Circumcision
What is Circumcision?
Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin, the skin covering the tip of the penis, typically performed for medical reasons like phimosis, cultural practices, or religious traditions (common in Muslim and Jewish communities). It’s often done in newborns, children, or adults, depending on the indication. In India, circumcision is conducted in urology, pediatric surgery, or general surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients and caregivers.
Why do you need Circumcision?
Circumcision is indicated for:
- Medical reasons:
- Phimosis: Tight foreskin that cannot retract, causing pain or infections.
- Balanitis: Recurrent infections or inflammation of the foreskin/glans.
- Paraphimosis: Foreskin trapped behind the glans, causing swelling (emergency).
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Recurrent UTIs in children (circumcision reduces risk).
- Cultural/Religious reasons:
- Common in Muslim and Jewish communities; often performed in infancy or childhood.
- Preventive health:
- Reduces risk of penile cancer (rare), HIV transmission (by 50–60%, per WHO), and some STIs.
- Cosmetic/Personal preference:
- Some opt for aesthetic or hygiene reasons.
The procedure aims to remove the foreskin, improve hygiene, reduce infection risk, and address medical issues while maintaining penile function and sensitivity.
Why Do Circumcision Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 :
- Procedure Type: Newborn circumcision (₹10,000–₹20,000); adult/laser circumcision (₹30,000–₹50,000).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹30,000–₹50,000); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹5,000–₹15,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced urologists charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹10,000, if general), hospital fee (₹2,000–₹5,000), medications (₹500–₹2,000).
- Insurance: Covered for medical necessity (e.g., phimosis); usually not for cultural/religious reasons—confirm with your provider.
Circumcision Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Physical exam: Assesses foreskin tightness, infections, or abnormalities.
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile (esp. for adults or under general anesthesia).
- Urine test: Rules out active infection.
- Consent: Risks, including bleeding, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Circumcision:
- Performed under local anesthesia (newborns/children) or general anesthesia (adults/older children), lasting 15–30 minutes.
- Foreskin removal:
- Foreskin measured and marked for removal.
- Techniques:
- Conventional surgery: Foreskin cut with scalpel/scissors; bleeding controlled with cautery.
- Plastibell (newborns): Plastic ring placed over glans, foreskin tied and cut; ring falls off in 5–10 days.
- Laser circumcision: Uses laser for precision and less bleeding (used in advanced centers).
- Closure: Absorbable sutures close the incision; dressing applied.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Scalpel/laser: Removes foreskin.
- Cautery: Controls bleeding.
- Plastibell device: Used in newborns for bloodless circumcision.
- Circumcision:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: Same-day discharge (outpatient).
- Care: Keep area clean and dry; apply antibiotic ointment (e.g., petroleum jelly) for 5–7 days.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 2–5 days; managed with acetaminophen.
- Instructions: Avoid tight clothing; no swimming or heavy activity for 2 weeks.
Recovery After Circumcision
- Hospital Stay: Same-day discharge.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Mild to moderate pain and swelling for 2–5 days; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Hygiene: Clean with warm water daily; apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
- Activity: Rest for 1–2 days; avoid sports or heavy activity for 2 weeks (adults: 4–6 weeks for sexual activity).
- Healing: Initial redness and swelling subside in 1–2 weeks; full healing in 4–6 weeks.
- Dressing: Removed after 1–2 days; Plastibell (if used) falls off in 5–10 days.
- Follow-Up:
- Visit at 1 week to check healing.
- Additional visit at 1 month if issues persist (e.g., swelling, infection).
Most resume normal activities in 2–3 days (children) or 5–7 days (adults); full recovery takes 4–6 weeks. Success rate: 98–99% achieve desired outcome with no functional issues; complications are rare with proper care.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (1–3%): Minor bleeding common; severe bleeding (<1%) may need stitches or cauterization.
- Infection (1–2%): Redness or pus at incision site; treated with antibiotics.
- Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
- Post-Surgery:
- Painful erections (adults, 2–5%): Temporary (1–2 weeks); managed with pain relief.
- Adhesions (1–2%): Skin sticking to glans; may need minor revision.
- Meatal stenosis (<1%): Narrowing of urethral opening; may need dilation.
- Poor cosmetic outcome (1–2%): Excess/insufficient skin removal; may need revision.
- Long-Term:
- Decreased sensitivity (1–2%): Minimal impact on sexual function; debated in studies.
- Keloid scarring (rare): Excessive scar tissue; more common in prone individuals.
Report heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain, or signs of infection (e.g., pus, swelling) promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for circumcision?
Medical: Phimosis, balanitis, or recurrent UTIs; also cultural/religious traditions or preventive health benefits.
Can I avoid circumcision?
Yes, if no medical need: Hygiene practices or steroids (for mild phimosis); surgery is for significant issues.
Is circumcision painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 2–5 days, managed with medication; newborns feel minimal discomfort with local anesthesia.
How soon can I resume activities?
Children: 2–3 days; adults: 5–7 days; full recovery: 4–6 weeks; avoid sexual activity for 4–6 weeks (adults).
Is circumcision covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for medical necessity; usually not for cultural/religious reasons—confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain, or signs of infection.
Will circumcision affect sexual function?
No significant impact; sensitivity may slightly decrease (1–2%), but sexual satisfaction remains largely unchanged.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Keep area clean, avoid tight clothing, refrain from heavy activity for 2 weeks, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Circumcision is a safe and effective procedure to address medical issues like phimosis, reduce infection risks, or fulfill cultural/religious practices, with a quick recovery and high success rate. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance for medical necessity. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients and caregivers approach surgery confidently. Consult a urologist or pediatric surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Circumcision
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Ahmedabad |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Ajmer |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Aligarh |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Allahabad |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Amritsar |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Aurangabad |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Bangalore |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Bareilly |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Belgaum |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Bhopal |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Bikaner |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Chandigarh |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Chennai |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Coimbatore |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Dehradun |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Delhi |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Dhanbad |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Durgapur |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Faridabad |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Guntur |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Gurgaon |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Guwahati |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Gwalior |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Hyderabad |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Indore |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Jabalpur |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Jaipur |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Jalandhar |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Jamshedpur |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Jodhpur |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Kanpur |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Kochi |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Kolkata |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Kollam |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Lucknow |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Ludhiana |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Madurai |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Mangalore |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Meerut |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Moradabad |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Mumbai |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Mysore |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Nagpur |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Nashik |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Noida |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Patna |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Pune |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Raipur |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Rajkot |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Ranchi |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Surat |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Thane |
15,000 |
50,000 |
Vadodara |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Varanasi |
10,000 |
45,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
12,000 |
47,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.