1. Removing the penile bandage

Your penis is wrapped in a bandage that must stay in place for 3 days.

• Removal: Take the bandage off 72 hours after surgery.

• How: Look for the arrow drawn on the bandage and peel in the direction of the arrow.

• Three layers — make sure all three come off:

  • Coban — the tan, self-adherent outer layer

  • Kling gauze — the soft white middle wrapping

  • Xeroform — the yellow, greasy layer against the skin

• Underneath you will find surgical glue over the incisions. Leave it alone; it falls off on its own in 2 to 4 weeks. The stitches underneath dissolve and do not need to be removed.

2. Hygiene and showering

• Days 1–3, bandage on: You may sponge bathe or shower, but the penile bandage must stay completely dry.

• Day 3 onward, bandage off: Shower normally. Let soapy water run over the incisions — do not scrub. Pat dry gently with a clean towel.

• Baths: Do not sit in standing water — bath, pool, lake, or hot tub — for the first 2 weeks.

3. Activity restrictions — read this section twice

• No sexual activity of any kind for 6 weeks. That includes intercourse and masturbation.

  • Spontaneous erections are fine. You will have them, especially at night. They will not damage the repair.

  • Do not use them. No sexual activity, no manual stimulation, no intercourse.

• Lifting: Nothing heavier than 10–15 lbs — about a gallon of milk — for 2 weeks.

• Work: Most patients return to desk work in 3 to 5 days. If your work is physically demanding, discuss the timeline with your surgeon.

4. Pain management

Stay ahead of the pain rather than chasing it. For the first two weeks, or as long as pain persists:

• Alternate ibuprofen and Tylenol (acetaminophen) every 3 hours while awake. Each medication works out to every 6 hours.

  • 9:00 AM — Ibuprofen

  • 12:00 PM — Tylenol

  • 3:00 PM — Ibuprofen

  • 6:00 PM — Tylenol

• These two medications do not interact and are safe to take on this schedule.

• Breakthrough pain only: If you were prescribed oxycodone, it is intended only for pain the ibuprofen and Tylenol schedule does not control. It is a narcotic. Do not drive while taking it.

• Nocturnal erections: Erections during sleep are normal but may be uncomfortable or painful during the first week. Taking your pain medication before bed and emptying your bladder right before sleep both help.

5. Scrotal support and swelling

• Support: Wear tight-fitting underwear — supportive briefs — to support the scrotum and limit movement of the penis.

• Ice: Apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas to the groin area. Never put ice directly against skin; put a thin towel in between. Apply for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, every 3 to 4 hours for the first 48 hours.

6. Medications and bowel care

• Blood thinners: You may restart all prescribed blood thinners 72 hours (3 days) after surgery, unless you were told otherwise.

• Preventing constipation: Pain medication and anesthesia cause constipation, and straining to have a bowel movement puts real pressure on the pelvic floor. Take the prescribed stool softener every day for as long as you are taking pain medication.

When to call the office

Contact us immediately if you experience:

• Inability to urinate — a full bladder you cannot empty

• Fever over 101.5°F

• Spreading redness, significant warmth, or foul-smelling pus from the incision

• Bright red blood continuously soaking through the bandage or dripping. Small spotting on the bandage is normal.

• Pain your prescribed medication does not relieve