How long does it take to recover after hypospadias surgery?

Hypospadias may occur in men. It means that the male urethra is ectopic, which makes it impossible to urinate in a normal way. They must squat like girls. Some people become more feminine because of this disease, which disrupts their androgen. In order to return to a normal life, patients must undergo recovery treatment in the form of surgery. So, how long will it take to return to normal after surgery? Let's take a look.

1. Introduction to Hypospadias Repair

Hypospadias refers to the condition where the male urethra is not located at the front of the penis, but below the glans, on the ventral side of the penis, at the base of the penis or at the perineum. It is often accompanied by penile curvature and incomplete testicular descent (cryptorchia). Some boys have to squat to urinate, and it is difficult to distinguish between boys and girls, which brings great pain to the family.

2. Detailed explanation of the process of hypospadias repair

Preoperative preparation plays a great role in the success rate of surgery.

Before surgery, you need to do the following preparations:

a. For those with a small penis, male hormone therapy should be used appropriately, and surgery can be performed after the penis develops.

b. For patients with urinary tract infection, the infection must be strictly controlled before surgery.

c. Wash the perineum with soapy water every day for 3 days before hypospadias repair surgery, and apply chlorhexidine wet compress.

d. Carefully examine the position of the urethral opening, accurately estimate the position of the urethral opening after penis straightening, and measure whether the foreskin, penis, and scrotal skin are usable. Through comprehensive judgment, decide whether to use a single-stage or staged surgery and what surgical method to use.

The effectiveness of postoperative care directly affects the time of postoperative recovery.

Post-operative precautions:

a. Avoid contact of the surgical area with water within 7 days after hypospadias repair.

b. Keep the surgical site clean to prevent infection. If there is blood scab or secretion on the wound, wipe it with sterile saline.

c. After the operation, you can apply pressure bandage or ice pack to the local wound, but the pressure should not be too high to avoid damaging the penis. If bleeding or severe hematoma occurs after the operation, you should go to the hospital for follow-up immediately.

d. Rest in a quiet and comfortable environment after the operation. Do not watch TV or read newspapers within 2 weeks after the operation. It is best to rest in a semi-recumbent position (raise the pillow) when lying in bed to avoid excessive fatigue of the penis or too low a position of the head, which may aggravate the swelling of the wound.

e. The wound will be somewhat painful on the day of surgery, but it will gradually subside over time. Patients should not rush to take painkillers, as aspirin-like drugs will aggravate bleeding from the wound.

f. Avoid eating spicy foods such as chili peppers.

g. Strictly follow the doctor's instructions on medication and follow-up visits.

3. How long does it take to recover from hypospadias repair?

The recovery time of hypospadias repair depends on individual constitution and post-operative care.

Generally speaking, try to keep the surgical site clean and away from water for one week after surgery to prevent infection. Do not watch TV or read newspapers within 2 weeks after surgery, and it is best to rest in a semi-recumbent position (raise the pillow) when lying in bed. In general, the recovery period after hypospadias repair surgery is about 1-2 months to fully recover. The recovery time will vary according to each person's physical condition.