Grower or shower?

[Timthemoth]

I'm going to be circumcised in about 8 weeks and am wondering if any of you have advice on the shower vs grower issue in relation to circumcision style. Am particularly interested if surgeons have discussed this with you beforehand and how you got on.

Like most guys I'd prefer the high and tight style as it just looks how a circumcision should look (not like someone who just pulls up their foreskin).

When I mentioned my preferred approach, my surgeon asked me if I was a grower or shower as he explained erections would be painful for a grower who was cut high and tight. I thought I answered grower but noticed he put me down as a shower in the letter to my GP!

Anyway before I correct the surgeon (and provide my GP and her staff with another laugh when reading my notes), I looked into the terms. Apparently after several 1000 years of hard ons, urologists only came up with the definition of shower vs grower last year. If you grow by more than 56% from the flaccid state you are a grower.

From the soft state I increase between about 75% in size so presume high and tight would result in a world of pain for me during sleep/sex for the rest of my life.

The question is: I presume the only style that would be comfortable for a grower would be loose and either high or tight? So I end up looking like someone who pulls up his foreskin plus surgical scar!

This would probably all just work itself out if I had been done as a baby but once you pass puberty I suppose things get fixed.

Given the way things will look after the surgery will depend on loads of factors that we don't have much control over, it's probably best to have moderate expectations (removal of foreskin and overcoming the health issues associated with that). Also realise you are going to be dealing with a different looking piece of equipment that will take several weeks/months to settle into shape.

If you feel like detaling what style you think you got and whether you are a grower or shower that may show a trend. You can detail your percentage growth (if you think it would help explain the style you got) and if you are happy with the results at the end of the healing process.

Thanks for your input.

Cheers

Tim

[Hidden]

I imagine it would hurt to get an erection if your a grower and get a very high and tight circumcision, I had a circumcision done about 18 months ago and tbh I didn’t get told what style was getting done because I was getting it done on the NHS in England so it’s free but without cosmetic choice I guess.

Personal experience I am a grower and maybe a bit too much detail but I’m 10cm flaccid in length but 18cm erect (7.1inch) and I don’t get any pain due to the fact my circumcision was by looks of it a loose one cut just below the glans and removing the “banjo” 🤷‍♂️ due to persistent issues with urinary inflammatory etc.

Advice if you want a cosmetic surgery with possible pain then go high and tight if you want comfort and a relaxed look then just get a basic one with a cut just below the glans like I have if your a grower etc.

Hope this helps.

[Timthemoth in reply to Hidden]

Cheers Paul. Appreciate the feedback.

That's a good term: the relaxed look. Over time it will just be the look I have and will get used to it.

You have an 80% increase from soft. Maybe the surgeon could tell what you needed as you are above average soft at 4 inches and assumed things would scale up when hard.

Interesting we have only 5% difference in growth between soft and hard.

Since you put your hand up first...

Is it straight forward washing/drying with the bunched up skin against the head? Must be easier than before you were cut but a bit similar?

When you get hard, does the bunched up skin even out along the shaft or does it still look a bit bunched up?

Even with loose style, did your head flare? Some guys say this happens and would be one bonus after all the pain and discomfort.

I'm getting the banjo off too as it serves no purpose if the foreskin goes imho and saves any problems later on. Some guys get some sort of kick out of strumming it, but it's zero on the pleasure meter from me. Did you find the healing was slower at the fren or any more problematic than the main incision?

At this point I think I'll ask if the incision can be mid-shaft as I think that would make wound care a bit easier as it would be further away from the business end!

[Hidden in reply to Timthemoth]

I think with the size part of it I would probably say it’s genetics more than anything who knows what we are gonna end up with ehh, I get confused by it every time I get an erection I look down and think what the actual hell, if I jump out a cold shower I may as well be a woman lol but then when the time comes then out comes the fella and it just keeps on growing which il be honest my wife finds amusing.

In terms of the type of circumcision when flaccid the skin doesn’t bunch up the cut is underneath the glans and my glans are id say wider than the shaft of my penis so the skin doesn’t go over the head and when erect the skin goes back not tight but there is no bunching up of skin or looseness to speak of. I think the doctor like you say may have noticed what was best to do. Did suffer swelling and no real redness and in terms of sensitivity not any major change that some talk about

[Timthemoth]

Thanks for all your advice, Mate. They're not questions that make any sense to anyone unless they've lived through it. Hope I'm as lucky as you with the results. You only get one go at it and it's the bridge of no return. Feel free to pass on any tips to the uninitiated that you may think of over the next eight weeks. Can I call you Yoda?Cheers.

[Russell_088]

I've also done it in Europe and also got low&loose cut. The doctor told me it was the best for me and some people who want the cut high have issues. When erect there is no bunching. It feels relaxed and I like that I have a bit of room. You can ask the doctor what they think is best for you.

[Timthemoth in reply to Russell_088]

Cheers. Perhaps they should start calling it relaxed instead of loose as it sounds more accurate! I gather you must be a grower too to have got that style.When you're soft, is there much bunching? Any overhang over the head?

Do you recall what the issues were with the high cut?

By high I mean away from the head by an inch or less. As opposed to almost round the head with the scar line barely visible. Thanks.

[xsevenx]

Timthemoth , I’m struggling with exactness of 56%. Flaccid penis size varies enormously (excuse the pun) within individuals. Did the study you mention have a definition of flaccid?

[Timthemoth in reply to xsevenx]

medicalxpress.com/news/2023...

The study is really all about percentages but does mention show-er length. Viva L'Espaňa!

Yeah. It can vary enormously on the same day - depending on the weather, pants or no pants, and general activity or lack of.

[Jase219]

I’m a grower and got the circumcision for medical reasons, but I’m happy I got it. However, mine was a loose cut and I’m not totally satisfied with how it looks. Maybe wish i had it just a tad tighter.

[Timthemoth in reply to Jase219]

Yeah. You really only get one go at it and it has to do you for the rest of your life. It depends on the surgeon's skill and what he has to work with. I'm viewing it as a bit of a gamble.I'm glad my surgeon is specialised with circumcising adult men as opposed to infants. It gives me more confidence that I'll get something close to what I want.

BTW: Did you get low or high? Happy with that?

[Norwich1 Moderator in reply to Jase219]

Have you got rid of the medical reasons for which you were circumcised?

[Lee616liam]

I am a grower. I had a high and tight cut done

No issues with it for me.

If it helps. I am about 7.5 erect.

Plenty of elasticity in my skin on my shaft.

[Timthemoth in reply to Lee616liam]

Good you got what you wanted. I suppose surgeons are cautious about causing extra issues than they're fixing. Do you recall any discussion beforehand about your growth and circ style?Maybe I could remain silent on being a grower; ask for the style you got and rely on that skin plasticity to deal with the rest. If it can work for you, it would surely work for me with my more modest expansion!

[Lee616liam]

there wasn’t really a discussion.

I asked high or low cut. He said he was going to remove it all.

[Cutguy38]

I’m a grower I’m just under 2” flaccid & erect 5.5” I was first circumcised very high & loose 30 years ago so flaccid I looked like I hadn’t been circumcised I had a revision 4 years ago so I’m now circumcised lower with 10mm of inner skin left so my glans is completely uncovered at all time with minimal bunching of skin but when erect my shaft skin is tight & I have no slack skin

[Timthemoth in reply to Cutguy38]

That's quite an experience and suggests my surgeon is being overly cautions as we are sumilarly hung.

The R word! What was the revision like...worse than the circ or about the same? Was the revision done for health or cosmetic reasons?

[Cutguy38 in reply to Timthemoth]

my main reason for the revision was that I had some stitch tunnels from my original circumcision I had 5 in total that you could pass a needle through. My original circumcision recovery was awful but the revision recovery was amazing I removed the dressing after 3 day I had 1 tiny spot of blood on the dressing no swelling or bruising & almost pain free . I had stitches & glue to or the revision . I’m so happy I finally had the revision as I finally feel like a properly circumcised man.

[Timthemoth in reply to Cutguy38]

Excellent to hear that you got what you wanted and are happy with the results - even with the revision issue. It must be an empowering kind of thing. I imagine it will be for me.

[Cutguy38 in reply to Timthemoth]

I couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out . The recovery from my original circumcision was painful but the revision was a breeze. I don’t miss having a high & loose circumcision I’m so much more comfortable & confident about how my lower & drum tight circumcision is .

[Uwansan]

I had my surgery last year.I was a grower.so I had low and loose circumcision. I feel it's the best decision I have made.My surgeon did the procedure in 30 minutes.No post op complications.Really enjoying my life afterwards.

[Timthemoth in reply to Uwansan]

Great to hear it's turned out well for you and no complications. Textbook!30 mins is pretty standard. Did you keep your frenulum?

I wonder how the surgeons know what is best for each man without seeing an erection?...Maybe there's some mathmatical formula? The pi of the penis!

[GSA1250 in reply to Timthemoth]

I think I recall reading somewhere that some surgeons induce an erection in their patients at the start of the procedure in order to gauge the desired amount of skin to remove. Or maybe at the initial examination?

[Timthemoth in reply to GSA1250]

Thanks. That makes sense. It would be easier to operate on a larger penis than a flaccid one. Is that the reason for the injection in the groin or is that pain relief? I know they take measurements...when I next consult my surgeon I intend to get specific and ask if he wants to see me erect. The older I get the less fussed I am. I'd prefer that than getting a circ that looks not much different to my current hooded state!

[xsevenx in reply to Timthemoth]

Are you intending to get an erection in front of the surgeon, or bring a picture of yours Timthemoth ? 🫢

[Timthemoth in reply to xsevenx]

Needless to say I'd only do so if the surgeon demanded it in order to advise me on whether high and tight is doable for me. If you don't get specific you get what you're given in the world of surgery. I don'think pics would help much. I was brought up with a rugby changing room mentality towards male nudity. I don't give a flying f about stripping off. But I know not all gents take that approach.

[xsevenx in reply to Timthemoth]

Fair enough 👍

[jaglad]

I would describe myself as a grower and had Surgery for Medical reasons. I was not given an option of cut, nor did I know there was one !

I am happy with what I got.

[Timthemoth in reply to jaglad]

Overthinking is not helpful and I should let the surgeon do his thing. Trust the process as they say. Great that you're pleased with results. All you can ask with this issue!