마지막 업데이트: 8월 15, 2026

Roughly 30% of men worldwide have been circumcised. If you have decided to have it done, the next question is which technique — and they are not interchangeable. This article sets out the four in standard use, with the honest advantages and drawbacks of each. (The medical benefits of circumcision are covered separately.)

Patients weigh up two things after surgery, and it is worth naming both. The first is medical: bleeding, haematoma, and — very rarely — serious injury. The second is cosmetic, and there is nothing frivolous about it: how the result looks matters to how a man feels about his own body afterwards. A technique that scores well on one of these does not automatically score well on the other, which is the whole reason this choice exists.

1. Sleeve resection (WHO-recommended)

Diagram of the sleeve resection circumcision technique
Sleeve resection method. Reference: WHO 2009 manual on male circumcision.

The name comes from tailoring: think of the foreskin as a sleeve and the shaft as the arm inside it — the sleeve is removed cleanly from the arm. It demands the most surgical skill of the four, needs electrocautery, and is better suited to a hospital theatre than a clinic room.

Illustration comparing the sleeve technique to removing a sleeve from an arm
The technique is named for the way a sleeve comes off an arm.

Advantages — the best cosmetic result of the four, with well-controlled bleeding.

Drawbacks — the most technically demanding, needs an assistant, and takes the longest.

2. 일회용 포경 스테이플러

A disposable circumcision stapler device
The disposable circumcision stapler — the newest of the four techniques.

A newer approach using a single-use device. The claimed strengths are shorter operating time, less blood loss and fewer postoperative complications.

Advantages — the shortest operating time, least blood loss, and less demanding technically.

Drawbacks — patient selection matters more than with any other technique. It is not appropriate where there is infection risk, thickened foreskin needs careful assessment beforehand, the device has to be removed at a follow-up visit, and it costs more.

3. Forceps-guided method (WHO-recommended)

Diagram of the forceps-guided circumcision technique
Forceps-guided method. Reference: WHO 2009 manual on male circumcision.

A straightforward step-by-step procedure that can be learned relatively quickly, and can be performed in a clinic with limited resources — which is exactly why the WHO includes it.

Advantages — simple technique, no electrocautery required.

Drawbacks — more prone to bleeding, and the cosmetic result is a compromise.

4. Dorsal slit method (WHO-recommended)

Diagram of the dorsal slit circumcision technique
Dorsal slit method. Reference: WHO 2009 manual on male circumcision.

More demanding than the forceps-guided method, and widely used around the world.

Advantages — a better cosmetic result than the forceps-guided method.

Drawbacks — carries a risk of removing too much skin, and needs greater surgical skill.

Risks that apply whichever technique is used

Circumcision is a safe operation, but it is still an operation. Some swelling, bruising and discomfort for a week or two is normal and expected. What is not normal, and should bring you back rather than wait for the routine appointment, is bleeding that soaks through a dressing or does not stop with gentle pressure, spreading redness, discharge or fever, pain that is getting worse rather than better after the first few days, or difficulty passing urine. With the stapler, the device is removed at a scheduled visit — do not attempt to remove any part of it yourself, and go back sooner if a staple works loose or the ring becomes tight and painful.

So which one should you have?

There is no single best technique, only the one that best fits your anatomy, your priorities and the setting you are being treated in. Two questions settle most of it: how much does the cosmetic result matter to you, and is there anything about your foreskin — thickening, scarring, active infection — that rules an option out? Ask which technique your surgeon performs most often, too; an experienced pair of hands on a simpler method usually beats an unfamiliar one on a more sophisticated method.

For what to expect afterwards, see the post-circumcision instructions.

할례를 고려하고 있으며 자신에게 가장 적합한 수술 기법에 대해 논의하고 싶다면, Soarawee Weerasopone 박사가 방콕 병원 본부에서 전문적인 상담을 제공합니다. 진료 예약. 사미즈 시라차 병원 예약은 비뇨기과로 전화하여 하실 수 있습니다. 088-022-1445.

Bangkok Hospital also runs a Telemedicine service, which is a sensible first step for patients travelling from abroad: the general discussion about whether to proceed and what the techniques involve can be had by video, and the examination that decides which technique actually suits your foreskin is then done on the day. Arrange it in advance by email to the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th. Samitivej Sriracha is in-person only.

할례 시술에 대한 자주 묻는 질문

주요 포경 수술 기법은 다음과 같습니다.

널리 승인된 네 가지 포경 수술 방법은 슬리브 절제술, 일회용 포경 스테이플러, 겸자 유도법, 등쪽 절개법입니다. 각각은 수술 기술, 수술 시간 및 미용 결과 측면에서 다른 요구 사항을 가지고 있습니다. WHO는 슬리브 절제술, 겸자 유도법, 등쪽 절개법을 표준 방법으로 권장합니다.

어떤 포경수술 기법이 가장 미용적으로 우수한 결과를 제공하나요?

소매 절제술은 미용적 결과에 있어 표준으로 간주됩니다. 이는 가장 정확하고 대칭적인 포피 조직 제거를 제공하며 출혈 조절도 우수합니다. 그러나 최상의 수술 기술을 필요로 하며 전기 소작 장비가 갖추어진 병원에서 수행하는 것이 가장 좋습니다.

할례 스테이플러가 좋은 선택인가요?

일회용 포경 수술 스테이플러는 수술 시간을 단축하고 출혈량을 줄이며 기술 요구 사항을 단순화하는 새로운 기술입니다. 신중하게 선택된 환자에게 좋은 선택이 될 수 있습니다. 그러나 모든 경우에 적합한 것은 아닙니다. 포피가 두꺼운 환자, 활동성 감염이 있거나 특정 해부학적 변이가 있는 환자는 이상적인 후보가 아닐 수 있으며, 수술 후 스테이플러를 제거해야 합니다.

할례 수술은 얼마나 걸립니까?

Operative time varies by technique. The disposable stapler method is the quickest of the four, the forceps-guided and dorsal slit methods take a moderate amount of time, and the sleeve resection method takes the longest because of its technical complexity. Exact times depend on the individual case and the surgeon, so ask for a realistic estimate at your consultation. All techniques are performed under local anesthesia in most adult patients.

어떤 할례 기법을 선택해야 할까요?

가장 적합한 수술법은 환자의 해부학적 구조, 의사의 경험, 임상 환경, 환자의 우선순위(미용 결과 대 회복 속도) 등 여러 요인에 따라 달라집니다. 숙련된 비뇨의학과 의사와의 상담을 통해 자신에게 가장 적합한 수술법을 평가하는 것이 가장 좋습니다.

What problems after circumcision mean I should be seen sooner?

Swelling, bruising and discomfort for a week or two are expected. Return promptly for bleeding that soaks through a dressing or will not stop with gentle pressure, spreading redness, discharge or fever, pain that worsens rather than settles after the first few days, or difficulty passing urine. If a stapler was used, do not try to remove any part of the device yourself – it is removed at a scheduled follow-up visit.

고지 사항: This content is written and reviewed by Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, a board-certified urologist at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. It is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Which technique suits a particular man can only be decided after examination. No medical advice, diagnosis or prescription is provided through personal messaging channels. Bleeding that will not stop after circumcision needs urgent assessment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any medical treatment.

의학적으로 작성 및 검토됨: 소아라위 위라소폰 박사(폼 박사) - 방콕 병원 본부 소속 비뇨기과 전문의, 2016년부터 비뇨기과 진료 중. 펠로우십: 로봇 수술, 창궁 기념 병원, 대만(2019) · 참관: 내시경 비뇨기과, 준텐도 대학 병원, 도쿄(2022) · 연구원 및 임상 참관: 베일러 의과대학 스콧 비뇨기과, 미국(2025~2026).

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