Complex Tissue & Outpatient Surgery
- Leave the dressing on for the first 24 to 48 hours, or as instructed.
- After that, shower normally and pat dry. Apply petroleum jelly to the incision to keep it from sticking to underwear.
- Swelling and bruising are common and settle over a couple of weeks.
- The head of the penis may feel very sensitive at first. This fades.
- Stitches dissolve on their own over 2 to 4 weeks.
- Erections at night can be uncomfortable. Emptying your bladder and a cold pack help.
- No sex or masturbation for about 4 to 6 weeks.
Call right away
Call the office at (516) 535-1900, or go to the nearest emergency room after hours, if you have:
- Bleeding that doesn't stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure
- Fever or chills
- Spreading redness or pus
- You can't urinate
Your own instructions come first
Every patient is different. If the instructions you got at your visit or at discharge differ from this page, follow those, and call the office at (516) 535-1900 with any question.
Written and reviewed by Shervin Badkhshan, MD · Last reviewed
November 2026
Your results and questions
Your actual test results, visit notes, and messages with your care team are in your patient portal, the same one you use to book visits. Send questions through the portal or call the office at (516) 535-1900. For anything urgent, call the office or go to the nearest emergency room.