What is Laser Circumcision?
Laser circumcision is one of the most advanced circumcision procedures. During the procedure, the surgeon cuts off the foreskin using a high-energy laser beam. Since a laser is used to create the incision, there is little to no bleeding, and the wound edges are clean. It also completely preserves the surrounding tissues and is best for tissue conservation.
The surgery only takes 10-15 minutes and has a much shorter recovery time compared to other circumcision procedures. Laser circumcision is also preferred over other procedures as there is very little postoperative pain or discomfort associated with it.
What Happens During Laser Circumcision Surgery?
Diagnosis – Laser Circumcision
You can get a circumcision for religious or cosmetic circumcision or if you are unhappy with the size, shape, or appearance of the foreskin. If you have any pain, inflammation, or infection on your foreskin or the tip of your penis, then you might qualify for medical circumcision.
Your urologist will retract your foreskin to examine your penis glans for any signs of infection, injury, or inflammation, and its extent, if any, to determine whether surgical treatment is necessary.
Common diagnostic tests performed before circumcision are:
- Urinalysis for UTI detection by checking the appearance, concentration, and content of the patient’s urine
- Tissue culture/swab tests to examine the foreskin for bacterial/fungal infection in a laboratory
- Random blood sugar and glucose urine tests to find the glucose levels (for diabetic patients)
Laser Circumcision Procedure
Laser circumcision is one of the most advanced circumcision procedures. The surgeon cuts off the foreskin using a high-energy laser beam. Since a laser is used to create the incision, there is almost no bleeding and the wound edges are clean. It also completely preserves the surrounding tissues and is best for tissue conservation.
The surgery only takes 10-15 minutes and has a much shorter recovery time. Laser circumcision is also preferred over other procedures as there is very little postoperative pain or discomfort associated with it.
How to Prepare for Laser Circumcision Surgery?
You have to follow the given instructions to prepare yourself for laser circumcision surgery:
- Inform your surgeon about your complete medical history, including any chronic conditions you are suffering from and regular medicines you are taking. Blood thinners and similar medicines increase the chances of hemorrhage during the surgery, so your surgeon will give you instructions to prepare for the surgery accordingly.
- If your surgery is being performed under general anesthesia, then you should avoid eating anything for at least 6-8 hours before the surgery.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after the surgery as you may be discharged on the same day and it is not advisable to drive on the same day as the surgery.
- Avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours. Stop tobacco consumption, such as gutka, smoking, etc. before the surgery as they may interfere with the healing process.
- If your job entails manual labor, you should take at least a week off from work, especially if you are undergoing open surgery.
What to Expect After Laser Circumcision?
Recovery after laser circumcision is often faster and involves fewer complications/side effects as compared to conventional circumcision. Laser circumcision is completed in less than 30 minutes and patients are discharged from the hospital after a few hours on the same day. There is very minimal pain or discomfort after the surgery, which can be managed by NSAID painkillers. The patients may also need to take antibiotics to prevent infections.
The patient may have penile swelling and discomfort for about 3-4 days, and most patients are able to return to regular life and office routine in 1-3 days (6-7 days for people performing manual labor). Typically healing takes about 7-10 days.
