After a hypospadias repair, the pediatric anesthesiologist stops putting anesthesia into your child’s body to keep them asleep. Your child moves to a recovery room, where providers wait for them to completely wake up and monitor overall health. Most hypospadias repair procedures are outpatient procedures, so your child can go home the same day they have surgery. The discharge home is ultimately dependent on the surgeon and his / her assessment of any postoperative care risks or concerns.

Healthcare providers will give you instructions on how to help your child recover, especially for the first week after surgery. Prescriptions for pain control and prophylactic antibiotics to minimize risk for infection will be provided.

When should I call my child’s healthcare provider?

Kindly notify Dr. Niles right away if your child experiences any complications or abnormal symptoms after a hypospadias repair. These may include:

• Heavy bleeding in the affected areas.
• A fever of 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher.
• Infection.
• Increased pain.
• Swelling.
• Vomiting three or more times a day.
• Trouble peeing.
• Pee leaking around the catheter.
• The catheter comes out.
• Your child’s diaper is often dry.

You can schedule regular follow-up appointments with the office. We want to make sure your child’s penis and any other affected areas are healing properly. If your child has severe hypospadias, we may need to schedule more operations as the number of operations is determined by the anatomy of the penile abnormality being corrected. Remember, the goal is to obtain a normal appearing and functioning penis whilst minimizing the occurrence of  complications.

How do I care for my child after a hypospadias repair?

Keep your child’s penis and other affected areas as clean as possible to prevent infection. Caregivers / parents should wash hands with soap and water before handling your child’s bandages. If pee or poop gets on the bandages, gently clean the area with warm, soapy water and pat the area dry. The catheter will constantly drain urine so your child will require more frequent diaper changes as well.

Sponge bathing your child with warm water and soap is acceptable. Be careful around their affected areas and gently pat the areas dry.
It’s important for your child to take it easy for a few weeks after hypospadias repair to ensure proper healing.

Infants and toddlers should be able to resume many of their activities after three weeks. However, they shouldn’t go swimming or play in dirt, sand or mud until fully healed. These activities could lead to an infection. Older children should avoid playing sports, riding bicycles or other physical play for at least six weeks.

What is the recovery time after hypospadias repair?

Most children feel tired after hypospadias repair. They may spend the next several days sleeping more. Sleeping helps them recover faster.
It’s important to remember that your child’s body is unique, so recovery times may vary. In general, swelling and bruising should go away after about two weeks. Many children fully recover after about six weeks.

Does it hurt to pee after hypospadias surgery?

It may be painful for your child to pee after their healthcare provider removes the catheter. This pain should go away after a few days, but it may take up to two weeks.

When can my child go back to school or daycare?

You should keep your child home from school or daycare for at least three weeks or until the surgeon removes the drainage catheter. Please confirm back to school with the surgeon.