Pictures of a vasectomy incision site

Home > Index of photographs > This page

The photographs below show the site of a vasectomy with a midline incision. The procedure was a conventional procedure with a scalpel. The doctor used hemoclips on the vas, and the bottom portion was left open.

Comment from Dr. Karpman who is our resident expert and answers questions in the Ask the Doctor section:-

"These pictures represent a single midline incision for a vasectomy. Compared to the two incision technique, the wound is much longer and appears to still be moist with fresh blood. It appears that two horizontal mattress sutures (equivalent to at least 4 simple sutures) were used to close the incision. The midline incision technique is associated with slightly more bruising because the incision is oftentimes carried through the scrotal septum which is rich with blood supply. However, some patients and physicians prefer this approach because the concept of a single incision (albeit many times larger than two separate incisions) is conceptually easier to accept for some patients.

click on the photo's for an enlarged image.

	This picture was taken the day of the operation. Note that no dressing has been applied to the wound. This is perfectly normal. There was only a small piece of gauze applied to the wound on Day 1, and after that the patient was instructed to leave the wound un-dressed.
	This picture was taken on day 4. Note the bruising at the base of the penis and top part of the left testicle. The doctor suggested that beginning on Day 3, the patient should take warm baths, as this would help any hematoma, and the stitches to be absorbed.

Many thanks to our contributor for submitting these pictures and allowing us to use them. If you are having a vasectomy, please consider the idea of taking some pictures during your recovery for us to post, as we feel that it will help men know what is, and isn't normal. We aren't looking for just extreme bruising and swelling picture as above, but also pictures of straightforward vasectomy with normal recovery. As with the above pictures, complete anonymity is guaranteed, and for the purposes of taste and decency, photo's will be edited to be shown in a clinical context. If you are happy to participate, please visit the section index page for photographer's tips and the email address to send your pictures to.

Thanks for viewing this page, and I hope you will consider joining the contributor above by submitting pictures you think will be of help to your fellow men!

Home > Index of photographs > This page