What to expect following surgery
You have undergone surgery to correct your penile curvature. You have a stitched wound around the top of the penis just under the head (glans). You will also be able to feel some larger stitches under the skin on the shaft of the penis. You will be able to go home the day after surgery once you have seen a member of the surgical team.
Dressings: The operative dressing will be removed before you leave the hospital. We would recommend you wear a dry pad held in a pair of underpants to support the penis against the abdomen for a week. Occasionally your consultant will request that you are discharged home for 1 week with your dressing in place. In this instance we would advise you to avoid showering and bathing to keep the dressing dry until you return to clinic one week later.
Washing: If you go home without a dressing, you may take a quick shower daily to keep the wound clean, but you must avoid soaking in a bath and do not use soap on the wound until it is fully healed. Do not rub the wound when drying it but instead gently pat the area dry.
Please do not touch your wound unless you have washed your hands thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection.
Stitches: The stitches underneath the head of your penis are dissolvable and do not need to be removed. It is normal for them to take several weeks to dissolve. The large internal stitches under the skin on the shaft of the penis will take several months to dissolve. Again, this is normal.
Returning to work: Every patient reacts differently to anaesthetic and there is no definite rule as to when you should return to work. Most people take a week off work but the type of work you do will also influence your decision.
You may experience
Swelling: You can expect some swelling to the penis. We would expect this to resolve over the next few weeks. Wearing the penis against the abdomen in supportive underwear will also help to reduce swelling.
Bleeding: It is normal for there to be slight ooze of blood or yellow coloured fluid onto the pad which is nothing to be worried about. Although not usual it is possible to have some bleeding from the wound. If bleeding does occur, use a clean cloth, or gauze and press firmly on the bleeding area for 10 minutes. If it doesn’t stop after 10 minutes attend your local A&E department.
Erections: It is perfectly safe to have erections after this surgery. However, if you do experience erections, they may be uncomfortable for the first few weeks following the operation.
Follow up appointment: Please refer to your discharge summary for your individual follow up plan. If you do not receive a date to attend clinic within 6 weeks from the date of surgery, please contact your consultant’s pathway co-ordinator using the telephone numbers overleaf.
Aftercare: You must not have sex for six weeks following surgery
If you experience any of the following, please contact the Clinical Nurse Practitioner or your medical team via the numbers below. Out of hours, please contact your GP or nearest A&E Department.
- Persistent bleeding
- Pain which is not controlled by the prescribed pain killers
- A fever of 100 (38 C) or higher
- You have redness and or discharge from the wound
Contact details
Pathway Co-ordinator to Consultants
Telephone:020 3447 9190/ 020 3447 9280
Clinical Nurse Practitioners (CNP’s)
Mobile: 07852168167/ 07929710288
Website: www.
Where can I get more information?
NHS 111 Website: https://111.nhs.uk
UCL Hospitals cannot accept responsibility for information provided by external organisations.
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Page last updated: 08 January 2025
Review due: 01 November 2026