Whether it is your child or you heading into surgery, the recovery period can feel like the most uncertain part. What will the dressing look like? How does the catheter work? Is this amount of swelling normal? When can life go back to normal?

This guide gives a high-level overview. Your surgeon's instructions always come first—techniques, dressings, and timelines vary a lot between procedures and surgical teams. Use this page to understand the general shape of recovery and to prepare questions, not to replace the plan you are given.

Before You Leave the Hospital

Many hypospadias repairs—especially in children—are done as day surgery or with a short stay. Before you leave, make sure you know:

• How to care for the dressing and when it comes off.
• How the catheter or stent works and what to do if it stops draining or falls out.
• Which pain medicines to use, how often, and in what doses.
• Whether antibiotics or bladder-spasm medicines were prescribed.
• Bathing rules.
• Activity limits.
• Who to call, including after hours and weekends.
• When your follow-up appointment is.

Write it down or ask for a printed sheet. Tired, worried brains forget things.

Catheters and Stents

Many repairs use a thin tube through the new urethra into the bladder (a catheter) or a short tube that lets urine drip out (a stent). It protects the repair while it heals and lets urine drain without stressing the new tissue.

For children

• Urine often drips into a double nappy/diaper: the tube drains into the outer diaper while the inner one protects the dressing. Your team will show you how.
• Older children may have a drainage bag strapped to the leg.
• Keep the tube free of kinks and avoid pulling on it.

For adults

• You will usually have a leg bag during the day and a larger bag at night.
• Keep the bag below bladder level so urine drains properly.
• Secure the tube to your thigh to reduce tugging.
• Wash hands before and after handling the catheter or bag.

Bladder spasms

Bladder spasms—sudden cramping or urgent feelings, sometimes with urine leaking around the tube—are common with catheters. They can be uncomfortable but are usually not dangerous. Your surgeon may prescribe medicine to help. Tell your team if they are severe.

How long the tube stays in depends on the repair—commonly days to a couple of weeks. Removal is usually quick and done at the clinic or, sometimes, at home according to instructions.

A General Timeline

Every repair is different, but recovery often follows a pattern like this:

The first few days

• Swelling and bruising are normal and may look alarming. The penis may look very different from the final result.
• Pain is usually managed with prescribed or over-the-counter medicines as directed.
• Rest is important. For children, quiet play; for adults, mostly lying down or sitting comfortably.

The first one to two weeks

• The dressing and catheter are often removed in this window.
• After catheter removal, the first few pees may sting, and the stream may spray or look unusual while swelling settles.
• Swelling slowly improves.

The first few weeks to months

• Swelling continues to go down; final appearance may take several months to settle.
• Activity is gradually increased as your surgeon allows.
• Follow-up visits check the stream and healing.

Long term

• Some complications, such as strictures, can appear months or even years later—including around puberty in children. Watching for changes in the stream is a lifelong good habit.

Pain and Comfort

• Use pain relief as directed, ideally on a schedule in the first days rather than waiting for pain to peak.
• Loose clothing helps. Some adults find snug supportive underwear more comfortable; others prefer loose boxers. Follow your team's advice.
• Avoid constipation—straining can be painful and stress the area. Fluids and fibre help; ask about a stool softener.
• For children, distraction—films, books, quiet games—works wonders.

Bathing and Hygiene

Instructions differ widely. Some surgeons allow shallow baths after a few days to help loosen dressings; others ask you to keep the area dry until the dressing comes off. Follow your specific instructions, gently pat dry, and avoid applying creams unless they have been recommended.

Erections During Recovery (Adults and Teens)

Erections—especially night-time ones—can be painful after surgery and may stress the repair. Your surgeon may suggest strategies or medicines to reduce them in the early weeks. Emptying your bladder before sleep and avoiding sexual stimulation can help. Expect a pause on sexual activity, including masturbation, for the period your surgeon specifies—often several weeks. Ask before resuming.

When you do resume, go gently, use lubrication, and stop if anything hurts. Our sexual health guide covers sensation and comfort after repair.

Activity, School, and Work

• Children are often back at nursery or school after one to two weeks, but straddle toys, bikes, and rough play may need to wait longer.
• Adults may need anything from a week to several weeks off work depending on the job and procedure.
• Avoid heavy lifting, cycling, straddling, swimming, and contact sports until cleared.

Warning Signs: When to Call

Call your surgical team promptly—or seek urgent care if you cannot reach them—if you notice:

• Fever (your team will tell you what temperature to act on).
• No urine draining from the catheter for more than a short time, or a child who has not passed urine for several hours, especially with a swollen, painful belly.
• The catheter or stent falls out earlier than planned.
• Bleeding that soaks through the dressing or does not stop with gentle pressure.
• Spreading redness, warmth, pus, or foul smell.
• The skin turning dark, black, or very pale.
• Severe pain not controlled by prescribed medicines.
• Vomiting that prevents taking fluids or medicine.

After healing, contact a clinician if you notice:

• Urine coming from a second opening (possible fistula).
• A thin, weak, slow, or spraying stream, or straining (possible stricture or meatal narrowing).
• A balloon-like swelling under the penis when urinating (possible diverticulum).
• Recurring urinary tract infections.
• New or returning curvature.

These are explained in Complications & Revision. Many are fixable, sometimes with a further operation—see Adult Revision Surgery.

For Parents: Supporting Your Child

• Children pick up on your emotions. Calm, simple explanations help: "The doctor fixed where your pee comes out. The tube helps it heal."
• Use age-appropriate words, including correct anatomical terms.
• Let your child know it is okay to feel scared or sore, and that you are there.
• Look after yourself too—recovery is tiring for caregivers.

As your child grows, telling them about their surgery—in an open, shame-free way—helps them understand their body. See For Parents and Parents Deciding.

For Adults: The Emotional Side

Adult recovery can stir up feelings—frustration with restrictions, worry about the result, or memories of childhood surgery. Swelling can make the penis look worse before it looks better, which can be distressing. Give it time, keep follow-up appointments, and reach out for support if your mood dips. Our mental health guide may help.

Questions to Ask Before Surgery

• Will there be a catheter or stent? For how long?
• What will the dressing be like, and who removes it?
• What pain relief and other medicines will I (or my child) need?
• When can we bathe, return to school or work, and resume sports or sex?
• What swelling and appearance changes are normal?
• Which symptoms mean I should call you, and how do I reach you after hours?
• What long-term follow-up do you recommend?

Setting Up Home for Recovery

• Stock up on loose clothing, extra diapers or pads if advised, and simple meals.
• Keep prescribed medicines, a thermometer, and your team's phone number in one place.
• Plan quiet entertainment—books, films, games.
• For adults, arrange help with errands, childcare, or pets for the first days if you can.
• For children, have a comfortable spot near you so you can check the catheter easily.

Why Follow-Up Matters

Follow-up appointments are not just routine. They let your surgeon confirm that the stream is healthy, the repair has healed, and no early complications are developing. For children, some teams recommend checking in again around puberty, when growth can reveal problems. For adults, especially after stricture repair, follow-up may continue for longer. If you move or change doctors, take a copy of your surgical records with you.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for the specific instructions from your surgical team.