Circumcision is a personal decision for every parent of a newborn son. Scott Dattel, MD, FAAP, of Kansas City Pediatrics, located in Kansas City, Missouri, offers in-hospital circumcision for your newborn boy immediately after birth. For a pre-birth discussion about whether circumcision is right for your new son, call or schedule an appointment online.
Circumcision is a procedure performed to remove the foreskin of a male’s penis. The foreskin is a piece of skin that naturally covers the tip of the penis. Circumcision is done for cosmetic purposes or as part of Jewish religious rites on the eighth day after birth.
In most cases, pediatricians perform circumcisions on newborns; however, older children or adult males can have circumcision as well. When circumcision is for cosmetic purposes, your pediatrician performs the procedure in the hospital or the office within two to three days after birth.
Circumcision is not a medically necessary procedure. The Kansas City Pediatrics team can help you understand the risks and benefits involved and help you make an informed decision before your son’s birth.
While circumcision is not medically necessary, it does offer some benefits for your son as a child and as an adult. Circumcision can:
Circumcision can also help to decrease risks of penile inflammation or your son’s inability to retract or replace their foreskin.
Most often, the foreskin is pulled up over the tip of the penis, and a specialized clamp device is applied to remove the foreskin quickly and efficiently. Before birth, your Kansas City Pediatrics doctor takes time to explain the details of the method they use and to answer any questions you may have.
Circumcision itself is a very quick procedure that causes minimal discomfort for your son, as measures are taken to minimize their pain.
As the circumcision site heals, your son may have some burning when he urinates during the first few days and up to two weeks. As the site heals, it may be red and swollen. You receive specific instructions about how to care for your son’s circumcision site, which heals completely within one to two weeks.
For a pre-birth consultation to discuss your questions and desires for circumcision, call or book an appointment with Kansas City Pediatrics.
