Circumcision Clinic

Whether you're expecting a baby boy or have just welcomed him into the world, you have an important decision to make about circumcision.  

The SickKids Circumcision Clinic provides one-on-one consultation, circumcision and procedure follow-up by an expert team of paediatric surgeons, urologists and health professionals. They are among Canada’s leading authorities in paediatric urology and routinely perform circumcision procedures. 

Our full-service clinic performs circumcisions in a clean and sterile surgical environment, ensuring your child has the safest procedure possible. The follow-up care program will make sure your child is healthy post-procedure and is healing as expected.   

Our experts will be there to guide you every step of the way and provide you with all of the information you need to care for your child after the procedure.   

Learn more about circumcision on AboutKidsHealth.

To be eligible for the procedure your child must be full term and in good health with no medical conditions. There are a few situations that may cause a circumcision to be delayed. For example, in babies who are born prematurely, circumcision is usually delayed until they are ready to be discharged from the hospital. Babies who are born with a defect of the penis should be evaluated by a urologist, who may recommend delaying circumcision. If there is a family history of a bleeding disorder or the baby has bleeding problems, circumcision is delayed until it has been determined that the baby is not at increased risk of bleeding during the procedure. 

Cost

Elective circumcision procedures are not covered under OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) if they are not medically needed. The SickKids Circumcision Clinic provides procedures at a cost of $452 (for babies under 8 weeks). Referrals are not required for elective procedures. 

Children over 8 weeks will require an online referral to the Urology Clinic from the Paediatrician/ Family Physician. Circumcisions that are done greater than 8 weeks of age are performed in the Operating Room under a General Anaesthetic at a cost of $1800.00. 

During the consultation with the surgeon on the day of procedure, if for any reason it is deemed that the procedure cannot go ahead as planned, an $80 consultation fee will be charged to your credit card. 

Book an appointment

To book an appointment, call 416-813-8286.

If you are calling to inquire about your child’s appointment, you may need to leave a message due to the high volumes of calls received. If you leave a message, you can expect to hear back from us within 24 to 48 hours.  

Please note: a $100 cancellation fee is charged to your credit card for cancellations within 48 hours of the procedure. 

How to prepare: 

• Please ensure your child is bathed prior to your appointment. 
• Plan to arrive 45 minutes before the procedure.  

What to bring: 

• You must bring your Newborn Evaluation Form signed by the hospital where you delivered your baby, or by midwife. 
• Documentation that your child has received a Vitamin K injection. 
• OHIP card 

Directions: 

• Register for your appointment at the Clinic Registration desk near the Atrium entrance located at 170 Elizabeth Street. Arrive early so you have enough time to register. 
• Take the atrium elevators to the 6th floor and look for unit D. 

Please note that blood work is not required prior to this procedure. 

When you arrive on Unit 6D unit, the first thing you will do is give the registration form to the unit clerk. You will then be seated in the waiting area. Your child’s name will be called and you will be taken to the clinic room. You and your child will meet a Patient Flow Coordinator and a Registered Nurse.

Pre-procedure preparation 

Your baby will be weighed and a numbing cream called Maxilene will be applied to your baby’s penis area. Before the procedure, the doctor who will perform the procedure will speak with you. This is a discussion of the reasons for circumcision, the benefits, risks and alternatives, and ensures that you understand what will happen during the procedure. You will have lots of time to ask questions. Please note that families are not in the room during the circumcision procedure. 

Pain management 

You should discuss what pain control measures will be used during and after the procedure. Your doctor will use a local anesthetic. Swaddling, oral sugar solution and acetaminophen will be given as well but should not be used as the primary method of pain relief. 

Circumcision procedure

To perform the procedure, the doctor places the child on a special table and cleans the child’s penis and foreskin. First, the child gets medicine so they won’t feel pain. This medicine is a needle into the base of the penis. Then they use special tools to remove the foreskin. The doctor completes the procedure by wrapping a petroleum jelly bandage (called gauze) around the baby’s penis to protect it from rubbing against the diaper.  

The baby may cry during the procedure and for a short while afterward. Local anesthesia can greatly reduce your baby's discomfort. The procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes. 

Information on post-procedure care

Your doctor or nurse will give you instructions on how to care for your child after the surgery. It is important that you follow those instructions carefully. Learn more about caring for your child at home after the procedure on AboutKidsHealth.

About our doctors 

Dr. Armando Lorenzo, Head, Division of Urology   
Dr. Darius Bägli, Associate Head, Division of Urology  
Dr. Joana Dos Santos, Paediatrician, Medical Urology staff  
Dr. Michael Chua, Division of Urology
Dr. Frank Papanikolaou, Division of Urology  

SickKids is an academic teaching institution and therefore a qualified surgical fellow may perform the circumcision under the supervision of one of the doctors above.