Circumcision involves the removal of the foreskin of the penis. The foreskin is the shroud of skin that can be gently pulled back to uncover the head of the penis. The surgery is relatively simple. The foreskin is freed from the head of the penis and, in a child, it is clipped off, in a procedure taking 5 to 10 minutes in total. In adults, it is removed with a scalpel, and it takes around 1 hour.