Child circumcision banner

ARC Circumcision

Book Now

Circumcision is a surgery to remove the skin covering the end of the penis, called the foreskin. This surgery is often done one or two days after a baby boy’s birth. Circumcision can also be done on older boys, although this can be more complex. An older boy may need medicine (general anesthesia) during the procedure.

If you are considering circumcision for your child, ARC pediatricians are available to perform the procedure and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.

Benefits & risks of circumcision

Circumcision is an elective procedure, which means you can choose to have your child circumcised or not. It's helpful to decide before your baby is born.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the benefits and risks of circumcision include the following:

  • Circumcision has some risks, but the rate of problems is low. The most common risks are bleeding and infection. The infant’s penis can get irritated from contact with the baby’s diaper or the ammonia in urine. This can be treated by putting petroleum jelly on the penis for a few days.
  • There is a higher risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) in uncircumcised boys; This is more so in babies younger than one. But the risk for UTI in all boys is less than 1%.
  • Newborn circumcision does give some protection from cancer of the penis later in life. But the overall risk of penile cancer is low in developed countries, such as the U.S.
  • Circumcised boys and men have a lower risk for some sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

What happens after circumcision?

After the circumcision, you will need to care for your baby’s penis until it heals. This includes cleaning the area with plain water at least once a day. You will also need to clean it if the area is dirty after a bowel movement. Then let the area dry, and put petroleum jelly on it; This keeps the gauze dressing from sticking.

You will be given post-circumcision care instructions after the procedure. 

A baby’s penis usually heals fully from a circumcision in seven to 10 days.

Call your child’s healthcare provider if your baby has any of the following:

  • Fever
  • A wound that doesn’t stop bleeding
  • No urine six to eight hours after the procedure
  • Redness or swelling that doesn’t get better after three days or gets worse
  • Yellow discharge or yellow coating on the penis after seven days

Locations & Providers

  • ARC Bee Cave
    15801 Highway 71
    Building 1, Suite 100
    Bee Cave, TX 78738
    Get Directions
    • Jennifer C. Christensen, MD
      Jennifer Christensen
      Jennifer C. Christensen, MD
      Pediatrics
      4.8

      Accepting new patients Languages: Tongan Ages Seen: 0 - 20

      Book Now
  • ARC Center Street
    22420 I-35
    Suite 203
    Kyle, TX 78640
    Get Directions
  • ARC Georgetown
    940 West University Avenue
    Suite 101
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Get Directions
    • Betsy M. Kadapuram, DO
      Betsy Kadapuram
      Betsy M. Kadapuram, DO
      Pediatrics
      4.8

      Accepting new patients Languages: Spanish, Malayalam Ages Seen: 0 - 18

      Book Now
  • ARC Hutto
    151 Exchange Boulevard
    Suite 500
    Hutto, TX 78634
    Get Directions
    • Violeta V. Griffin, MD
      Violeta Griffin, MD
      Violeta V. Griffin, MD
      Pediatrics
      4.8

      Accepting new patients Languages: Spanish Ages Seen: 0 - 18

      Book Now
  • ARC Kyle Plum Creek
    4100 Everett Street
    Suite 400
    Kyle, TX 78640
    Get Directions
    • Shane C. Constable, MD
      Shane Constable, MD
      Shane C. Constable, MD
      Family Medicine Healthiness Program
      4.7

      Accepting new patients Ages Seen: 1 - 99

      Book Now
    • Michael F. de Lota, MD
      Michael de Lota
      Michael F. de Lota, MD
      Family Medicine
      4.8

      Accepting new patients Ages Seen: 1 - 99

      Book Now
  • ARC Leander
    901 Crystal Falls Parkway
    Suite 103
    Leander, TX 78641
    Get Directions
    • Lee R. Dockray, MD, FAAP
      Lee Dockray, MD, FAAP
      Lee R. Dockray, MD, FAAP
      Pediatrics
      4.6

      Accepting new patients Ages Seen: 0 - 18

      Book Now
  • ARC Quarry Lake
    4515 Seton Center Parkway
    Suite 220
    Austin, TX 78759
    Get Directions
    • Ross F. Prochnow, MD
      Ross Prochnow, MD
      Ross F. Prochnow, MD
      Pediatrics
      4.9

      Ages Seen: 0 - 18

    • Sue M. Shieh, MD
      Sue Shieh
      Sue M. Shieh, MD
      Pediatrics
      4.8

      Accepting new patients Ages Seen: 0 - 18

      Book Now
  • ARC South 1st Specialty and Pediatrics
    3816 South 1st Street
    Austin, TX 78704
    Get Directions
    • Scott A. Broberg, MD
      Scott Broberg, MD
      Scott A. Broberg, MD
      Pediatrics

      Ages Seen: 0 - 18

    • Boris A. Gritzka, MD
      Boris Gritzka
      Boris A. Gritzka, MD
      Pediatrics
      4.8

      Accepting new patients Languages: German, Spanish Ages Seen: 0 - 18

      Book Now
  • ARC Southwest
    1807 West Slaughter Lane
    Suite 490
    Austin, TX 78748
    Get Directions
    • Heidi W. Busceme, MD, FAAP
      Heidi Busceme
      Heidi W. Busceme, MD, FAAP
      Pediatrics

      Accepting new patients Ages Seen: 0 - 18

      Book Now
    • Mai X. Duong, MD
      Mai Duong, MD
      Mai X. Duong, MD
      Pediatrics
      4.8

      Accepting new patients Languages: Vietnamese Ages Seen: 0 - 18

      Book Now
    • Knema P. Rezaei Bazazizad, MD
      Knema Rezaei Bazazizad, MD
      Knema P. Rezaei Bazazizad, MD
      Pediatrics
      4.8

      Accepting new patients Languages: French, Farsi Ages Seen: 0 - 18

      Book Now