Circumcision ”styles”

I am really struggling to understand the pre-occupation of some guys who, after they have been circumcised, are desperate to give a name to how that operation has been done. It is clearly not a medical issue and men are notoriously reticent to talk to other people about “personal” health issues. So is this something to be bandied about in online personal ads? Is it something to be discussed with possible future partners? Or is it some sort of circumcision club speak? I ask this against the background of guys asking about that topic when often their posts clearly show that they are not even knowledgeable of the names for parts of their penises!

[ermm]

I think it’s normal to be curious about what particular style a person may have received if they weren’t offered any styles apon their surgery.

It’s also quite easy for questions and discussions to naturally veer off into more specific or personal questions sometimes, due the nature of the procedure (I understand there are strict rules on what we can post and discuss on here)

This is by far the best community space online I’ve found to ask questions learn and share with others who are in a similar experience, so people can just get a little carried away since the site can be a great source of info at times

[BryceD123 in reply to ermm]

I agree with this. Although they may not have a physical problem they might have mental troubles due to a "penis promblem" in their eyes which can trouble people mentally, if this forum can help both I see that as a a positive. I myself have found this forum very reassuring knowing I'm not the only one with questions afterwards and to hear similar experiences

[ermm in reply to BryceD123]

You’re totally right there, mental health plays a big part in it especially as men, it’s widely known that we are less likely to talk/seek help and I think this forum creates a safe space for a lot of men to do that.

Like yourself i’ve found this forum super reassuring too, i've learned so much and it’s helped with my decision to get the procedure in the near future

[Hidden]

A doctor or a clinic is a far safer place than the internet! Strangely, I raised the issue of mental health and circumcision some while ago and was left in no doubt that the members did not agree with that. Apparently the opposite view is now held.

This forum is for men’s penis health and not for their mental health. This is not the forum for mental health issues. Thanks guys for making it clear on this occasion that cosmetic issues are mental health issues. That was very helpful. Take care

[ermm in reply to Hidden]

Yes you’re right a doctor or clinic is safer but that doesn’t necessarily mean a person will contact or admit themselves to one right away.

Sometimes people may come to online spaces like this if they lack confidence or have anxieties around that, if we can give them a space to comfortably come forward and share dialogue, we can then advise them to seek further professional help (doctor, therapy etc)

having that initial contact on a platform like this can make a big difference for some people and I feel it would be silly to turn away those who are at risk when really all they are looking for is a little guidance and reassurance.

[Hidden in reply to ermm]

I think a number of people are missing the point. This forum is for penis health issues. I suspect that to want to know what style of circumcision a guy has *after*his circumcision is neither a penis health issue nor a mental health issue.

[BryceD123 in reply to Hidden]

Circumcision styles only seem to be discussed in a private medical scene, I myself had never knew about it before and even when I did hear about it there's little to no info to explore further. It was this forum which helped me educate myself on the topic. My GP, urologist or surgeon in public health are never once mentioned this and I feel that this is a case on a large scale or loads of men wouldn't be asking. That's why I think there is an influx of people asking so as they weren't made aware beforehand. Most of us can't afford private care so we are putting our trust in the "specialists" who aren't even aware of the topic. We need more awareness and to be able to talk about a life changing subject imo. Just my opinion

[Hidden in reply to BryceD123]

Thanks for that but the question still remains: “what health benefit is conferred by giving the style a name *after* the operation?”

[BryceD123 in reply to Hidden]

The more questions answered means they can do more research and understand it better, for example a certain style of cut might have lead to alot of sensitivity loss which can be a problem (leading to Ed, depression) but they don't know why. If they learn more about the cut style then the person has an answer and at least understand their issue. This and if they want to seek medical advice they can use the info going forward.

[Hidden in reply to BryceD123]

There is no evidence that any of the people fixating on style have any issue that would be resolved by giving their style of circumcision a name.

[BryceD123 in reply to Hidden]

The same way different circumcision methods have different names, they have a similar outcomes but have different ways of healing and appearance. With a name it is easier to gather more information. Knowing that I have a "high and tight" cut that allows me to go elsewhere and find further information

[Hidden in reply to BryceD123]

And what information would that enable you to obtain that you could not obtain any other way?

[BryceD123 in reply to Hidden]

I'm not here to argue over this, I've gave a very detailed response which seems to be shared by other group members. If it's not applicable to the forum make it a rule or compulsory I'm saying that in a forum its easier to talk and gain insightful information whether that be on "cut styles" or a health problem. In terms on what info I can find. Until you are circumcised or about to be, it's a very scary thing for any man no matter what age, so I feel that talking about it and anything to do with it is a good thing especially if it helps people. If people abuse this then put a stop to it.. But I personally don't see any harm in people asking.

[Hidden in reply to BryceD123]

Thank you. There will be no change of the rules that currently exist. Any posts that are not medical in nature, including cosmetic issues, will be deleted. No new rules are needed as all is covered under guidance that currently exists. A recent management video conference was extremely happy with the forum and encouraged its restriction to medical issues. I would hope that members would support that so that the forum can continue the health advice that a lot of people find extremely helpful. It would be sad to see a destruction of the forum for the non-health wants of a minority. Have a good day and stay safe and well.

[Gridlocked]

Hi, for some medical conditions, the removal of the affected area is important, for example the inner foreskin, which is more sensitive but also more susceptible for medical conditions. For this reason, men need to understand what is going to happen and why. The penis is the most private of our parts, and a significant part of our identity, so from a psychological point of view knowledge and being in control of the outcome as far as possible is important.

[Hidden]

Nobody is dealing with moral issues just penis health. I hope that we give people good support based on our own knowledge whilst acknowledging the pre-eminence of healthcare professionals.

[Gridlocked]

Having a circumcision is a very big step. Mostly it is required for medical reasons, sometimes for cosmetic reasons only, but there is an overlap. If you have to have a circumcision, or decide to have one, it is good to be informed of what is and isn't possible beforehand, contributing to informed consent. This can then be discussed with the doctor on the day of the operation, who should advise further about what is or isn't possible, given the medical condition or state of the penis. The reason that post-circumcision discussion is useful is that once the cut is made, there is no going back. I find the range of advice on here very helpful, although of course it is up to me as an individual to accept or reject it.

[Hidden in reply to Gridlocked]

Thanks for your considered contribution. Of course in the UK you will not often be given the possibility of discussion of styles in an NHS circumcision for medical reasons. After all the main aim is to get rid of the health care problem you have

Even in the private sector, where the cosmetic circumcisions take place, their is no need to be able to give a style name. Surely it is sufficient to know what you want rather than its name? If you really want you could show the surgeon a pic as you might to a hairdresser to obtain a particular type of haircut - you do not need to know what the cut is called. And of course, this forum is not the place to be discussing cosmetic circumcisions!

[ThorskinsHammer]

I’m not sure that’s entirely true. I’ve had multiple surgeries and almost every time I’ve discussed the scarring with my doctor. With my hip we discussed how which of the methods he was choosing would influence how bad the scarring would be versus the recovery time.

More to the point, My friend is a competitive bodybuilder needed the same rotator cuff surgery on his shoulder that I did but went with a diff surgeon (but paid more and waited longer) bc the other doctor specialized in a new technique to reduce scarring.

Considering it’s our only sex organ, men are understandably concerned with how the surgery will impact the appearance of their penis, and that can deter some men from getting surgery at all. You’re correct; Purely cosmetic procedures aren’t what this site is about, but you can’t completely separate cosmetic results from medical practice. Different circumcision devices/methods influence the outcome; in the case of styles, high vs low quite literally determines the amount of erogenous nerve-endings you are left with. Consider that; high vs low circumcisions aren’t just cosmetic, we’re talking about the amount of nerve endings left in your penis, I’d say that a pretty serious concern.

My brother had a bad circumcision when we were in high school that deterred me from getting it done for decades. Now I’m choosing my surgeon based on his proven photographic results bc I don’t want my penis ruined by a doctor who doesn’t take things like my nerve endings and the appearance into account.

[CuriousQ]

I get there's no actual use in asking after the fact but consider this. All you've ever seen are infant circumcisions of American males from let's say porn. You like the look and think yours will look similar. You go to your doctor who doesn't mention how the surgery will be done or any styles so you're sure there's only one style. You have the surgery, you look down and see it looks completely different from what you expected. You get stressed thinking your doctor messed up, you search online for answers and come here. You see a few posts mentioning sensitivity loss and so on, it's very stressful. It's not purely cosmetical, it's understanding your surgery because your doctor, who's supposed to be an expert didn't know or didn't care to explain the procedure to you at all.

[Hidden in reply to CuriousQ]

So it’s about understanding your surgery after you have had it. All I can see that doing is increasing your feelings of annoyance etc. Will it make you feel any better - I doubt it. In fact the way forward is probably to have sessions with a counselor - and again you do not need to know what style you have or haven’t got. That it is not the same as you were expecting is enough. If you have had your circumcision for medical reasons then your goal will be to have a properly functioning penis and not a particular style. If you have a circumcision for cosmetic reasons then I guess how it looks will be important. This is not a forum for cosmetic procedures, however, nor is it a forum for mental health issues. It is a forum for penis health.

[CuriousQ in reply to Hidden]

It's going to be difficult discussing this on mental health forums because no one on there will know about circumcisions. But I get your point. This isn't directly related to penis health, but in a way it is.

[Hidden in reply to CuriousQ]

For those who have had a penis health problem, circumcision provides relief from that problem. Like most repair surgeries, you are better off than you were before and that is great. For those venturing into circumcisions for no medical need then all the caveats of surgery come into play. No surgery is without risk and the result is often fixed. “Post Mortems” are often counter-productive as they can reinforce thoughts around it “not being what I wanted”.

[Hidden]

It depends on what you call cosmetic. I was circumcised at 27 and probably to you, it was for cosmetic reasons. I had issues with my foreskin: the smell being the main one. Also my the end of the foreskin, the spout bit, covered my meatus, meaning I couldn't urinate without straying everywhere. I just got tired of retracting my foreskin to urinate. There are other reasons why circumcision is needed, it is not all about phimosis, paraphimosis, balanitis and having a better looking penis.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It takes a huge amount of effort to retract your foreskin to urinate!

However, this forum is only about penis health problems. If you cannot accept that, please DM me and let me know.