Dr. Jean-Philippe Bercier BSc, MD, CCFP
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Introduction
Preparing
Operation
Recovery
4 – Recovery
A Vaseline-soaked gauze will be placed over the head of your son’s penis. Leave it in place for a full day. You can remove it 24 hours later during the first bath. If the gauze falls off, replace it with a fresh Vaseline-soaked gauze, put it over the penis, and close the diaper.
If your baby still feels discomfort from the circumcision, give extra doses of Tempra, Tylenol or acetaminophen every four hours as needed.
If the white gauze is soiled with urine, there is no need to replace it. However, if it is soiled with stool, remove the gauze, rinse the buttock area with warm water, and apply a new Vaseline-soaked gauze. Use disposable diapers for the first week, as they cause less irritation and help keep the area drier and cleaner. There will undoubtedly be penis discolouration and light blood stains on the gauze and diaper during each diaper change. A yellowish membrane around the penis is part of the healing process*.
Post-circumcision Instructions
- Examine your son’s diaper every hour for the rest of the day to find signs of any new blood. Minimal amounts of blood are normal, but active bleeding is not. Active bleeding is rare, but when it occurs, the most common causes include overly aggressive cleanings, insufficient Vaseline applications, or too much pressure at the base of the penis for retraction. In these situations, grasp the penis with a room temperature wet cloth between your thumb and two fingers and maintain firm pressure for three to five minutes. Repeat as needed. If you are worried about active bleeding, call us.
- You can give a sponge bath 24 hours after the circumcision. To remove the dressing, use some warm water. If some bleeding occurs, maintain firm pressure for three to five minutes. Gently clean the area around the penis with a warm washcloth. Do not use alcohol, powders or lotion, as these may cause irritation. Keep giving sponge baths for the next five days.
- It is not necessary to apply a dressing in the 24 hours that follow the first bath. However, keep applying generous amounts of Vaseline after every diaper change. Put a generous amount of Vaseline on your finger and rub it over the incision site, placing a thick layer of ointment over the entire head of the penis and on the diaper to prevent the exposed foreskin from adhering to the diaper or forming adhesions with the penis glans. Repeat procedure for two weeks.
- *In the first few days, there may be an off-white or yellowish patchy appearance or discolouration of the glans. This is not a sign of pus or infection; the glans may have this colour up to two weeks after the circumcision. Though rare, infection may occur. Common signs of infection include pus-like discharge, foul smell, severe inflammation or fever. If your son shows any of these signs, if he has not urinated in over 12 hours, or if you are unsure of the appearance, call us.
- If the skin has moved up slightly over the head of the penis, gently apply pressure on the SIDES of the penis to ensure it heals properly without any adhesions. Do not push the skin at the margin where the foreskin was removed for the first 24 hours, for it will be swollen from the procedure.
- You will notice a spongier ring at the base of the penis head (the mucosal ring). It is sometimes more prominent on one side than the other. This is normal and should not be cause for concern.
- The area around the glans will become swollen, especially the underside. This is normal; swelling will subside within one or two weeks.
- You may notice a band on the bottom of the penis after circumcision. This band is called the frenulum. This should not be cause for concern.
- Aesthetics are a common concern for parents. Like other body parts, penises come in all shapes and sizes. Although most penises return to their normal state following the circumcision, some penises do not take on a completely normal appearance until they start to grow.
- If you are unsure of the appearance of your son’s penis, call us. We will book an appointment and adjust the skin if required.
READ OUR REVIEWS
Had my vasectomy performed by Dr Dumais, who has taken over for Dr Weiss who has since retired. She was absolutely excellent. Great bedside manner, clear explanations of what was happening and any potential discomfort that might be felt during each step. Entire procedure from freezing to finish took under 10 minutes.Before beginning Dr Bercier confirmed my age (31), that I had no children, and that I was 100% certain I never wanted to have any (and that my partner felt the same way). She reiterated that while surgical reversal is sometimes possible, the procedure should be considered permanent.Nurses/office staff were friendly and efficient. Got up from the table a bit too quick and ended up sitting down in the chair and fainting. They were right on top of things and immediately went into their usual routine for when those things happen. We had a little chuckle about it, and at no point did it feel weird or judgemental which I very much appreciated.A couple of other notes based on some things mentioned in a few other reviews here:- Total out of pocket fees are $170, consisting of a $20 deposit and $150 on the day of the procedure. Those costs are detailed in the attached photo of the “Pre and Post Vasectomy Kit”. As detailed on the page patients can choose to pay only for the specific items/services they want, and they also give you a week post-procedure to request a refund and pay only for the needed items. This information is not provided anywhere before going in, so most will just pay the $170 and be done with it. While some of these costs are certainly quite highly inflated, they do help make up for the fairly minimal compensation the clinic receives from OHIP for each procedure.- Website is a bit of a mess, although most of the important bits are easy to find (and all the most important info is attached to the emails you’ll get). Specifically one thing they have changed is that you do *not* need to travel to the office to pick up your vasectomy package before the procedure! You are given it after your appointment just before leaving.- To the few complaining about pain/discomfort lasting more than the first week and “not being made aware of the risks”… did you not bother to fully read through the documentation available both on the website as well as repeatedly sent to you in the emails? All of the risks and rates of various complications are explicitly laid out in advance. Every body is different, and there is a small chance of a variety of complications. Choosing to ignore the provided information and then complaining that you wouldn’t have gone through with it if you knew is just ridiculous.One last recommendation for the doctors here: I highly recommend investing the few thousand dollars towards having a professional web design company re-build you a new website from the ground up. The current site is a mess, particularly on modern phones, and this is something that will radically improve the patient experience.
Dr. Valerie Dumois did my vasectomy, and she was really quite kind willing to answer questions. It was for the most part painless and the pain you feel is minimal. Reception was also pretty great they answered all my questions to male sire I heal properly. Was great meeting them all and doing it the modern way or a scalpel and needle is definitely in every males favour. Thank you so much for being such great people
Half an hour to my appointment they told me to wait outside(35 degrees celcius) until exactly my appointment. Dr. Bercier if you can call him a doctor had the most rude and disrespectful attitude I've had from a doctor. I asked him three questions to which he said he didn't care. During the procedure I simply asked how long does it take and he replied with "How long do you think it takes? Did you see me with the other patients?" I think his attitude was racially motivated because I'm not French. Don't come here! Go somewhere else!
Great clinic, 5 stars all around. Leading up to the appointment they provide you with fantastic information that explains everything in detail. Great communication, super organized, friendly and professional. Everyone from reception, to the nurse, to the doctor - all were pleasant, efficient, and professional. It was a huge piece of mind. The doctor played my choice of music during the procedure. It was practically painless, with only minor discomfort for a brief moment, and it was quick. I am now recovering comfortably with very detailed instructions about how to enhance my recovery. Thank you Dr. Weiss and Dr. Bercier! Highly recommend.
The process of getting my vasectomy was quite efficient. From walking in the office door to sitting down in my car again was only 20 minutes. The staff was very friendly in greeting you and providing instructions and Dr. Bercier was pleasant to deal with, friendly and gentle. Dare I say the experience was enjoyable! Any trepidation one has about the procedure, don’t worry! Thanks to all.
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