Hydrocele surgery (a hydrocelectomy) is usually an outpatient operation that takes less than an hour. Most people are moving around within a couple of days and back at a desk job in five to seven days. The scrotum stays swollen longer than people expect. Cleveland Clinic says it can take a few weeks to a month to shrink back to its usual size. Ice for the first 24 to 48 hours, wear scrotal support for one to two weeks, and skip heavy lifting for two to four weeks.
The short version
- Plan on ice for the first 24 to 48 hours and scrotal support for one to two weeks, day and night at first.
- Most people return to desk work in five to seven days. Physical jobs can take up to two weeks.
- Swelling and bruising are normal for days to a couple of weeks. The scrotum may take up to a month to return to its usual size.
- Avoid heavy lifting for two to four weeks, and running, swimming and sex for about two weeks, unless your surgeon says otherwise.
- Call your surgeon for swelling that keeps growing, a fever, heavy bleeding or pain your medicine doesn’t touch.
What happens during a hydrocelectomy?
A hydrocele is a fluid-filled sac around a testicle. Most are harmless, and many are left alone. Surgery comes up when one gets big or uncomfortable enough to bother you.
In adults, the surgeon usually makes a small cut in the scrotum, drains the fluid and removes part or all of the sac (MedlinePlus: Hydrocele repair). Cleveland Clinic adds that the surgeon may turn the remaining lining inside out to lower the chance of the hydrocele coming back, and often leaves a small silicone drain that comes out a day or two later. The operation is done under general anesthesia and usually takes less than an hour (Cleveland Clinic: Hydrocelectomy).
You’ll usually go home a few hours after surgery. MedlinePlus notes that draining the fluid with a needle alone isn’t done often, because the fluid usually comes back.
What does recovery look like day by day?
Every surgeon’s sheet is a little different. Two of the more detailed patient guides, from Cleveland Clinic and UW Health (UW Health: Hydrocele repair), line up like this.
| When | What to expect (source) |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery | Home a few hours after the operation (MedlinePlus) |
| First 24 to 48 hours | Ice regularly. Shower after 24 hours and pat the area dry. (UW Health, Cleveland Clinic) |
| Days 1 to 2 | The drain, if you have one, usually comes out (Cleveland Clinic) |
| Day 2 | Most people are back to light everyday activity (Cleveland Clinic) |
| Days 5 to 7 | Back to work or school for most desk jobs (Cleveland Clinic) |
| About 1 week | Follow-up visit for stitches or drain, if needed (Cleveland Clinic) |
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Scrotal support all day, then as needed (Cleveland Clinic, UW Health) |
| Up to 2 weeks | Back to physically demanding jobs (Cleveland Clinic) |
| Weeks 2 to 4 | No heavy lifting. UW Health says nothing over 10 pounds for 3 weeks. (Cleveland Clinic, UW Health) |
| Up to a month | The area can stay tender and the scrotum can stay larger than usual (UW Health, Cleveland Clinic) |
Swelling and bruising are the part people underestimate. UW Health says to expect them for several days and up to a couple of weeks. Cleveland Clinic says the scrotum may take a few weeks to a month to recoil to its usual size. So a scrotum that still looks swollen a week after surgery is expected. One that keeps getting bigger is not, and that’s a call to your surgeon.
How should you ice after hydrocele surgery?
Ice for at least the first 24 hours, according to Cleveland Clinic. UW Health suggests the first 24 to 48 hours, then as needed for comfort.
The sources disagree slightly on session length. UW Health allows 20 to 30 minutes on and 20 to 30 minutes off. We stick to 20 minutes as a ceiling, for the reasons in our frostbite warning. Scrotal skin is thin and chills fast.
Put the pack where the swelling is. After a hydrocelectomy that’s the scrotum itself, so aim the pack under and around it rather than on top of the penis. Pointing the penis up toward your belly first leaves room for the pack to sit lower.
Keep fabric between the pack and your skin every time: a recovery pouch, thin underwear or a dish towel. And plan on four packs, so one cools you while the others refreeze. Customers who bought a second set told us four was the number that worked.
Frozen peas work in a pinch. They’re harder to keep under a swollen scrotum, which is the job a shaped pack in a support pouch is built for.
Which scrotal support works best after hydrocele surgery?
The sources agree you need it. They differ on how long. Cleveland Clinic says briefs or a jockstrap may be recommended for up to a week, worn all day, including while you sleep, to support the scrotum and reduce swelling. UW Health says to wear a scrotal support at all times for the first two weeks, then as needed.
A jockstrap lifts higher and holds tighter, which helps when swelling is at its worst. Snug briefs are easier to live in and to sleep in.
Customers who used our products for a hydrocele left useful notes. One said the ice pocket on our briefs sat too high for him and the pack rested on top instead of underneath. Another, who wore our recovery jockstrap after a hydrocelectomy, recommended it for any scrotal procedure. A third said the briefs run small and wished he’d sized up, which makes sense when the scrotum is swollen. Our sizing guide covers what to do if you’re between sizes.
We built these products for vasectomy recovery. Ask your surgeon before using them after anything else.
Can a hydrocele come back after surgery?
It can. Cleveland Clinic says a hydrocele can return even after a successful hydrocelectomy, though it doesn’t give a rate. Removing or turning out the sac is meant to lower that risk. It’s also why needle drainage alone isn’t done often: MedlinePlus says the fluid usually comes back.
If you notice a slow, painless swelling building up again weeks or months later, mention it at a follow-up. It’s not an emergency.
What should you do if the swelling gets bigger instead of smaller?
Call your surgeon. UW Health lists increased scrotal swelling as a reason to call. Bleeding into the scrotum after surgery, called a hematoma, is one of the known risks Cleveland Clinic lists. It tends to show up as swelling that grows fast, with deep bruising and pain. Our page on hematoceles explains how a blood collection differs from the clear fluid of a hydrocele.
Until you hear back, lie down with the scrotum resting on a folded towel, which Mayo Clinic suggests for testicle pain in general (Mayo Clinic: Testicle pain). Keep the support on and keep icing in 20-minute sessions.
When should you call your doctor?
Contact your surgeon right away for any of these. The list combines Cleveland Clinic’s and UW Health’s guidance:
- Heavy bleeding, or bleeding that soaks the dressing within an hour
- A fever of 100°F (38°C) or higher (UW Health uses 100.5°F on two readings four hours apart)
- Redness, warmth or pus-like drainage at the incision
- Skin that turns red, purple, brown or black
- Pain or swelling that gets much worse, or pain your medicine doesn’t relieve
Your surgeon’s discharge sheet is the final word. It’s written for your operation.
FAQ
How long does swelling last after hydrocele surgery? UW Health says to expect swelling and bruising for several days and up to a couple of weeks. Cleveland Clinic says the scrotum can take a few weeks to a month to shrink back to its usual size. Swelling that keeps growing needs a call to your surgeon.
How long should you wear a jockstrap after a hydrocelectomy? Cleveland Clinic says briefs or a jockstrap may be recommended for up to a week, worn all day and while sleeping. UW Health says to wear scrotal support at all times for the first two weeks, then as needed. Follow whatever your surgeon specifies.
How long should you ice after hydrocele surgery? At least the first 24 hours, according to Cleveland Clinic, and up to 48 hours according to UW Health, then as needed. Keep fabric between the pack and your skin and limit each session to about 20 minutes.
When can you go back to work after a hydrocelectomy? Cleveland Clinic says most people return to work or school after five to seven days, or up to two weeks for physically demanding jobs. Heavy lifting should wait two to four weeks.
When can you have sex after hydrocele surgery? Sources differ. Cleveland Clinic says to avoid sexual activity, including masturbation, for at least two weeks. UW Health says five days. Ask your surgeon which applies to you, and wait at least until the incision has healed.
Can you shower after a hydrocelectomy? Yes. UW Health says you can shower after 24 hours and should pat the area dry rather than rub it. Avoid soaking in a bath, pool or hot tub until the incision heals; UW Health says about five days.
Is it normal for the scrotum to look bigger after hydrocele surgery? Yes, for a while. Cleveland Clinic says it can take a few weeks to a month for the scrotum to recoil to its usual size. What isn’t normal is swelling that keeps growing, especially with pain, bruising or fever.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Hydrocelectomy
- UW Health: Hydrocele repair (adult)
- MedlinePlus: Hydrocele repair
- Mayo Clinic: Testicle pain, causes and when to see a doctor
For other reasons people use scrotal support and ice, see our scrotal support guide.
Editorial and informational. Not medical advice. Read the full disclaimer.
