Recovery After Circumcision: Timeline, Diet, & Medications

Medications To Take During Recovery

You will likely be sent home with a prescribed pain pill post-circumcision. While taking prescription pain medication, you should also take a stool softener like Docusate Sodium (Colace, Dulcolax) to restrain the constipating effects of the pain medication. In addition, you may take over-the-counter Tylenol (acetaminophen) if the pain is not too bad.

Avoid Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs) like Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Advil, Aleve, and Motrin, for 72 hours after circumcision because they may cause bleeding. 

Diet To Follow During Recovery

A proper diet plan is essential for recovery after circumcision surgery. However, the diet plan is in conjunction with the other safeguards you should take. The ideal diet suggested to patients who undergo circumcision surgery is eating all foods in a balanced manner. Here are a few foods that are advised to eat following circumcision.

• Berries- Berries must be included in the diet because they provide antioxidants. In addition, berries are also great for healing and repairing damage.
• Vegetables- Vegetables are considered a potent source of nutrients. Every vegetable is good for healing; however, broccoli sprouts, carrots, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, and potatoes speed up healing.
• Green Leaves- Many people are not fond of green leaves as they are not as tasty as other fruits and vegetables. However, they aren’t aware that they can be highly beneficial to speed up the healing process after circumcision. 
• Proteins- Circumcision is an operation with minimal blood loss; however, some patients bleed more than others. Therefore, their bodies require new cells for blood. Adding protein to your diet after surgery is essential as it will help heal back all of the tissues in your body (including organs, muscles, and skin).
• Probiotics- There are times when your stomach can become upset after surgery due to the antibiotics. Therefore, foods that have probiotics are advised to ensure the health of the digestive system. 
• Carbohydrates- Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body. Instead of refined carbohydrates, pick whole grains as they are fiber-rich, help prevent constipation and provide important nutrients that support post-surgical wound healing.
• Nuts and seeds- Nuts and seeds are the best way to get a quick burst of energy. Many nuts and seeds also fall into the category of healthy fats, which give your body energy, keep your immune system healthy, and even promote cell growth.
• Soups and broths- It is common after circumcision to experience nausea or loss of appetite. Since it is vital not to deprive the body of the nutrition and hydration it requires to recover, soups and broths can save the day if you deal with this post-surgery side effect.
• Water- Drinking water is a great way to rid toxins from the body, which can build up following circumcision. In addition, it helps ensure that your immune system remains robust.

Foods To Avoid During Recovery

To avoid complications after circumcision, it is important to follow your doctor’s advice regarding which foods to avoid. Steering clear of harmful foods can help speed up recovery and keep discomfort and pain at bay. Here are some foods that you should avoid after circumcision.

Skin-Damaging Foods

Foods that don’t support recovery after circumcision should be avoided. Also, due to the nature of the procedure, the skin around the circumcision area needs to recover properly. Taking this into account, it is essential to avoid foods that break down the collagen in the skin, such as agave. Agave is considered a healthy sugar substitute but can hinder skin regeneration. In addition, dairy is another risky food group that should be avoided due to its inflammatory effects on the skin.

Junk Foods

Another food to avoid after circumcision is junk food. Junk foods like chips and candy don’t have any health benefits. The calories they provide are empty, holding no valuable micronutrients like Vitamin C and Iron. In addition, highly refined foods with minimal fiber, vitamins, and minerals can cause constipation. Avoiding constipation is crucial after a circumcision. Therefore, it is also important to avoid refined foods post-circumcision. 

Processed Foods

Processed foods are different from junk foods. They contain high amounts of added sugar, salt, and nitrates. Consuming copious amounts of these elements can hinder the healing process after circumcision. Also, surplus sugar leads to artery inflammation. Therefore, anything that assists in weakening artery walls should be avoided. 

Fatty Foods

Foods that are packed with saturated fats should be avoided after circumcision. These include foods with considerable cheese and butter, like pizza, biscuits, cake, etc. High levels of saturated fat are linked to high levels of insulin growth, which can harm your skin. Therefore, focus on eating foods that contain healthy fat sources, like salmon, walnuts, sardines, and anchovies.

Carbonated Beverages

There are many carbonated beverages that are high in sodium and have no real nutritional value. Since carbonated beverages have no health benefits, especially after circumcision, it is best to exclude them from your post-circumcision diet. Common carbonated beverages to avoid include sparkling water, tonic water, soda, etc.

Dried Foods

Dried foods can be harmful to your health post-circumcision. Eating dried foods can cause constipation, which may put a strain on the circumcised area. In addition to dried fruit, stay away from potato chips after circumcision. Not only are potato chips dried, but they are also high in sodium, which can cause inflammation.

Lifestyle Changes Required To Ensure A Proper Recovery

Some lifestyle changes to follow after circumcision include:

• Drink enough fluids during the day.
• Eat only good quality foods.
• Maintain your optimum weight
• Stop eating as soon as you feel full.
• Take regular showers
• Sit on an ice pack to relieve pain or discomfort