Tight foreskin, repeated infections, diabetes and skin conditions bring men of every age to the clinic. Here is why adult circumcision is so common, which method suits you, and what recovery really looks like.
Written & reviewed by Dr. Anand UttureMCh (Urology) · Updated 13 Oct 2026 · 7 min readMany people think circumcision is a religious ritual or a baby procedure. In everyday Urology practice in Mumbai, many circumcisions are done for adult men, from college students to men in their seventies, and almost always for a medical reason.
Circumcision (खतना, khatna in Hindi) is the surgical removal of the foreskin, the skin that covers the head of the penis. In adults it is a short, planned day-care operation.
Adult men most often need circumcision for a tight foreskin (phimosis), repeated foreskin infections (balanitis), diabetes-related infections, lichen sclerosus, or a foreskin that gets stuck behind the head of the penis. It is done as day-care surgery, by conventional, laser or stapler technique, and most men return to desk work in 2 to 3 days.
Higher chance of needing circumcision for men with type 2 diabetes, in a large five-year study.
Most adults go home a few hours after surgery. No overnight stay is usually needed.
Typical time before returning to desk work. Full healing takes about 3 to 6 weeks.
The foreskin cannot be pulled back over the head of the penis, or it pulls back only with pain. Men notice ballooning while passing urine, pain or tearing during sex, or difficulty keeping the area clean.
Redness, itching, white discharge, a bad smell or soreness under the foreskin that keeps returning despite creams and tablets. Repeated inflammation also makes the foreskin thicker and tighter over time.
Sugar in the urine feeds fungal and bacterial infections under the foreskin. Each infection heals with a little scarring, until the foreskin becomes tight and cracked. This is one of the most common reasons men in their 40s, 50s and 60s need circumcision.
A chronic skin condition that turns the foreskin white, stiff and scarred, and can narrow the urine opening. Circumcision removes the affected skin, which usually controls the problem when only the foreskin is involved. The removed tissue is sent for testing.
A foreskin that gets trapped behind the head of the penis and swells (paraphimosis) is an emergency. Men who have had one episode, or who keep tearing the small band of skin underneath (frenulum) during sex, often choose circumcision to stop it happening again.
Some men choose circumcision for easier hygiene, comfort, or religious and cultural reasons. Medical male circumcision also lowers the risk of some sexually transmitted infections; the WHO reports about a 60% lower risk of HIV acquisition in heterosexual men.
Men's health treatments →Tick anything that applies to you. Two or more ticks is a good reason to get your foreskin checked.
All three remove the foreskin. They differ in how the skin is cut and closed. Your urologist will suggest the right one for your skin, your condition and your budget.
Every patient heals a little differently, and men with diabetes may take longer. This is what a typical adult recovery looks like.
Consultant urologist and andrologist in Mumbai, and Head of Urology at S.L. Raheja Hospital. He treats phimosis, balanitis and lichen sclerosus, and advises on the circumcision technique that suits each patient.
If you have diabetes, keep your sugar well controlled before and after surgery. It makes a real difference to how quickly the wound heals.
Most men go home the same day and return to desk work in 2 to 3 days. The wound usually heals in 2 to 3 weeks, and sex and heavy exercise can resume after about 4 to 6 weeks, once your doctor confirms healing.
Neither is right for everyone. In studies, stapler circumcision is quicker with less bleeding; laser also reduces bleeding during the cut. Conventional surgery is still preferred for heavy scarring or lichen sclerosus. Your urologist will advise based on your skin and condition.
The surgery is done under anaesthesia, so you do not feel pain during it. Afterwards there is mild to moderate soreness for a few days, which is well controlled with tablets.
No. Circumcision does not change the size of the penis. If a tight foreskin or repeated infections were causing pain, removing the foreskin usually relieves that pain once the wound has healed, though results vary from person to person.
The cost depends on the method (conventional, laser or stapler), the hospital and the type of anaesthesia. Circumcision done for a medical reason such as phimosis or balanitis is often covered by health insurance. Your clinic can give you an exact estimate after the consultation.
Circumcision is called खतना (khatna) in Hindi. Medically it means surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.
Discuss your symptoms with a urologist. Dr. Anand Utture consults in Mahim, Bandra and Khar.
Prepared with AI assistance and medically reviewed by Dr. Anand Utture, MCh (Urology). MMC Reg. No. 66401.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor for your condition. Sources: BMC Urology 2024 (diabetes study), Braz J Med Biol Res 2015 (stapler trial), WHO.
