Hi everyone, I’m 34 years old and have never been able to pull my foreskin back, I can see literally a finger nails width of my glands. I’ve finally plucked up the courage and booked myself an appointment to get circumcised. The biggest mistake I did was to watch YouTube videos and also join a circumcision support group which I think was in another country and they just posted their horror stories.
I’m really scare of the procedure it gives me really bad anxiety and just wondered if you could answer some questions for me?
to numb the penis where do they inject and how big is the needle? Honestly what is the recovery like as I’ve heard so many horror stories and I’m really nervous.
Thanks In advance.
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Ant1988
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You did not indicate where you live, the United States? While it is more difficult to find a foreskin-friendly urologist, that would be the best thing you could do. There are non-surgical treatments for phimosis (a foreskin that will not retract) and many men have been successful with those treatments (gradual stretching with steroidal ointments, etc.).
There is also something called a dorsal slit which would allow you to keep most of your foreskin. There is a worldwide movement against routine infant circumcision and most intact children will never need a circumcision. However, there are issues with a minority of men such as yourself that may require some kind of medical intervention. If you end up with surgery, it is VITAL that you have a very experienced surgeon only remove the minimum amount of skin to alleviate your problem so you will end up with very good mobility (up and down movement) of the penile shaft. You might check DoctorsOpposingCircumcision.org for more information. I wish you well...
I finally plucked up the courage to ask a Dr a couple of months ago - saw a consultant urologist who gave me a couple of options, but suggested Circumcision was best way forward for me.
I was 50 when I went, and he suggested further stretching, creams etc would not achieve the desired outcome, and suggested i could:
1) muddle on and “cope” as I had uk to now
2) a procedure that would slit the foreskin leaving me with some sort of foreskin but relieve the problem
3) circumcision
I came to this group for support and help making that decision and found it invaluable. I chose option 3 - and had the operation just under 6 weeks ago.
At this point, I honestly wish I had done this years ago as I’m so pleased with the result. But you really do need to be certain as it’s kind of final. You can try stretching or creams etc first… and can always come back. But get the advice of your urologist for what will work for you.
The recovery is tough. I had a general anaesthetic, and the first few days were a little uncomfortable and just sleepy.
The next week or so is the really difficult bit. Nothing will prepare you for nighttime erections and I had about a week of pretty much no sleep - the pain of your stitches pulling is pretty bad!! I can’t make this but sound any better!! It’s shit!
But once past those 4 or 5 bad days… it gets better. I’d say I was dressing and returning to light work etc around 10/14 days after surgery. After day 21 I felt pretty much OK and stitches started to go. Once you lose the dissolving stitches everything is much better!
Some guys suffer quite badly with sensitivity of the glans once the foreskin is gone… this hasn’t been to bad for me. I just toughed it out and it gradually gets better. Still feels weird 6 weeks on… and may always!! Too early for me to tell!
Have a look at some of my other posts for a very honest look at my journey - but overall so glad I’ve done it and wish I’d had the courage to ask for help years earlier.
It doesn't remove any tissue, but some people don't like the cosmetic appearance. It's the usual form of "circumcision" in the Philippines and Pacific Islands apparently.
My consultant advised against it. Said would save the foreskin but he described it as like having a pair of flapping rabbits ears on the end of my cock! It just didn’t sound appealing.
You don’t say where you live.. but wherever you are if you can afford it go & see a urologist at at a private hospital & have a full circumcision ( in the U.K. cost you about £2250.00 total.. Spire Hospitals) & put this problem behind you for good….creams/stretching or a dorsal split will never really solve your problem…opt for a general anaesthetic & all will be good…on here you hear a few horror stories but that’s a small minority compared to the amount of circumcisions that are done…book it in & try to stop worrying… all will be good & you’ll wish you’d had it done years ago….66 level headed guy that had it done 2 years ago👍
I’ve just had mine done at Thornhill clinic Luton and it was only £650, although I did have to pay £150 for testing the skin for scaring. I cannot recommend them high enough, so helpful and put me to ease straight away.
Just go for it local is enough - we were talking about cricket through the surgery ! Such an experienced doctor and what a clean cut ! Did it a year back
You sound very happy.the idea of being put to sleep for vs awake is appealing.did they simply do it but cutting n stitches ? No glue or devises used ? You happy with cosmetic look ? Did you get to choose a style you wanted ?
Yes happy with it….traditional freehand scalpel cut & stitches….the scar line is about half an inch up from the corona… would have liked the scar line a bit higher up the shaft but went with the surgeons advice….General anaesthetic was recommended to me & I’m happy with that…I was given nerve block injections at the base of my penis while I was asleep so absolutely no discomfort when I woke up….had my own room, after care by my dedicated nurse was great & as much coffee & food that I wanted afterwards. Stayed there for about six hours afterwards just chilling in my room, no pressure to leave.
Don’t waste your time with the NHS you will be waiting for ever… go privately worth every penny… I went to Spire Parkway in Solihull, West Midlands…you can read up on the different surgeons & chose who you want to do it….the initial consultation will cost £250 & the operation will cost £2000 that will also include a follow up check up after four weeks…..any concerns you have afterwards should you have any then you can phone the hospital & get to see someone if needed …you will never be fobbed off…. I had my own room… general anaesthetic & fantastic aftercare….try not to over think this or your mind will run away with you….. all will be 👍
Thank you. I’ve got my consultation on Monday I’m going to find out a realistic waiting time with the NHS and if it’s forever I’ll go privately. Thanks for your advice. Really appreciate it.
I was on the NHS waiting list 2 years, but they have out contracted some work to catch up post covid, so I went private on the NHS. I would image it’s going to take a while to catch up.
Not sure where you are located but I recently had the Zsr procedure done(no stitches but staples and a silicone ring)it’s about $1500 Australian, after waiting over 2+years for surgery, I was over waiting around so I found someone that does the procedure, I don’t do well with any sort of needle, and had 2 injections both at the base of my penis, first one was fine but passed out on the 2nd (was rough and very painful) procedure took about 10mins and I was wake for it. I had a lot of pain afterwards more so at the base of my penis where the second needle was injected into. First 3 nights were the pretty hectic, night erections were the worst. Taking a bag of ice to bed helped a lot.
Was back to work after 7 days(I work in a supermarket)
I’m now 2 weeks into the whole process and the staples are just starting to loosen.
Hey mate. I’ve been pretty honest in my post if you want to take a look.
I didn’t talk much about the anaesthetic, but essentially - I had local and didn’t look but couldn’t see anyway, as I was lying down and they were sort of covering by leaning over etc. I had 4 people in theatre -one male surgeon, one lady helping the surgeon and 2 others, one was a nurse and the other only seemed to operate the laser by turning it off and on. (I have no ideas really) I felt the first couple of needles go in at the base of my shaft (I think) they were like you would imagine - a sharp prick, made me jump slightly but not too bad. While they settled he was pulling my foreskin back a lot ( I don’t suffer with the same as you, so although painful, it could be done) he then asked he if I could feel this and that - which oddly I couldn’t feel, but I could feel he was moving or doing something to my penis, so just a sort of odd feeling. I felt a small sharp pain about 10 mins in which made me jump a little so he added more local. I can honestly say, that I was super nervous about the needle, but it was ok.
I’m on day 18, and recovery has been ok, I got a small infection day 4, so didn’t hang about and went to the doctors for some antibiotics- which cleared it up after 7 days. Since day 14, I’ve been working my stitches loose as they have shown no signs of coming out and I was conscious of causing more infection. I started with 15, I now have 4.
Feel free to ask anything here mate - it’s a great platform with some real true life posts to have a read, feel free to message directly too
Thank you. I think the worse thing I did was watch videos. Doesn’t help I’m scared of needles too haha. I know it’s what I need to do and I just need to get it over with and once it’s healed it will boost my confidence loads. Sorry to be personal did it leave a nasty scar? Does it look really different?
Videos can be the worst thing because often people only document bad things. Don’t worry about asking anything mate - ask away.
I’m still in the early stages of healing when it comes to the scar, but I can’t see it being too bad. I’ll probably do a post later this week for an update with some pics. It looks super different. I could pull my foreskin back before so I’ve been doing that to see what it will look like, but it looks different to that. My head is a lot bigger which I’m hoping stays lol. I’ve got quite a dark coloured dick for a white guy, so seeing a pink head all the time is unusual for me. But so far, no regrets. I wish I’d have done it before. Feel free to send a DM if you want to ask anything you don’t wanna post on here mate.
I had mine done just over a week ago and I’m 59, other than a few sharp feelings as they inject at the base of the penis I didn’t feel anything, just seemed strange you know what there doing and you can’t feel it. Obviously the recovery is the hard bit, I’m just leaving everything open at the moment as I’m off work but it’s healing nicely and the swellings nearly gone.
Like others I wish I had done it years ago, it will boost my confidence with the ladies, lol.
i was the same i watched video, i was going to have it done by nhs under local, in the end went private at squires got put to sleep best thing i every done im well please with it i had same problem as you
I took bandage of next day in the bath no soaps and I cleaned it twice a bay in the sink put Salt in sink got a flannel put in water and squeezed it over penis for a few minutes and use a little vasaline on tip of penis will help clear that up so you can piss straight again sit down to start with I had no prob with mine didn't use it for 8 weeks till it was healed now its so much better I enjoy playing with it now 😀 I'm 57 need any advice message me
I was put under Anastasia when I got my circumcision. Then after some time I felt like my doc didn’t take off enough and had him take off a little more in his office. The needle wasn’t bad, the anxiety is real, but you just gotta suck it up. everything numbed up quickly and he went to work.
I saw the horror stories too but the recovery wasn’t bad. I was was up and moving literally an hour after the procedure. I took it easy of course bc of recovery. Erections sucked, painful but nothing you can’t get through. Anxiety of breaking your stitches was always there but those things hold up pretty well. I did end up having a little tear but the doc just told me to wait it out that it will heal, and it did.
I am very pleased with my results. After your six months of recovery you will be extra sensitive, in that you will have a hard on a lot throughout your normal day. That was fun especially for the Mrs
I was circumcised at 39. I am a diabetic who suffered from phimosis. I had a dorsal slit procedure done when i was 14. it healed over 25 years, and instead of getting a dorsal slit again, I decided to get circumcised. No regrets.
You will be knocked out for the procedure. You will not witness any of it. You will fall asleep and wake up with the procedure done.
Recovery is straight forward. you should buy 2 light jock straps and compression underwear.
I’ve managed to clean it as I’ve figured out a way of doing it in the bath. It’s affected my sex life massively. I just know by biting the bullet it’ll boost my confidence loads.
Mines always been fine sift.only when fully erect I've always found I'd like it to go back n forth over the head easier.I was always still very confident and slept with plenty girls.not until my 30s n having relationships I started to feel sharp pains n think things may not be quite 100.also feel it could boost my confidence back if I get it done.ceeates an anxiety defo.
I would much rather be put to sleep so I didn’t know what was going on. I’m a gay man so my sex life has been affected but not fully but I’m reluctant to let people get close as it makes me feel like a freak.
Bro - go for it - I was 36 when I did it and I have always had phimosis - never saw my glans - I can’t believe that my glans is always exposed now and I don’t feel it at all. Just get it done from a v experienced surgeon - the recovery will take time 3 weeks to a month but be prepared to sit at home - not take shower - put loads of anti bacterial cream down there - ensure you have high vitamin c dose leading to the operation and post it - vitamin c is water soluble so doesn’t matter if you take excess but it helps recovery - don’t worry about the injection and things - it is painful but it’s a matter of 2 seconds - the first one is painful then it gets less painful as you become numb (total 3-4 injections ) - for something you have struggled with for 20/30 years those 2-10 secs of pain are fine bro - I wish you so the best. Message if you need more advice !
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