Post-Vasectomy Penis Care - Suggestions for At-home Relief
July 31, 2013The average vasectomy is performed in mere minutes, and in most cases, men simply scoop up their clothes and head home immediately after the procedure is complete. In a fast-paced medical office, men might not have the chance to speak with their doctors at length, and some medical practitioners don't do a great job of telling men how to perform the proper penis care in the days that follow the surgery. These are just a few tips medical professionals may omit as they tell their clients about healing. Following them to the letter could mean healing up quickly.
Rest is Vital. In the past, a vasectomy involved a significant amount of cutting and a large amount of bleeding, and some men even had stitches to contend with. Modern techniques are much less invasive, and some men believe that these new procedures allow them to skip a long recuperation period. While it's true that current surgical procedures result in a smaller amount of blood loss, men who go through a vasectomy still should be respectful of the trauma that's taken place down below.
Resting for 1 to 2 days is typically recommended, and much of this rest should take place as a man lies flat on his back. Men who walk or sit as they recover encourage blood to follow the laws of gravity, flowing down to the surgery site. Deep pain and intense bruising can quickly follow. Resting on the back, on the other hand, allows for even blood distribution throughout the body. Fewer bruises may develop, and the pain might also be less intense.
Proper Icing is Key. Ice can help to reduce inflammation levels and keep clots from forming, so men are often encouraged to use ice packs on their laps as they heal. The cold shock of ice can be heaven for damaged tissues, but a cloth or some other buffer should always be in place between the sensitive penis and the ice pack. Men who haven't quite recovered from the anesthesia of surgery and who plop an ice pack directly on their skin could be rewarded with a nasty case of frostbite as a reward for their oversight. Even if the ice contact doesn't hurt, a buffer should always be used.
Heavy Lifting is Forbidden. Some lifting tasks require men to tighten their abdominal muscles and strain the tissues in their groins. Normally, this doesn't pose a problem, but after a vasectomy, tissues are knitting together and scars are forming. The skin is just fragile, and placing a significant amount of pressure on that healing tissue could mean breaking open stitches or otherwise causing complications. As a result, all heavy lifting should be avoided for at least a week after the vasectomy is complete.
Complications Are Rare, But Possible
In most cases, a vasectomy progresses smoothly and men recover with no complications at all. There are some men, however, who do have difficulty after surgery and who need care in order to heal. These men might experience warning signs, including:
Any of these signs should be taken seriously, and men should call their providers for help. The sooner the issue is caught, the easier it might be to address.
Caring for Skin
Typically, the skin of the penis isn't touched during a vasectomy. But sometimes, medical practitioners nick sensitive skin as they shave the area before surgery, and sometimes, teams tape fabric to the penis during the surgery, to protect it from harm. Shaving cuts and surgical tape residue can leave penile skin feeling chafed and raw, and it can be intensely painful. A penis health creme (most experts recommend Man1 Man Oil) may help. These products aren't designed for open wounds, so they shouldn't be used on the surgery site, but they can provide ongoing support for healthy penis tissue once the initial healing is complete.
Posted by John Dugan. Posted In : Men's Health
