Circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes all or part of the foreskin, the skin fold covering the glans. Our private clinic at the heart of London (South Kensington, Knightsbridge), we offer circumcision in a strictly medical setting, for babies, children and adults, whether the decision is driven by a medical indication, a religious tradition or a personal choice.
We have partnered with a specialist surgeon, recognised for his expertise across more than 4,000 procedures a year and listed on the GMC Specialist Register, who operates directly at our Kensington clinic. This allows us to offer a surgical technique that is safe, precise and aesthetically optimal: the procedure is performed under general anaesthetic, with fine absorbable sutures, no ring and no post-operative bandage.
Medical, religious and personal: every reason respected
Families and adults come to the Kensington International Clinic for circumcision in very different circumstances, and we welcome each motivation with the same medical rigour and discretion.
- For some patients, the indication is strictly medical: tight phimosis, recurrent balanitis, paraphimosis, urinary discomfort linked to a narrow foreskin, or persistent hygiene difficulties that no longer respond to conservative treatment.
- For others, the procedure carries deep religious meaning, particularly within Muslim (khitan) and Jewish (brit milah) traditions, and across other faith communities present in London.
- Many parents choose circumcision as a cultural practice passed down across generations, while a number of adult patients request it for personal reasons such as aesthetic preference, comfort or hygiene.
Whatever has brought you to us, you will find a calm medical environment, a specialist circumcision surgeon, and a team familiar with London’s international families, French, Arabic, Hebrew and English-speaking patients alike.
Booking will only be done through the reception, not online. Areas covered for Home Visits : Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. For other locations, please ask a quotation to the receptionists. Full payment is required at the time of booking for Home Visits.
Booking info:
A prepayment of £70 will be asked at the moment you book the appointment, the remaining will need to be settled on the day of your consultation
Cancellation Policy:
More than 72h before the consultation: Fully refunded
In between 72h & 48h: £70 prepayment will be kept
Less than 48h: Consultation fully charged
Surgery on site at our Kensington clinic
All procedures are performed in our fully equipped operating room at the heart of London, on the same site as your preliminary consultation. There is no need to travel to a separate hospital, an important consideration for families with very young children and for international patients staying in London specifically for the procedure.
This continuity of care, from the first consultation to the post-operative review, is delivered by the same medical team, in the same environment, throughout the patient pathway.
Baby and child circumcision in London
More than 80% of the circumcisions carried out through our partnership concern babies and young children. The procedure is designed to be as safe and comfortable as possible for the child, with a surgical protocol specifically adapted to this age group.
Why choose circumcision in childhood?
- Healing is typically faster in young children
- Conscious memory of the procedure is absent or very limited
- The procedure fits naturally into the family’s paediatric care journey
- For families wishing a religious circumcision, timing can be coordinated with ritual observance
Recommended age for the procedure: there is no single ideal age. The surgeon assesses each child during the preliminary consultation to determine the optimal timing, based on development, general health and the family’s wishes.
Family support: parents and accompanying carers are involved at every stage. The preliminary consultation explains the procedure in full, answers every question, addresses concerns and establishes a personalised protocol.
Adult circumcision : medical indications and personal choice
Around 20% of procedures performed through this pathway concern adult patients. The reasons are varied, sometimes medical, sometimes personal, often a combination of both.
Common medical indications in adults:
- Phimosis: a foreskin too tight to retract, which can cause pain, discomfort during intercourse and infections
- Chronic balanitis: recurrent inflammation of the glans and foreskin
- Paraphimosis: foreskin stuck behind the glans, a urological emergency to be prevented
- Short frenulum: repeated tearing, which may justify an associated frenuloplasty
- Hygiene or comfort: difficulty with retraction making daily hygiene difficult
Personal or cultural choice: an adult may also choose circumcision for personal reasons, aesthetic considerations, comfort, religious motivations (including following a conversion) or on preventive medical advice.
Preliminary consultation: the adult patient has a dedicated consultation with the surgeon, who examines, explains the surgical options, outlines the expected benefits and risks, and answers every question before any decision is made.
General anaesthetic: a pain-free procedure, an optimal result
This is one of the core differentiators of our pathway: every circumcision is performed under general anaesthetic, in a fully equipped and safe surgical environment.
Why this approach?
- No pain during the procedure: neither the child nor the adult feels anything
- Complete stillness of the patient: the surgeon operates in optimal conditions, which allows maximum precision and the finest possible scar
- Complementary local anaesthetic post-operatively: the area remains numb for 4 to 6 hours after the procedure, covering the most sensitive window after waking
- No conscious trauma for babies and young children
- No physical restraint: no holding or immobilisation of the patient during the procedure, unlike circumcisions performed without anaesthetic or under local anaesthetic alone
Anaesthesia is delivered by a specialist anaesthetist, with a systematic preliminary assessment (interview, review, medical history check). The protocol is tailored to the age and weight of the patient.
Religious and cultural circumcision in London: a respectful welcome
The KIC welcomes families from all religious and cultural traditions. The surgical procedure itself is performed in a rigorous medical framework, but we fully acknowledge the importance of the religious or cultural context for many London families.
Communities we welcome:
- Muslim tradition (ritual circumcision, khitan)
- Jewish tradition (brit milah, bris)
- Families of every origin: American, Arab, African, Filipino, and any other community for whom circumcision is a family practice
- Any family with no specific religious or cultural affiliation
Our commitment: the procedure itself is exclusively medical, carried out by a qualified surgeon in a secure operating environment. We do not take part in religious ceremonies themselves, which remain the domain of families and their own religious authorities. We are, however, happy to coordinate the timing of the procedure to align with family traditions where this is possible.
Multilingual team: our consultations are available in French and English. We have a long tradition of welcoming London’s French community, as well as other international communities, depending on the languages spoken by the practitioners available.
What happens during a circumcision: step by step
1. Preliminary consultation (mandatory)
Appointment with the surgeon ahead of the procedure: clinical examination, discussion of motivations, full information on the procedure, expected benefits and possible risks, medical history review, informed consent. For a minor, both parents are invited to attend where possible.
2. Pre-operative work-up
Blood test where indicated, pre-anaesthetic assessment, pre-operative instructions (fasting, medications to pause, hygiene on the day before the procedure).
3. The procedure
Arrival at our on-site operating room, positioning, induction of general anaesthesia by the anaesthetist, surgical procedure performed by our partner surgeon. No ring, no Plastibell-type clamp is used: the technique relies on precise scalpel excision and very fine absorbable sutures.
The procedure itself lasts between 20 and 30 minutes.
4. Recovery and immediate post-op monitoring
The patient is monitored in the recovery room until vital signs are stable and anaesthesia has worn off. A complementary local anaesthetic is applied to keep the area numb for a further 4 to 6 hours.
5. Same-day discharge
Circumcision is performed as a day case. The patient returns home the same day with detailed instructions and a prescription for managing the mild post-operative discomfort.
Aftercare and healing: what to expect
The aftermath of a well-performed circumcision is usually straightforward. Good management of the early days largely determines the final quality of healing.
The first 24 hours:
- Numb area for 4 to 6 hours thanks to the complementary local anaesthetic
- Moderate pain may appear at the end of this window, covered by the prescribed pain relief
- Small amounts of bleeding may occur in the first hours
- Rest is important for the child or adult
- Normal eating can resume on returning home
The first 7 to 10 days:
- Moderate swelling and redness, normal and expected
- Decreasing local tenderness
- Simple wound care following the detailed instructions provided
- No baths; showers are permitted from the following day
- No intense physical activity for adults
- Soft, loose underwear is recommended
Until full healing (4 to 6 weeks):
- Gradual and natural fall of the absorbable sutures
- Progressive reduction of swelling
- Fine, discreet and well-positioned scar, thanks to the surgical technique
- Adults may resume sexual activity 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure, following the surgeon’s advice
Follow-up consultation: a post-operative review is offered to confirm correct healing and answer any remaining questions.
Circumcision revision and scar correction
Our partner surgeon is recognised for his expertise in surgical revision of circumcisions that have healed poorly, look asymmetrical, or have left an unsatisfactory aesthetic or functional result.
A circumcision revision may be considered for:
- Hypertrophic, irregular or unsightly scar
- Visible asymmetry in the original result
- Excess or insufficient skin removed
- Consequences of a post-operative complication from a previous circumcision
- Residual functional discomfort (tightness, traction during erection in adults)
Each case is assessed individually during a dedicated consultation. Revision is technically more complex than a primary circumcision and requires the involvement of an experienced surgeon.
Circumcision costs in London
The Kensington International Clinic publishes its fees transparently. Our price point places the procedure competitively within the London private surgical market.
Treatment | Fee |
|---|---|
Baby circumcision, under 12 months
| From £700
|
Child circumcision, 1 to 3 years
| From £990
|
Child circumcision, 3 years and older
| From £1,990
|
Child circumcision, complex case or revision
| From £2,490
|
Adult circumcision under general anaesthetic
| From £2,800
|
Adult circumcision, complex case or revision
| From £2,990
|
Post-operative follow-up consultation
| Included
|
What the all-inclusive fee covers:
- Preliminary consultation with the surgeon
- Operating room fees
- Surgeon’s fees
- Anaesthetist’s fees
- General and complementary local anaesthesia
- Absorbable sutures
- Post-operative follow-up consultation
Booking terms: a prepayment is required at the time of booking, with the balance settled on the day of the procedure.
Cancellation policy:
- More than 72 hours in advance: full refund (excluding any administrative fees)
- Between 48 and 72 hours: prepayment retained
- Less than 48 hours: procedure charged in full, unless a duly justified medical reason applies
Some international health insurance policies (BUPA, AXA PPP, Allianz, Cigna, Vitality among others) cover part of the cost of circumcision where the indication is medical. We are happy to assist with the claim process where your indication allows.
Book a circumcision consultation
The Kensington International Clinic is located at 2 North Terrace, London SW3 2BA, a 6-minute walk from South Kensington station and 8 minutes from Knightsbridge. Our preliminary consultations are available in French and English, and our team welcomes London-based and international families alike.
To arrange a preliminary consultation with the surgeon, please contact us:
- Phone: 020 7589 9321
- Email: contact@lamaisonmedicale.co.uk
- Online: booking system available on the website
Questions & Answers
What is the right age to circumcise a baby ?
There is no single optimal age.
The surgeon assesses each child during the consultation, taking into account development, overall health and family preferences. Many families choose to proceed during the first months of life, while others wait longer; both approaches are medically valid.
Is circumcision painful?
No, during the procedure the patient feels nothing thanks to general anaesthesia.
A complementary local anaesthetic then covers the immediate post-operative period (4 to 6 hours). In the following days, moderate discomfort may occur but is fully covered by the prescribed pain relief.
How long does healing take?
Full healing usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.
Signs of discomfort decrease quickly within the first week. Absorbable sutures fall away naturally without the need for removal.
Can circumcision be performed in adulthood?
Yes, adult circumcision is a commonly performed procedure, whether for medical reasons (phimosis, balanitis) or personal reasons.
It is carried out under general anaesthetic, with a recovery period of 4 to 6 weeks before sexual activity may resume.
Which technique do you use?
A surgical technique with no ring and no clamp (no Plastibell, no Gomco, no Mogen), with very fine absorbable sutures. This approach delivers a more discreet scar and an optimal aesthetic result.
Does circumcision affect sexual sensitivity?
The scientific evidence on this question is mixed and remains debated within the medical literature. Most recent studies show no significant impact on sexual function or satisfaction. Your surgeon can discuss this with you in consultation.
Is circumcision reversible?
Circumcision is a permanent procedure.
Foreskin reconstruction techniques exist but are complex and cannot fully restore the original anatomy. This is why we place strong emphasis on a well-informed decision during the preliminary consultation.
