doing the procedure. If in any doubt about how it is healing, please call the office or, after hours, go to your local emergency department.