The penis has two main parts, the shaft and the head (called the glans). One continuous layer of skin, the foreskin, covers the shaft and glans. When a baby boy is circumcised, the foreskin covering the glans is removed.

The debate over circumcision is an ongoing discussion. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued their latest policy statement on circumcision in 2012. Their report found enough evidence that there are potential medical benefits of newborn circumcision. Specific benefits to circumcision include: reduced risk of urinary tract infections in the first year of life, and a lower risk for transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. While there was not enough information to recommend routine circumcision for all newborn babies, the benefits are enough to allow parents to make an informed decision themselves.

Circumcision is usually performed by the pediatrician in the office or hospital. Sometimes the pediatrician may want your son evaluated by a pediatric urologist prior to a circumcision. At Panda, we aim to have an appointment for your son within the first weeks after birth. During your appointment, we will evaluate your son and do a physical exam. We can discuss the risks and benefits of circumcision and answer all your questions. As long as your baby is healthy, has a normal physical exam, is less than 6 weeks of age and/or less than 10lbs, we will schedule an office circumcision. During the circumcision, our goal is to keep your baby as comfortable as possible. Prior to the procedure, we use a topical anesthesia cream to numb the area. There are several ways to perform a circumcision. In our office we use a device called a plasti-bell. The bell is placed and a string is tied around it to stop bleeding. The foreskin can then be cut and removed. The bell falls off on it's own in 7-10 days. As opposed to other devices, no post care is needed, just good cleaning.

You'll need to arrive 30 minutes prior to the procedure to place the topical numbing cream. The actual procedure takes 5 minutes and you'll be asked to stay for 15 minutes following the procedure to check for bleeding. In short, plan for at least an hour long visit from start to finish.

While we understand that this procedure has cultural significance, observation by parents is not allowed. We have this rule out of an abundance of caution and because we want the best possible outcome for your child. It can cause confusion and chances for error when parents faint or ask questions mid-procedure. The only thing the physician should be focused on is the procedure and doing an excellent job.