At what age should children undergo phimosis surgery?

Generally speaking, phimosis is very common in children, mainly because the child's penis has not developed. There are different opinions on the best age for children to undergo phimosis surgery. Parents can take their children for examination first to confirm whether surgery is needed, and then follow the doctor's advice. Do not perform surgery blindly, as this will cause certain harm to the child.

1. Children with phimosis can undergo circumcision surgery when they are over five years old. Children under 3 years old or infants with phimosis should not be circumcised unless there are complications. Because phimosis in children under 3 years old will disappear on its own as they grow older; for other children, if the foreskin is repeatedly retracted upwards and the foreskin sac opening is expanded, the glans penis will be exposed and there is no need for surgical removal. Clean the penis regularly and turn the foreskin over to remove the smegma.

2. Phimosis refers to the narrowness of the foreskin opening or the adhesion of the foreskin to the glans penis, which makes the foreskin unable to be turned up and the urethral opening and glans penis unable to be exposed. Circumcision is often used to treat phimosis. This surgery can also be performed if the foreskin is too long; if not performed, attention should be paid to cleanliness and the foreskin should be turned up and cleaned frequently.

3. Generally, when males are 4 to 5 years old, the adhesion between the foreskin and the glans penis will gradually separate, but the exact age at which the foreskin can be turned back varies from person to person. The length of the foreskin also varies from person to person. Some people may have a foreskin that is too long or too tight, and may never be able to be turned up.

4. Surgery for phimosis in children should be considered after puberty and only when the patient does not need general anesthesia. However, if a little boy suffers from repeated inflammation or even urinary tract infection due to excessive foreskin, he should undergo surgical circumcision as soon as possible. It's best to see a doctor for a checkup.