From mild balanitis and phimosis to multiple serious complications from circumcision revision?

[AlanShore]

Images: imgur.com/a/ClWlCaS

I'm a 31-year-old with several penile problems. It all started back in January 2018 with irritation in glans and foreskin that kept recurring and led to (and/or was caused by) a tight foreskin. See the first image collection via the link below/above. Am I correct in thinking this became chronic balanoposthitis and grade 1 phimosis?

Because none of the treatments that I tried worked (mostly moisturizers and steroid creams) I went through with a circumcision back on 13 May 2020. That surgeon only made a partial circumcision for some reason... This led to the inner foreskin getting stuck and swollen behind the glans. See the second image collection via the link below/above. Have anyone experienced this? Did this perhaps damage my skin in a way that further complicated my circumcision revision (see below)?

Because of the unsatisfactory first circumcision, I went through with a circumcision revision back on 12 November 2020. This led to several (even worse) complications though. See the last three image collections via the link below/above. I have several questions about this:

1)Is the cut too low? Does anyone have any experience with such a low cut? And if so, how do you feel about it now?

2)To me it looks like the left side of the scar line even is attached with the glans skin or corona sulcus (the groove between the corona and the inner foreskin)? Can this be right? If so, is it bad/problematic?

3)The scar feels hard almost all the way around. Is it fibrotic? If so, will this soften over time?

4)There is a kind of hard chord along the scar on the left side. My skin doctor says it's a lymphangitis. Has anyone had this or knows what it is? Will this soften/disappear over time?

5)There are some lumps on the right side along the scar. What is this, and will it go away over time?

6)There is a left-over skin flap along the scar left of the frenulum. Is there anyone else here who has/had this? I guess this will have to be removed through plastic surgery?

I really need help guys. If anyone has experienced some of the same problems I have, please let me know what you did about it and how it all turned out in the end.

Images: imgur.com/a/ClWlCaS

[aoihuf]

Hi there! Your post from Men Health Forum brought me here! Firstly I’m really sorry for what you had to go through and I hope you are doing well!

It looks like your first circumcision wasn’t done in the best way and it was also a little too soon for a revision. It might take up to 18 months for a circumcision wound to fully heal from the inside. Your initial swelling could be due to lymphatic fluid buildup from the first circumcision which had not fully healed yet (not to be confused with paraphimosis cause by tight foreskin)...

1. Your revision was indeed a really low cut.. judging from your picture it seems like the cut at the bottom side (near the frenulum) was already quite low in the first circumcision as compared to the top side with too much excessive skin, this could be the reason why your revision resulted in an extremely low cut. The biggest downside of low cut as compared to high cut apart from cosmetic outcome is the reduced sensitivity. It might be quite tight right now but give it some time and the skin will gradually stretch as it heals.

2. It does look like you have developed some form of adhesion/skin bridges from the 2nd circumcision. You might wanna consult your surgeon to perform a really minor surgery to get this fixed but I suggest give the scar at least 12 months to heal before you do anything further to it.

3. You might wanna try putting some hydro gel scar patches over the scar line to help reduce the appearance while it’s still in the healing process.

4. I can’t seem to spot lymphangitis from your picture. It just looks like a raised scar to me and will get better over time. You might wanna seek a second doctor’s opinion before doing anything to it!

5. Looks like a raised scar so no worries

6. Once your circumcision is fully recovered, your raised scars and that tiny ‘left-over’ flap of skin can be easily treated with laser so don’t worry too much and don’t do anything further to it for the time being! Trust your body to do its job and you will be just fine!

[AlanShore in reply to aoihuf]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and thorough response! You seem to have a lot of knowledge on the subject. Where does it stem from, experience and/or education?