Laser circumcision is a modern and minimally invasive surgery, in which a highly focused laser beam is utilized for removing the foreskin. This type of surgery can be performed as a day case procedure, and it usually takes up to 10-15 minutes. Here, the removed foreskin is sent for histopathology to check for any early precancerous condition or tumor. Laser circumcision can be performed for various reasons. Sometimes, this can be requested for cultural or religious reasons or as phimosis, paraphimosis or recurrent balanitis. If you have a penile or foreskin condition, or you want to have a circumcision for aesthetic or religious purposes, then laser foreskin removal surgery may be suitable for you.
What do I need to do prior to having a laser circumcision?
- Before you go to the hospital, the surgeon could either explain to you over the phone to ensure that you will have a smooth and a less complicated surgery. Some of the guidelines you might have to follow are listed below:-
- Get well-informed about the dietary restrictions prior to the surgery.
- For controlling internal bleeding and for postoperative recovery, urologists typically require patients to fast for 12 hours before their procedure. You won't be able to drive yourself home after surgery.
- It's best not to consume alcohol or smoke for 48 hours before your surgery. These liquids and chemicals can interfere with anesthesia and slow your recovery.
- If this is only for you to get a lab work, be aware that what you are willing to put into your system only possible a urinary tract infection that may show up in the cultures of your specimen you sent to receive that call was made.
How is Laser Circumcision Done?
The operation is commonly done with general or local anesthesia. Your age and overall health will guide your surgeon in determining the method that best suits you. In case of general anesthesia, it will be mandatory for you to starve for 8 hours before the surgery. Procedure for Laser Circumcision; It involves: The doctor removes the foreskin from the penis by cutting it off. This is by using a high intensity laser beam aimed at cutting and removing it as per the surgeon’s instructions. The cuts are made along a pre-marked incision line. The precision of the cut ensures almost no bleeding and the cut edges are clean. There is also less destruction of surrounding tissue. It is best for tissue preservation. The procedure is completed in 15-20 minutes, which is an advantage over the traditional procedures. The recovery time is shorter. The laser circumcision procedure has the least postoperative pain and discomfort.What are the advantages of Laser Circumcision?
Due to its advanced and minimally invasive nature, laser circumcision comes with various advantages over traditional methods in terms of effectiveness, acceptable cosmetic outcome and faster recovery. A few of them are:-- Minimal Bleeding: A surgical laser operates at a very high temperature. So, as it cuts, it immediately cauterises (burn and close) any blood vessels it cuts through that supply blood to the area. Thereby, it drastically reduces the amount of bleeding during the procedure. This results in a far cleaner surgical field and makes it much easier to see and work in.
- Minimal Trauma: As mentioned earlier, laser circumcision treatment is less traumatized because it is very sensitive and gentle on skin and it remove or cut only the skin without affecting deeper tissues. It reduces unnecessary and central damage to the tissues as tissue handling and fluid accumulation is much enhanced leading to better cosmetic outcome and post‑operative pain and discomfort.
- Faster Healing: This is because laser circumcision surgery is less traumatic to the patient and hence the body takes a shorter time to heal. The postoperative course of laser circumcision is relatively short, taking about 7 to 10 days in total. Common surgery recovery may allow most men to get back to work or other regular daily activities within 48 to 72 hours.
- Low Risk of Infection: This reduces the chances of infection because lasers have the ability to seal the blood vessels during treatment. The combined result is a more effective overall healing and a lower risk of complications after the operation.
- Outpatient Procedure: Laser circumcision treatment is often an outpatient procedure, and the majority of men are allowed to go home shortly after the procedure. One of the key advantages of the procedure is that it does not involve hospitalization, thus, the recovery period is plain sailing.
Risks and Complications
The risks of developing complications related to laser circumcision surgery in Delhi are much lower than those associated with the traditional techniques of circumcision. That being the case, the possibility of having any complication with laser circumcision for adults or kids is very little. But again, it is crucial to know that despite the low risk of complications, it can still happen, and one should be informed about their possibility. Here are a few of the complications that could arise following your laser circumcision surgery:- Excessive Bleeding: Therefore, it is expected that there will be mild to moderate bleeding in the post-operative period for any surgery. But if you are having continuous or severe and uncontrolled bleeding that does not seem to stop, this should be a sign of a complication. It is advisable to visit a doctor at the earliest if you experience this.
- Skin Adhesions: Skin bridges or penile adhesions whereby the foreskin sticks to the glans or the head of the penis are very rare in laser circumcision although they can occur under very rare circumstances.
- Infection: The urologist's steps to keep the surgery area sterile practically curtail the chances of developing an infection. Nevertheless, it is possible, though the chances are still slim and, therefore, it must be avoided at all costs. In case of any infection symptoms like temperature, shivers, redness and pus discharge from the incision site you are expected to consult the responsible clinician immediately. In the most of the cases, patients can recover soon after the beginning of the treatment with antibiotics as long as the disease is diagnosed at the early stage. While prolonged/delayed treatment would need a surgical intervention, it may be successful if given in the right pace.
- Excessive Pain: A patient may experience moderate pain and slight unpleasant sensations after any operations, and your urologist may suggest some medications. However, if you are experiencing severe pain, or if the pain does not subside as soon as the medication wears off, you should reach out to your urologist at once.
- Delayed Healing: Like any other surgery, there are always chances that the body will take time or even produce scar tissues after laser foreskin removal surgery has been conducted. Before the surgery, your urologist will typically run some tests to determine your health status and prevent postoperative complications and adverse effects on tissues’ healing processes.
