Post-operative Expectations
(True Experiences)

I wished to be circumcised since I have seen the circumcised penis of one of my friends at the age of 8 years. From age 16 to 21 I wore my skin peeled back.  At the beginning it slipped back over the glans, but after some weeks of trying, it stayed back most of the time. At 21 I tried to wear it forward again  (over the glans)  and I hated it. At 27 I found the first german pro-circ site on the internet and after contacted them, I was circumcised.

Unfortunately, I had problems with extreme swelling for 3 weeks and a very bad wound healing.  Because of that I have a very noticeable uneven scar line. I love the feeling of my circumcised penis. I wish that it looked like an infant cut but it doesn't.

US Man Chooses Gomco Circumcision at 38!

It's been a month since, at the age of 38, I was circumcised. I won't go into the details of why I wasn't circumcised at birth, but am very glad I wasn't -- then I wouldn't have had the chance to plan and experience the event for myself as an adult! Being circ'd is something I had imagined being and doing doing for a long time. Things finally worked out so that it could happen, and now I wonder why I didn't do this sooner! (Click Here For Photos Of Procedure)

As preparations for the procedure began, I was a little nervous -- after wanting and planning to get cut, it was actually going to happen! I got calmed down as things got underway. I watched my circumcision from start to finish and got to participate, even if was only by holding anesthetic bottle as the doctor filled the syringe. I chatted with the doctor while it was happening, and he kept me informed about each step during the procedure. I wouldn't exactly call watching a physical turn-on, but it was definitely a mental one. I enjoyed watching what was happening, and would have felt cheated if I hadn't been able to watch.

First, I was marked for where the scar should be, and for how much foreskin should be removed. Then my public area was washed with antiseptic. The local anesthetic was then injected into my penis. The most intense pain of the whole procedure was with the first pokes of the syringe as the anesthetic was being injected.

When I couldn't feel pain, the bell of the Gomco clamp was fitted over my glans, and the foreskin pulled up over the bell and aligned for where the cut should be on the inner layer of skin. Then the top of the clamp was put in place, and the outer layer of skin aligned to the proper place. When everything was aligned, the clamp was tightened down. The Gomco was left on for about 15-20 min, and my foreskin was removed by cutting around the top of the clamp with a scalpel to cut first the outer layer of skin and then then inner layer. The clamp was removed, and the wound was stitched shut and bandaged. During the whole procedure, there was only a couple drops of blood -- most of that was what had been trapped in my foreskin when the Gomco was applied.

The whole procedure took about an hour, from start to finish, and as is documented on the linked page. There was some swelling after a couple days, and a some dull pain for several days afterward. Some medication which the doctor gave me along with some Tylenol handled the discomfort nicely. Now, after a month, there's a pencil thin scar line about 1 1/4" above my glans. The scar line is becoming less visible every day.

My frenulum had been torn, you'd never know I ever had one, so there was nothing to remove. I'm now cut nice and tight, with virtually no loose skin, just the way I imagined I would be.

Chuck, (USA)

Adam (UK)

Aussie Circumcised by Girlfriend

You asked me to tell you about why I wanted to be circumcised.  Well first, when uncut I had to stop all the time to pull my foreskin back then try so very hard to not orgasm and let my girl miss out!   Since she circumcised me, that is not a problem and sex for me and my girlfriend is so much better.   Now I can control my orgasms and pleasure her for as long as she wants without me struggling and constantly stopping.  I advise any one thinking about cutting their foreskin off to stop thinking about it and do it.  It only cost me total of $50 to have this done with the Zhenxi ring. I decided to use the ring instead of a doctor due to the fact it was virtually impossible to find one who would do it.  I saw many doctors and specialists that wouldn’t would have to travel far and cost lots else where. 

As you can see in the photos below, the circumcision is high.  To do this I placed the ring behind the glans as far as possible and had my girlfriend pull the foreskin forward tightly whilst I tied the string then applied the outer ring. It ached a little for 2-3 hours then you could see the foreskin change colour.  The foreskin was numb once outer ring was tightened.  Two days later using a razor blade my girlfriend removed the dead foreskin carefully and freed my penis, but the clamnp remained in place.  After 10 days the outer ring was removed and a day later the inner ring fell off.  There was lots of swelling which slowly went down over a period of 6 months and still now only a little more to go which is not very noticeable.  I am very happy with the results.  My penis also is getting bigger.  The glans is slowly flaring more and when not erect the glans is bigger due to no skin restricting it.  It used to retract heaps and the skin would hang 2-3 cm over the end.  My girlfriend is so much happier with my penis now as it looks so much better, doesn’t smell and can give her the best pleasuring. Next on the list may be removing the frenulum.

I think the results are really good and I am happy with it!  It was also good for the fact I had my girlfriend do most of it!  Thanks to those who think my penis looks great now.  As you can see in the before pics my penis use to look ugly and disgusting.  Feel free to email me with your inquiries.

Bottom Row of Photos is One Year Post Circumcision

It seems that in most cases that the glans is restricted when covered by foreskin, this also stunts its growth especially for those that cannot retract their foreskin. I can see that circumcision allows the glans and penis to become bigger and stay that way. before I was circumcised my penis would retract lots and become very small. it is 6.5 inches when erect and when soft with a foreskin it would retract to 2.5 inches. now since the circumcision my penis doesn't go anywhere under4 inches when soft. I can only put this to the foreskin restricting the penis and making it retract.

Luckily for me whilst growing up I tried my best to always wear my skin back, allowing it to grow and finally flare once circumcised. when ever having sex the girls would hold the skin back whilst sliding in and out, until i finally found out about taping it back. also whenever being handled my foreskin never came forward and was always held back. this all helped in allowing my glans to grow in proportion with my penis. not only this, it allowed the transition from uncut to cut not to be a hassle.

I advise any one not wanting to have a small glans to wear the skin back or have it removed I'm not sure at what age the glans stops growing, but I advise to do what i have done whilst growing, or simply have it cut. mine was cut at 25y and now after 8 months it has flared a little more and is looking perfect.

Greg (Sydney, Australia)  <circumcized@hotmail.com>

History:

I live in a country where it is very uncommon to perform circumcisions, except for rare medical indications and in the small Moslem community. So when I first saw a circumcised penis at the age of 10, I asked that boy why it looked so funny. His response was "it'll grow back later", which I did not understand. Eight years later I somehow came across the topic again when chatting with a friend and his girl friend. He "confessed" to have been circumcised as a small boy for medical reasons, a phimosis. We then talked about the differences and they both were very pleased with what he got.

During the next 10 years there were a few occasions more to see a circ'ed penis and I even became friends with another circumcised man - another phimosis -, who was also totally satisfied with his penis.

Now, I loving the look of it and having heard only good things about circumcision, I decided to have it done myself at 28. First, there was the problem of finding a physician, preferably a urologist. It's not easy to find one, because *wanting* circumcision - for whatever reason - is considered crazy over here. Most doctors rather send you to a psychotherapist! But after all, some like to earn money, too.

The procedure:

The circumcision was done in a hospital by the urologist. The foreskin was removed to where the inner foreskin and shaft skin meet so that there's a small gap between the scar and the corona in the flaccid state. The frenulum was left intact. The remaining skin was sutured with 5 stitches.

Immediately after the operation, the bleeding was negligible and there were only minor secretions. Over the next few hours, a swelling developed in the area of the circumcision line, making it difficult to completely void the bladder when urinating. The swelling vanished within two days. The healing proceeded normally and took some 10 days. During this period, the scar area was bathed in camellia solution twice a day to accelerate the healing process and suppress excessive scaring.

There was not much pain, no more than cutting a finger. However, the penis glans, now being devoid of the foreskins protection, felt slightly irritated by the unusual sensations. Because of this, I had an almost constant erection for the next 10 days. This is *not* very funny and causes slightly more scaring, since the skin is constantly stretched. It took some 4 months to adapt to the new feel and the new sensations before being able to take a walk without being constantly aroused. I also dismissed those briefs and nightgowns with a seam in the center, because of the irritation it caused.

14 days after the procedure, I tried to masturbate first. I learned, that rubbing only the shaft of the penis caused great sensations and is my preferred technique up until today. The orgasm was very intense, no less earth shaking than the first ever. Intercourse was great, too, but caused the scar to hurt slightly. So, I waited another week before trying again ... and then another. I did not try a condom. Oral sex however was magnificent.

Long term effects after 5 years:

Let me take the opportunity the respond to the claims made by CIRC and NOHARMM. Their claims about a loss of sensitivity are true ... only somewhat exaggerated. I'd say, before circumcision, any touch of the glans or inner foreskin caused either a big or a very big sensation. So, no matter if the touch was light or heavy, the sensation was almost the same as long as it didn't hurt.

Afterwards, there's much more difference in the sensations you feel. So, in a way you loose sensitivity which for me is more than equalized by the greater variance. And above all, my penis now is how I wanted it to be! Another example: On one hand, I loved the feel of the foreskin being retracted by a gentle hand and missed it a bit. On the other, it's great to feel the coolness after intercourse, without a foreskin pushing back. Generally speaking, I think it depends on the individuals physique and psyche whether circumcision is a gain or a loss.

What I think my sex partners think:

Since I live in a country where a circumcised penis is a rare thing, virtually all of my sex partners - all female - have never seen one before. Their consensus about circumcision seems to be: Makes the penis look better when flaccid, doesn't make any difference regarding intercourse, but tastes and smells better.

Anonymous (Europe)

Re-circumcised to Tighten Infant Circ

I've  managed to get some photos of my circ two days after my re-circumcision. Since it was a revision the doctor was limited in the technique and the skin that he was left to work with. There is still a lot of bruising and swelling which he tells me will be gone in the next couple of days. It is not at all sore even though it looks that way. I had a little discomfort during the first night following surgery but apart form that it was a simple and painless.

It's been about 6 months since the operation and I am quite pleased with the results. I have included a few pictures (below) and as you can see the scar left by the plastic surgeon is hardly noticeable. I feel that he did a good job repairing my first circ. A lot of the excess skin from underneath was removed but there is ample shaft skin remaining for erections without discomfort. My lament is similar to many others - I wish I'd had the courage to have it fixed earlier. The medical staff were most professional and supportive and my apprehension about being embarrassed throughout the operation was quite unnecessary.

Thanks to everyone on CIRCLIST for their support and encouragement!

Lyn (USA)

I had told my folks that before I entered High School I wished to be circumcised. There were two reasons (1) I had a very long overhang so that when I'd pee it was very hard to control the stream, and was not all that easy to retract as the skin was not only long, but also a little tight. (2) because of my uncut status, kids would make fun of me when I was older, entering into high school I did not want these same problems. My folks said that if I wanted it done that it was alright. So, at 14 I was circumcised. The doctor did it while I was in his office under a local. However, there was so much stuff around me that I really could not see, nor could I tell what he used. All I know is it took about 15 or 20 minutes to finish. and he did not use stitches because he said if I got erections at night, that they might not only rip, but that it would also hurt like hell. Well, in the next week I found out it did hurt like hell anyway. I was not allowed to bath for four days, and the scar, which is quite wide, took about two weeks before the scabs were almost gone. The really odd thing was though is that the Doc left a lot of foreskin, and the frenulum so that although I was circumcised, I still basically look uncut (except when I get an erection). I wish I had been circumcised tighter.

Jim (USA)

I was circumcised eight years ago, at age 33, long enough, I believe to now be able to feel that I can speak to the long-term effects as well as the short term ones.

The pain was not very significant. The surgery itself was a cake-walk, and I kicked my ass all over the lot afterward for having waiting so many years to do it out of fear of the pain. Since there was a significant amount of monetary difference between a general and a local anesthetic and I was not covered by insurance (not to mention that I wanted to watch and experience it, even though I wasn't as in touch with that fact then as I am now), I opted for the local. The shots stung as shots always do, but after that, although I could feel things going on, there was no pain until the very last of the 23 stitches, when the anesthetic was wearing off a little and there was a bit of a sting when the doctor took each stitch. When I mentioned that I was starting to feel it, he offered me another shot, but allowed as how he was nearly done, and since there were only a couple more stitches to go, I opted not to have another shot. I should note, also, that I have traditionally had a very high tolerance to painkillers (as this doctor also noted to me, saying that the dose he gave me would have lasted much longer for most folks), so I wouldn't put much worry on that aspect.

The surgery was done in an outpatient facility and I was sent home after about an hour in the recovery room (as soon as they were satisfied that I wasn't going to have any bleeding problems), where I didn't feel like doing much except laying around on the couch and watching the TV for the rest of the day. The doctor gave me painkillers, but if I remember correctly, I never took any of them. There was soreness but not really pain, even in the first 24 hours. The second day I had no ongoing pain, but changing out the bandage as I had been instructed to do was a little difficult as the dried blood had caused it to stick.

Two days after the surgery, I had to make a cross-country flight home (I had the surgery done in Phoenix, while visiting a former lover and I live in Maine), and unfortunately, it was one of the most turbulent flights I've ever been on. I felt every bump, but there again, it was soreness and discomfort, not steady pain.

The worst of the discomfort was the stitches pulling and tugging and snagging on clothing. That is true of stitches anytime, anywhere, and this was not any worse than any other. The stitches were supposed to dissolve by themselves "in two weeks", but had only just begun to do so by then. After a couple more days of it, and after carefully inspecting the scar to see that it had healed everywhere but in one spot where the stitches had failed early on and left a small gap (which filled in and healed up secondarily with no problem and without any noticeable difference in the scar), I finally decided that I had had enough, and cut and pulled the remaining stitches myself (a project that took me nearly two hours). As soon as I was done there, all the discomfort was gone, and all that was left was a little tenderness. This disappeared gradually over the next couple of months.

Although at first look on the first day, I was horrified, by the time the stitches had come out, it was looking pretty good. I agree with those who say that the result is not quite as good cosmetically as a well-done newborn circ, but I am well satisfied, and I have certainly seen many guys who were circ'd as newborns whose scars are far more prominent and untidy than my own.

Had I been able to have access to a group like this and had the benefit of all the additional experiences and information, I might have asked my doctor to do it slightly differently, but I emphasize that that is MY fault, not his. He explained everything to me thoroughly beforehand, including what to expect, and it turned out that he was quite accurate in his assessments.

What I might have chosen to differently amount to aesthetics, anyway, and those things are purely subjective. (Too loose, scar placement, etc.) Functionally, I am well satisfied with the results. Of course the TaraKlamp had not been invented then. If it had, I might have tried that method as it looks like quite an elegant answer.

As far as how other reacted to me, virtually everyone has reacted very positively. Prior to my circ, virtually all of my past lovers of both sexes had expressed dissatisfaction with my uncut status and urged me to have it done. Only one girlfriend since, who grew up with two uncut brothers and looked upon foreskins the norm, expressed anything resembling negativity, and that was very mild in comparison to the negative reactions I had gotten before my circ. Even my father, uncut himself and always quite anti-circ in viewpoint, grudgingly admitted that if I no longer suffered irritations and hygiene problems in hot weather, I had probably made a good choice.

In answering your questions about orgasms and sexual feelings, one has to be careful to separate out that which is physically based from that which arises out of the mind. I have found sex to be better -- not explosively better, but better -- since my circ, but whether the causes are physical or psychological is difficult to say. My circ was a boost to my self-image and gave me greater confidence sexually (it can erode one's confidence if one lives in fear of negative reactions to one's uncut status). It took away my shyness about nudity and even enabled me to ask my partner to go down on me without fear of rejection. My confidence and positive state of mind may be in greater part what makes my sex better now. So may the process of maturing and having different expectations from sex. So may just having a more responsive and adept partner. What is really true is that it probably doesn't matter what causes it to be better, and psychological reasons which manifest themselves in the desired result may be no less valid a reason for having it done.

But as to physical sensations, they do change, and, depending upon which particular sensations and activities are most important to you, they may be better or worse. In my case, they were better. Although my glans was quite sensitive before my circ, I had too much foreskin and it was always in the way. Intercourse was not especially satisfactory for me as a result, because it was difficult, if not impossible, to get enough stimulation of the glans to achieve orgasm. Put bluntly, it was more damn work than it was worth!

That is now significantly better. Oral sex didn't change a great deal, providing that your partner knew how to deal with a foreskin, which many didn't. Manual stimulation is now very different, but just as good if not better, providing it is approached right. Masturbation is definitely better, but that may be partly because I am more visually stimulated by a circ'd member and therefore more excited psychologically.

But the $64 question is: "Does being circ'd reduce the physical sensitivity in the glans?" That is the big issue that all the anti-circ'ers are endlessly carping and railing about. And the answer is both a "yes" and a "no". And, since most people haven't had the luxury of before and after comparisons themselves, it is difficult for them to honestly understand.

Describing sensations is like trying to describe an orgasm in words -- it doesn't work well. But here's the best I can do.

There are two distinct types of sensitivity associated with the glans. The first is pure tactile sensitivity. An uncut glans is extremely sensitive to the lightest touch, but not necessarily in an erotic way. (Your eyeball has a great deal of tactile sensitivity; if you poke it, it will be very sensitive, but not at all pleasurable.) That decreases after a circ, as the glans gets used to the "background noise" type stimulation of rubbing against underwear, etc. The second type of sensitivity is erogenous sensitivity, that which results when the penis is actually stimulated sexually. In that regard, I see no decrease and very possible a slight increase, although I qualify that by reminding you that my own positive feelings toward my circ'd state may be what's responsible, and if you do not have positive feelings toward the subject, you might not experience that.

Ken (USA)

At a very young age, I became aware of how different I was from all the other boys and began what seemed an eternity with an unwanted foreskin. Unfortunately, my family was very tight lipped about such matters and I felt very uncomfortable talking about it with my parents let alone asking them to take me in for the procedure. As you have probably guessed, I was born in the USA in 1974. I have no idea why I wasn't routinely circumcised like everyone else, but I wish I had been.

At the age of 17, I had finally decided to take matters into my own hands. In Spring of 1992, I improvised on the plastibell technique by using a slightly modified 35mm plastic film canister and a rubber band to perform a self-circ. Healing took about a month without complications. About a year later, I excised the frenulum myself, also. Overall, I am very pleased with the final results that appear very similar to neonatal circumcision and are shown in the attached photos. My circumcision is tight with a slightly darker scar about 3/4" behind the glans.  I feel much cleaner, neater and more natural, now that I'm circumcised.

John (USA)

Like most British men I was not circumcised as a child. From age 8-9 I was aware that some boys were different, and vaguely felt that their state was aesthetically preferable, but that was about it.

When I was 27 I met a woman called Rachel (she is now my wife). She comes from a liberal Jewish background. Although we had sex at that time, she made it clear that for cultural and aesthetic reasons she would want me to be circumcised if our relationship became permanent. Last year we married and, shortly before, I agreed to 'have the op'.

The mohel had no means of administering anesthesia, so I was in no way shielded from the pain of the operation. The opponents of circumcision make out that the pain is unbearable for a tiny infant, but having undergone the procedure as a fully developed adult I can truthfully say they should have nothing to fear. I felt a very intense shooting pain when he cut my foreskin, followed by a searing, almost burning sensation as he tidied up and sewed around the wound, but the first lasted only approx. 30 seconds and the second, perhaps 10 minutes.

I was determined not to shout or cry out because I did not want to appear weak or show up my future father-in-law, who was present, and I am proud to say I succeeded. In fact, as I walked out of the room I felt exhilarated - partly because I'd come through it with my head held high, but also because I had undergone a custom which united men across continents and millennia. I was glad to be rid of my foreskin.

For the first couple of weeks I felt pretty sore, which if nothing else got me out of the habit of masturbating (something I had been trying in vain to fight for some time). Once the bandages came off, I felt great. I was far happier with the way I looked, and no longer felt uncomfortable in changing rooms or in front of my partner.

My glans hardened and dried out quickly and, while it is true that being cut reduces sensitivity, I discovered that it makes for far better sex. I would estimate that it now takes me 4 to 5 times as long to come. When I do, it is more pleasurable than ever, so I'm not losing anything. The difference is the much greater pleasure it gives my wife.

I also know, contrary to the propaganda being put about by the anti-circumcision lobby, that there is now nowhere for bacteria, smegma, urine droplets etc. to hide and spread infections, either to me or my wife. My circumcised penis looks and smells cleaner.

Anonymous (UK)

I'm 20 years old and I'd say that getting circumcised is one of the best decisions I've made.

Here's an update of how my circ went :

Day 1 Tuesday, September 8

I'm finally CUT!!!

As I'm writing this, It's been an hour and a half since my circumcision, and my dick is still burning as it has been for the past hour or so.

Last night, I've been jacking off with my foreskin for the last time, something I haven't been doing for the past couple of months, because usually I've been jacking off with my bare glans and some lube. Although, I was looking forward to getting cut, I was starting to feel a sentimental attachment to my foreskin...I mean, I've had it for my 20 years of life.

Anyway, I woke up at 5:30 am and just couldn't sleep anymore, even though I set my alarm at 6:30. I took a shower toweled off and looked at my uncut cock for the very last time. I actually took the bus down to the hospital which took half an hour...I mean, I couldn't asked my Mom to drive me down, but I wanted to do this myself, I guess for me, getting circed was my initiation into manhood.

I arrived at Burnaby General Hospital (btw, I live in Vancouver, Canada) at 7:45 and the receptionist said that the doctor arrived early and was ready for me, for my appointment was supposed to have been for 8:30 am. I was led to a nurse to a small closet room and told to strip down my pants and put on a hospital gown. Coming out, it was kind of embarrassing for there were people lining up waiting who were staring at me in my gown.

The nurse told me to lie down on the hospital operating bed and was told to pull the gown up and she washed my dick with special soap. The Doctor came in and asked me if I had any last minute questions and reassured me that the whole procedure would only take less than 30 minutes. I had the choice of watching or not, but I preferred not to for I get faint with the sight of blood. He started injecting my balls and penis with anesthetic and kept on doing it until my dick could not feel the needle pinch. He told me every single step he made and I was amazed that I didn't feel much. Just the poking of the needle hurt a bit, but the cutting was surprisingly "comfortable." We talked as he was working and I made sure that he got rid of my frenulum, something he already had done. The whole operation was done freehand, for he was used to doing it that way. I found out from talking to him, that he had a lot of requests to do circumcisions, and that as a urologist, he had over 10 years experience doing it, which made me feel a lot better. Also, I asked him what he thought of circumcision, and he was definitely pro for it cuz as a urologist he's seen some pretty nasty stuff with uncut guys, especially when they get older. When it got to the suturing, I asked him how many it would take, and he said about 25 or so. Quite a lot indeed, for that took up about 10 minutes, just with the sewing. Near the end of the suturing, I started feel a bit of a pinch from the needle, but that didn't last long. There was not a lot of blood lost, however, I did feel a trickle of warm blood flow down my dock to my butt, but not much.

In total, the whole procedure lasted 25-30 minutes, from 8:05 to 8:30 or so.

I was told that there would be swelling for the next few days and to take off my gauze after I shower tonight. While putting on my underwear, I finally had my first look at my new cock, and it was what I had expected with some inner foreskin left...although I can't tell you much more until it starts to heal. If I had any problems, I could call him up, but he said that if it looked fine to me, I didn't have to see him for any post-op visits. Coming out of the hospital, I felt GREAT!!! I was a MAN now. The pain started when I was waiting for the bus though. Luckily, it was still rush hour and there were a lot of buses running. It was more of a burning pain, and I was gnashing my teeth on the whole bus ride back home. Also, I couldn't walk properly, for I was stupid enough to wear boxer briefs to the hospital which were quite loose. I looked like a bowlegged cowboy coming home.

I quickly changed to tight briefs when I got home, but thankfully, there was not much blood on my underwear. Actually, now after typing all this, my dick is starting to burn less, although I did ask my Mom to come by and bring me some Tylenol just in case. Hopefully, I can get some much needed sleep. I was able to sleep for about 3 hours and woke up at 3 pm and got some more food and watched TV. I pretty much spent the entire afternoon and night lounging around the apartment resting up. In total, I'd say that the burning pain lasted for about 3 hours and gradually subsided. The first time I had to pee was also awkward, for my dick was still drugged out but I was able to piss properly. Taking some Tylenol really helped.

I took a shower at night, 12 hours after my operation, which was a bit awkward, especially touching my penis for the first time besides peeing and washing it with a bit of soap for the stitches were a bit prickly. It felt like the string they used for fishing line. I was told by my urologist to take off my bandage that covered the cut line, which was quite blood. He told me that I didin't have to put another bandage on, but, I made sure to put a square of tissue paper on the inside of my underwear just to make sure that if I did bleed, which I did, a little, it would not stain my underwear.

I slept early, but woke up at 3:30, when I felt that I started to get an erection. It was not a big erection, but enough to me to consciously wake up. Fortunately, no stitches popped out, for the Doc did a good job sewing me up tight. I took a piss and went back to bed, but still woke up a coupla times before daybreak.

Day 2 Wednesday, September 9

Mourning, I took another shower and noticed that my cock was really swollen, but only in my inner foreskin area. Especially on my left side where a huge lump was growing. But, I didn't worry much, I mean, it looked pretty ugly, but I knew that if I waited a couple of days, the swelling would subside.

I was able to walk more normal throughout the day, although the swelling of my penis caused a bit of pain, but not too much. At least, my dick didn't feel drugged out like it did yesterday.

Again, after school, I spent most of the night staying home and resting up.

When I took my shower at night, I looked at my dick again, and it was swollen on the left and also on the right, and the bottom part of my dick, but again, only in my inner foreskin.

I woke up again at 2 am and had to pee and a couple of other times at 5 or 6 in the mourning. I didn't get huge erections, but when I felt like I had a half erection coming, I would sit up in my bed and wait until I softened.

Day 3 Thursday September 10

Things are looking a lot better. I think that the swelling has reached it's peak, and I'm sure it's going to go down soon. The skin on my cock head has dried up a lot and now has this velvety feel to it and is wrinkly in appearance. Something I've looked forward to, for I've always wanted to have dry glans)

The sutures are still in, but I'm able to wear my underwear without putting a tissue paper on the inside for the bleeding stopped 100% so far. I haven't had any major runs of getting an erection which has been pretty good. I've been able to touch my cock now, without being squeamish, for although it is still swollen, it is not as sensitive as yesterday.

I did tell my Mom that I was going to get cut. In fact, when I told my Mom, my youngest sister who is 16 years old was at the dinner table found out too. My Mom didn't really have a negative view of getting cut. She was of course surprised, but I guess now that she's had it both ways (my Dad her ex is uncut, while her boyfriend is cut) and although does not show it prefers a cut dick too I'm presuming.) My youngest sister couldn't care less, although I'm not sure she knows what circumcision really cuts off. I told my oldest brother and he freaked out a bit. He's 25 and the type of guy who's afraid of blood and an anti-circer.

Michael (Canada)

I was born March 08, 1956 in Hungary and my parents were not religious. 

In my country circumcision is very rare so I had not heard of it at all until after adolescence. Later I read in popular medical books about circumcision and gradually became interested in it. Although I am straight, I began to observe the penises of men on all possible occasions. It was, however, not until I was 26 that I first saw a circumcised penis in the shower room of a swimming pool. It was only a moderately tight circumcision - like mine is now - but I was stunned by the natural beauty of the large, brownish, denuded glans that was proudly exposed to everyone's eyes.

From that time on I had been literally obsessed by the idea of having myself circumcised. Especially because I became more and more aware of the drawbacks of having a foreskin. My problem was of no hygienic nature because I washed my penis several times a day and every time after I urinated - my mother is a nurse and she informed me. But I did not have enough stimulation inside the vagina as my foreskin was rolling on and off my glans on every stroke. Practically I foreskin-masturbated inside the vagina and it was only at the end of an in-stroke that my glans had direct contact with the vagina. (I had a very loose foreskin with a considerable overhang that stayed on my glans when I was erect and rolled back by itself when I retracted it by hand.) Another problem was that my foreskin was in the way at oral sex, even with my penis totally erect.

Then I thought there was something wrong with me but did not have the courage to consult a doctor because I felt ashamed and was too shy to ask. Not even my girlfriend knew of my problem because I was able to come even if it was almost like masturbating. It was hard for her to come, too but then I think she had had uncut men all her life so she did not feel much of a difference as compared to other men.

Having read all information provided by CIRCLIST now I know that my problems were not uncommon: many uncircumcised men have them, even if not to that extent as it was in my case.

After circumcision I had no problems with an oversensitive glans because by that time I had totally abandoned foreskin-masturbation. Instead, in preparation for my future status I kept my foreskin retracted with one hand and rubbed my glans with the other hand. In the first couple of weeks I had to rub very gently or else I had pains but later my glans became accustomed to harder friction. So by the time I was circumcised my glans had a "near-cut" sensitivity.

I am very happy with my circumcision because:

1. My penis has a much more aesthetic appearance although my glans has not significantly grown.
2. I enjoy that my glans is permanently denuded and exposed so everyone can see it in its full beauty.
3. Sex is much more joyful because I can feel the friction between my corona and my partner's vagina on the outstrokes, too. Although my glans receives a lot more stimulation now, it takes me slightly longer to come and both my partner and I are happy about it. Although we do not make love more often,our orgasms are more intense.
4. Having oral sex is much easier since the foreskin is not in the way.
5. Masturbation is much better. Rubbing my dry glans (I never use lube) is incomparably better than the "foreskin method". I start very gently (it is nonsense what the anti-circ folks say about the circumcised glans becoming insensitive) but at the end I rub it as hard as I can - the scale of stimulation intensity is a lot wider now. I masturbate more often than I did before my circumcision and I have terribly good orgasms.

When I was circumcised, I had no idea of tight and loose, high and low circumcision styles and the surgeon did not ask me how I would like it. Had I had all the information I have now thanks CIRCLIST, I would have chosen a different circumcision, though. I would have chosen an extremely tight and rather high cut, so a bit below the middle of my penis shaft. Extremely tight so the coronal groove is free and the skins is smooth or even when my penis is soft - and in order to feel the pleasant tightness when erect. Rather high so there is no way to hide the circumcision scar that I am now very proud of. Now I am thinking of having myself re-circumcised in order to get it as tight as possible - or even a bit beyond that because the skin will expand somewhat anyway. I am only worried about the small distance between the scar and the glans: I am afraid a new cut will inevitably bring the scar even closer to the glans.

I am still straight but enjoy looking at circumcised penises or speaking, writing or hearing about circumcision. I admit I have had quite a lot of orgasms while masturbating at the stories and pictures I found at CIRCLIST.

My name is Alan and I live in Flanders, Belguim. I was circumcised as an adult at age 22 and until now I don’t regret it. Personally, I like sex much more without my foreskin, because I can feel a lot more now with my always uncovered glans. Even masturbation feels better. You only have to insist a bit more, but that’s just the lovely thing about it.

The surgery itself didn’t hurt because my penis was made insensitive and I was under general anaesthesia. Afterwards you feel something but that’s really so little that it’s negligible. You can compare it with cutting yourself whilst shaving.

If the healing proceeds normally, it takes some 14 days before you can masturbate or having sex again. After a few months, your penis is like before (but without a foreskin).

The choice of high or low/loose or tight is a matter of personal taste. I find low and tight the most beautiful (my case). But it seems that high and tight feels better and is more sensitive, because you still remain a lot of innerskin. It’s up to you. I am myself very pleased with my low and tight cut.

The Medical Insurance only pays you back if the circumcision is for medical reasons (in case of phimosis). If it is your own free choice, you have to pay it yourself. I also have wanted it myself without any medical reason but I told my urologist that I hurted my frenulum during sex a half a year before. He asked me then why I kept waiting so long before I visited him. I replied that it was difficult because of my school activities and that I therefor had been waiting until school holidays. He said that it made sense and advised me a full circumcision. First I’d told him that I would agree with a full circumcision. (A friend once told me that successful story). So, the Medical Department has payed it for me. I’ve payed myself about 2000fr.

= 100 Dutch gulden = about US$50

I’ve told my parents that I suffered from phimosis. After I came back from the urologist, I told them that I’d to be circumcised and they found it by then perfect normal.

I hope I’ve been useful to you with this. You can always mail me at my E-mail address, while the writings of this list are normally in English and our English-speaking friends won’t like this, I’m afraid.

Alan (Belgium)

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Envied Roundheads - Circ'd as Adult in UK

I had always envied roundheads, who formed about 50% of my school population. Their mothers had done something for them as babies that I had missed out on. From an initial awareness of the procedure at age 7, it took me 20 years to summon up enough courage and find someone to do it. I was circumcised by Dr Robert Newill who was recommended to me by Forum Magazine (A UK Journal of Human Sexuality-type publication). This was in May 1978.

Dr Newill was primarily interested in infertility treatment, but did circs as a sideline. Friday was C-day, to give patients the weekend to recover in time for work on Monday. On the big day, I was pretty nervous but looking forward to it all the same. After a short wait, I was shown in and told to strip off trousers and and underpants and lie on the couch. He gave one last chance to reconsider whether I still wanted it done, and I remember answering "Definitely!".

At this point I suggested that I wanted to keep inner skin at the expense of shaft skin so that the scar would be well down the shaft. He wasn't too interested in this, he had his own technique and wasn't going to deviate from it. After swabbing me down with antiseptic, he injected painkiller somewhere into the root of my penis. I don't remember this hurting, and soon the whole thing was numb. Next, he checked with me that my foreskin was in its normal position. Then he drew a line all the way round my penis, concentric with the bulge of my corona and a centimeter or so behind it. This was exciting, a preview of the cut to come. Oddly he did not do the same for the inner cut. Then he injected some sort of coagulant at various points around the places he was going to cut. This immediately caused localised swellings. At last he picked up forceps and scalpel and began to cut.

I was very relaxed during all this, and we talked about his experiences of circumcision. He had had it done during the war in the desert and had subsequently done a lot of men out there. He told me that at the present time (1978) he circumcised about three people a week. (He charged just 35 pounds a time, those were the days before doctors had to pay huge premiums to insure against malpractice suits - or got greedy). He mentioned that one patient had even wanted it done without anaesthetic, which had amazed him, but I suspect our members will understand.

Once the foreskin was off, he sutured the cut edges together with 13 dissolving sutures. He had left the frenulum alone, so that it was a simple job of suturing the two concentric cut edges together. (And with the benefit of experience, I'm very glad he left my frenulum, though it wasn't discussed at the time). I watched some of this, but it was fairly gory so I didn't take too much in. There was not a lot of bleeding, due to the coagulant shots, and if there had been I don't know how he would have dealt with it because there was no evidence of any electric cauteriser or the like in his consulting room. I do remember seeing my foreskin in a dish and wanting to feel it, but it didn't seem to be the done thing, so I never did get to touch it.

After the suturing was completed he wrapped a pad impregnated with antibiotics round my penis and secured that in place with a very fine bandage called, I think, Tulle Gras. And it was done! He had told me to come wearing tight underpants for support, which I did. He commented that in general he didn't think tight underpants were a good thing because the balls get hot, reducing your fertility. I wrote him a cheque (fairly illegible as I was somewhat shaky by then) and left.

Friday May 19th 1978 was a beautiful sunny day and I walked out feeling on top of the world. At last I had a proper-looking penis, at last I was circumcised! I went round to my girlfriend's house and spent the rest of the day and night there. During the afternoon we went to get further dressings and bandage, which Dr Newill had prescribed, from a pharmacist in the South Ken area, I wondered if he knew what it was for. I don't remember too much about the healing process, but a few incidents stick in the mind. I can remember it aching a bit, but nothing too acute. There was a party there that night which I attended till it was bed time so it can't have been too bad. When I took the dressing off for the first time to change it the following day, there was a thin spurt of blood which hit the wall a couple of feet away! I was alarmed initially, but it turned out to have been trapped somewhere because there was no further bleeding. it looked puffy and a bit swollen as I remember, but not too much. If anything it had gone down from when he'd injected the coagulant. I changed the dressings daily until about the following Wednesday, when I went over to putting on just a dry bandage.

By now I was aware of a satisfyingly tight sensation over my whole penis, it was lovely. The glans was never over-sensitive and the corona was protected by the dressing for the first week or so. I had been sent some anti-erection pills to take for a few days before the operation, which were effective in preventing night-time erections. I stopped taking the pills on about the Tuesday and by the Wednesday I tried a wank with the bandage on. It was too early: thank goodness I didn't do any damage but the discomfort overrode the concentration. I started picking out the stitches on the Friday, and I remember we went to Suffolk for the weekend and I pulled out the last stitch on the Sunday, 10 days after the op. I could now see what sort of circ I had been given.

It was a bit lower than I would have liked, with a bit more inner skin remaining on the right side (from where he'd worked) than on the left. Not too tight, reasonable movement in the shaft skin due to its inherent elasticity. Underneath, the scar like was rather wavy. I wish he'd marked a cut-line on the inner skin as well. My scar was nothing like the nice ring I had hoped for, and which I now know is only achievable with mechanical help such as Gomco clamp. But there was no bunching of skin, it was an uninterrupted sleeve from glans to root, with a slight bulge and change of colour at the scar line. Over the years this bulge has remained and differentiates it from an infant circumcision. The head has flared a little, but I suspect that circumcision needs to take place well before puberty to maximise this effect.

My 1st wank on the Sunday 10 days after the operation was awesome! Wanking technique was not greatly modified as there was enough movement left in the shaft skin. First sex on the following Tuesday was also very good. Being circumcised gave one a feeling of much deeper penetration. And the maddening covering-up on the out-stroke was completely eliminated, I now got twice the stimulation at the corona. My girlfriend was pleased for me that I got it done, but claimed not to be able to tell the difference during sex, which surprised me. We went our separate ways a few months later but still stay in touch to this day.

Her successor, my wife, wouldn't want me any other way than cut. Later on I discovered that doggy style sex was particularly improved by circumcision, previously this had been somewhat numbed by having a foreskin. Manual stimulation was improved as well: you are dry, not sticky, so your partner's hand slides smoothly all over your penis. Talc on an uncut penis would be a comparable sensation. It just felt tighter and more intense.

My wife tells me that my penis is the softest, smoothest part of my body - so much for the adverse effects of keratinisation we are warned about by the anti-s. I was very worried before being circumcised that I would be acutely aware of the lack of feeling from the missing piece of skin. The fact is, it just wasn't a problem. The overall tightness more than compensated and, taken with the additional stimulation of the corona, I should say that I had more net sensitivity after circumcision than before. I can still remember what my foreskin felt like, but I don't miss it. Oddly enough, I sometimes feel as though I've still got it if I try to sense my penis in repose when I'm clothed and sitting down.

Twenty years on and I can see that the day I was circumcised was one of the most important in my life. I gained self-esteem and contentment that day. I still wish that I had been done as an infant so that I would have been a lifelong club member so to speak. But I wonder with hindsight what other fetish might have taken the place of circumcision. But from what I have learned on Circlist, I think it is likely that it would still have been circumcision. I suppose I ought to be glad I wasn't snipped as reversal would be an unachievable fetish! As it is, I prefer the circumcised state, and I cannot understand how any woman can go with a man with a foreskin. Yet my experience of peer-group pressure making me crave circumcision paradoxically led me _not_ to circumcise my own son, because I did not want him to be one of a self-conscious minority. I like to think I put his mental well-being above my aesthetic preference for circumcision (he had to be done aged 5 for phimosis as it turned out!). By the same token, I think it is positively cruel not to circumcise your son in the USA and thereby expose him to ridicule and rejection on account of his anteater status. Carry On Cutting!

Simon (CA/UK)

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After a Lifetime of Desire, UK Man Gets Circumcision of His Dreams

I live in the UK and I am now 48, but I have always wished I were circumcised. It started as a small boy, when after seeing the first boy who was, I thought that this was a sign of maturity – probably because my father was, and to me this was a "grown-up" thing. I would make a point of looking at others in the school toilets or changing-room to see who was "grown-up" and who was not (a habit that persists, I’m afraid, even today), and even now I can recite the names of boys in my class and whether they were circumcised or not (actually, in 1962 there were only 3 out of a class of thirty!)

As I have grown older I have become more and more dissatisfied with what I have got. I suppose from an outsider’s perspective it is not too bad – a short foreskin which only just covers the head on "minimum setting", and approximately six inches when erect, with the skin halfway down the head. However, I dislike the wrinkled appearance (to my mind "immature"), the dampness and smell that seems to persist beneath the foreskin despite regular washing, and I always urinate, particularly in a public toilet, with my foreskin pulled back - not so much as means of controlling it better, but should anyone else see it they might think I was circumcised.

I have been married for nearly 26 years and my wife thinks it is OK – not that she has known any others (I don’t think!). She has remarked on the smell occasionally, and I am usually careful to make sure it is dry before she gives me her attentions! I have raised the subject of circumcision with her, and her attitude has been "it’s all right as it is, but it’s up to you".

I first made tentative enquiries when I was 26 and had a vasectomy. I wrote to the surgeon who was going to do the op as I had read in Forum magazine of a guy who had a circ. done at the same time as his vasectomy. I was called in for an interview, and was told that he would not do the op, and if I wanted it doing I would have to go elsewhere. In my (relative) youth, I took that as a "no" from the medical profession in general and pushed the idea to the back of my mind.

I never totally gave up on the idea, and over the years I would look enviously at anyone I saw who was circumcised, either in pictures or real life. Finally the Internet came along, and with it a vast library of pictures, articles, discussion groups etc. I finally decided that it was now or never – I must get something done. As I had to go to the doctor’s on another pretext, I vowed to ask him how I would go about getting circumcised. To my surprise – after the first half-disguised double-take – he said there was no reason I shouldn’t have it done if I wanted it, and he would refer me to the local private hospital (I realised I would not get it done on the National Health or private health insurance). I received an appointment to see the urologist, and again, I was surprised to find him quite amenable towards the idea (more fees for him, I suppose!). I gulped a little at the cost – it will be £850, to cover everything including general anaesthetic (he does not use local – "We like to have you nice and still"), but it was a price I was prepared to pay if I would get what I want. There was however a slight "but". He is used to doing medical circs by the score, and does them all the same. When I stressed that I wanted it for cosmetic reasons, he said that, of course, it was impossible to guarantee the appearance as you have to allow for there to be sufficient skin to expand on erection. I got the impression that I might end up with a rather loose cut, and the last thing I want is surplus skin rolling over the head to trap hairs – this is one of my gripes now.

Several months later...

I finally got circumcised. Things are going on reasonably well, except for the fact that I do not seem to be one of these people that heals well. I am left with some quite thick scar tissue around part of the cut which, although under normal circumstances is hardly visible, when I get a hard-on in particular it seems to stand out somewhat. I don't know if I am being impatient, but I would have thought that healing should be complete by now so I am probably stuck with it. Any opinions? This scar is still a bit tender, although not so that "normal activities" suffer. I don't know if it is a good thing to roll it around to try and break it down, or if this will lead to even thicker scarring. (See picture, 4 months after my circumcision..) 

Regards

Ian

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It's Not Too Late, OR TOO EARLY, For Your Circumcision

While my story may not be of interest to all members of the group, it will have served its purpose if it saves a few doubtful souls unnecessary hesitation.

On reaching puberty, I soon became aware of three facts and these were to plague me for nearly forty years.  First of all, I realized that I was very highly-sexed; secondly, I had a painfully tight foreskin and thirdly, as a result of this, I suffered from premature ejaculation, unable to "last" more than thirty seconds when masturbating.

On reflection, as a boy I was often at the Doctor with balanitis and phimosis, but neither he nor my father ever suggested circumcision.  In fact, until the day he died, I never received a word of advice from my father on matters sexual.  When the sexual revolution arrived in the 1960's, intimate matters were more openly discussed and I read an article about a male who had been circumcised in adulthood.  However, I could never bring myself to discuss the possibility of such an operation with my Doctor.  Even if I had, I could never have summoned up the courage to face surgery on such a tender part of my anatomy. Then, at the age of fifty-one, I met someone who was completely empathetic to my problem and after endless counseling over the next six months, I faced the dreaded operation at last.  Not wanting my family, friends and colleagues to know I was having such an operation, I decided to have it done privately during a week's holiday and wrote to the advice column of "Forum" Magazine for the names and addresses of surgeon's specializing in this field.

I chose a surgeon in North-East England and he arranged for the operation to be performed at his home.  I arrived there in the early evening and he asked whether I wished a full circumcision, with or without the removal of the frenulum, or a partial-circumcision that would leave only the tip of the glans uncovered. When I settled for the full-cut and removal of the frenulum, he then explained the procedure for the operation to be performed under "local" anesthetic. Eleven injections were administered in and around my penis and they were no worse than the jags one gets at the Dentist but, when I got the final jag in the underside of the shaft in the area of the frenulum, I let out a yell but the pain was only momentary. 

The operation itself, using the Gomco technique, took one hour, completely "devoid" of pain, and it did not seem long until he was stitching and bandaging the wound. Because of the long journey from his home to my holiday destination, it was pre-arranged that I would stay overnight at the Surgeon's home.  After the operation was over, we watched television for an hour or so, then I retired for the night. Once I was in bed, he came into my room and left some painkillers on the bedside table in case I needed them through the night.  However, the next thing I remembered was being wakened for breakfast in the morning; the painkillers untouched.  At about 11.30 a.m., I set off for my week's holiday, penis swathed in bandages. My crotch was so fully-padded that it turned heads as I strutted along the promenade every day. Apart from the injection in the frenulum, I did not suffer and pain at all; a slight discomfort, yes, and the stitches did strain in the mornings when I awoke with my normal firm erection, but all I kept thinking was ,"Why did I not have the operation years ago?"

As instructed, the bandages and padding were kept on until I arrived home a week later.  Then I had a hot bath and swabbed the wound with Milton solution. The stitches soon dissolved and my re-conditioned member was ready for action in three weeks time.  I should add that, in 1980, the operation cost me all of £20 (Twenty Pounds).

I could go on and on about how the operation changed my life at the age of fifty-two but that is enough for now.  Suffice to say, adult circumcision has worked wonders for me; there is just no comparison.  Although now a Senior Citizen, I am still very active sexually and, for the past twelve years, have been in a wonderful and fulfilling relationship. In conclusion, I would implore anyone with similar problems, or in any doubt, not to waste time and at least go for counseling.  It wasn't too late for me but, remember, it is never too early either.

 W. H. (UK)

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As many others have commented on CIRCLIST, circumcision does enhance the smaller penis. My penis, which during flaccid, is particularly small, so after the circumcision, and the glans has grow a bit bigger, it doesn't look small. I think the biggest effects comes when the penis is flaccid. The foreskin does make the penis look childlike, and small. Usually non-circumcised guys, have a smaller glans, unless he has kept it exposed.  With the foreskin covering it, it really makes it looks smaller. The most of the improvement comes from the enlarged glans. Circumcision seems to permit the glans to flare out, and give the penis an overall larger appearance.   The glans plays a big part in this.

Andrew (Southeast Asia)

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I was circumcised when I was 18, just four year ago and I wanted to write and tell you that I am very pleased to have been circumcised, as you had suggested.  My penis was only partially covered with foreskin even when soft.  However, I always felt it made it looks smaller than all the other guys in the showers.  In looking around the locker room for many years, I observed that uncut cocks simply don't look as large, even if they truly are the same size or larger than their cut counterparts.  Having the glans exposed, usually flaring more widely than the shaft, adds a dimension to the penis that makes it look bigger.  I discussed this with several of my friends who know I was contemplating circumcision.  There was unanimous agreement on this point.  And while girls may say that size doesn't matter, all of us guys think the girls think size really does matter.  And if having my glans permanently bare helps to make me appear larger and thus more likely to please my girl, then so be it.  This point alone was worth the small inconvenience the actual circumcision caused.  Since my circumcision,  my glans has flared out and my penis does look larger.  Thank you!

Jake (Ohio, USA)

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Does the Glans Flare Out After Circumcision?

I have a comment as to whether your glans gets bigger after circumcision.  Certainly removal of the constricting skin would suggest that  possibility. On the other hand, I wonder if the glans (or anything else) grows in size  after a certain age?  Nevertheless, maybe the bare glans gives the illusion that it has increased  in size after it is free as a result of circumcision. My glans definitely appears larger after circumcison, but then maybe it is an  illusion, as I mentioned. On the other hand, I find that I love the  "look" of the completely bare glans- it really is much sexier looking  in my opinion. The main reason that I chose to be circumcised was  cosmetic, but of course I had  the usual other reasons as well.

Glenn(CA 3X)

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I completely agree with you. But I really think that the glans effectively does flares out. I don't think that it's only an illusion. My glans also became a lot larger after my circumcision over a half decade ago. The corona also flared out a lot more and became much more prominent the head and corona make a true knob at the end of the shaft.  The head is always bare and gets constantly stimulated as a result. what a real pleasure! Just seeing it really is very stimulating.  I've attached a scan of my penis when soft. So, you all can judge by yourself.

Alan (CA22)

A new CIRCLIST poll came up with these results from members largely circumcised as adults.  It appears as though the consensus is that many (43%) noted an increase (small or large) in the glans after their circumcision. 

POLL QUESTION: Do you think that the size\width\thickness of the glans (head of the penis) and coronal rim has changed since your circumcision

RESULTS
- A small change >1mm, 20 votes, 19.61% 
- A large change >5 mms, 24 votes, 23.53% 
- Is larger than width of shaft, 41 votes, 40.20% 
- No change at all, 15 votes, 14.71% 
- Has reduced in size, 2 votes, 1.96% 
 

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I'm a black man and everyone knows what they say about black men being well endowed.  Unfortunately, I wasn't one of those well-hung black men.  That's not to say I wasn't average, and certainly comparable to most white guys in the shower. But I always wanted to be circumcised, and better hung, like many of my peeps.  While I gave it some thought when I was rather young, I didn't give it serious thought until I became sexually active.  Turns out the ladies expect both a circumcised and large penis to pleasure them.  After hearing several comments from my favorite girls, I decided it was time to act.  I got circumcised, pretty loosely, as you can see below.  I think it makes me look much longer than before.  I also had some fat added to may shaft to make me thicker.  I think that helped too.  I would strongly recommend circumcision to any guy that's ever even considered it.  Not only will sex be better, the ladies like it better, but it will look (perhaps actually be) larger too.

Cedric (Chicago)

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In my case I think the circumcision let my glans expand and flare out, especially in an erected state.  I love that effect.  When I'm soft, not so much a change in the size of glans from when I was uncut.  I'm not overly endowed - 6" - and 3 1/2 soft.  I had an inch of overhang, so I literally lost 1" to the knife.  However, I have always thought that the foreskin made my penis look childlike.  Thus even soft, with my glans appearing to be the same size as prior to my circumcision, it is constantly exposed and that alone makes my penis appear larger, even if it is not so.   Even though my circumcision was medical, I like the visual result.  According to some anthropologists, one of the reasons for the popularity of circumcision is the fact that it gives the cock and eternally aroused look.  I think most everyone would agree with this.

Paul (USA)

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Well it’s been five weeks since my circ. It truly was a good Good Friday. I’ve taken this long to post this as I have had a few problems along the way and wanted to wait them out.

I hope this will help any of you out there considering circumcision make an informed decision.

Since I was a boy I had wished I were cut. I always preferred the look of a cut penis and growing up in England my few cut friends always seemed happier with their status than I did with mine. Of course if you circumcised as an infant, you know no other.

Once I moved to the States as a teenager and put up with more than a few barbs about my foreskin I considered getting cut, but found it difficult/embarassing to discuss with my doctor. I did finally mention to my doc, who told me to leave well enough alone. So for years and years I let it slide. Then about 9 months ago I developed this incredible itching under my foreskin. It made jockitch seem quite pleasant in comparison. It would come and go, come and go but never really went away and I found myself scratching myself more and more. Then the tip of my foreskin started to feel as if I were holding an ice-cube to it, which while it may sound kinky and fun was anything but. I found it more of a problem than I could handle so went to my doctor who prescribed some antibacterial ointment. It didn’t work. Nothing worked. So I had myself referred to a urologist (I went to a second uro, just to make sure) and they both said the same thing. I could go on trying to cure it with ointments, but getting circ’d was the best solution. The diagnosis was recurring balanitis with redundant prepuce, which means my dick would keep itching and my 4skin was too long, which it was.

So here I am; happily free of that damn smelly dangling thing. I only kick myself I didn’t do it 25 years ago.

The procedure itself went well. I opted for general anesthesia, my middle name isn’t "hero", went into the clinic at 6.30am was out shopping with my wife at noon.

The problems I referred to were basically due to my bursting stitches on the top and bottom of my dick, this due to nocturnal erection. I woke up one am to find my lower stomach covered w/ blood. This did freak me out abit; went back to the doctor who felt no more stiches were necessary, and just appled a butterfly bandaid.

I had wanted to get cut "high and tight", but the doc did "low and somewhat tight", but ya know I like it. There is enough skin left so that erections feel pretty much as they did b4; I had contemplated asking to be retightened, but at this point don’t plan on it. There is still one tiny spot on the bottom that hasn’t healed entirely, but a check by doc said that is not unnormal and should heal in the next week or so.

I would say to anyone out there contemplating circ for either cosmetic or clinical reasons to go for. I am so pleased with my new aerodynamic self. Plus I truly feel like "an American kid" now.

If anyone has specific questions, feel free to e-mail me privately, although there are many out there who can give sage advice.

Nick (USA/UK)

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The Grower Dilemma

I'm what is commonly called a "grower".  By that I mean when soft, I'm pretty darn small.  Not a good shower room shower, if you know what I mean.  But hard, I'm quite respectible.  I don't mind at all, but when it comes to circumcision that's another issue and I haven't seen it discussed on the list much.  There is much talk about tight and loose, and wanting it really tight when both hard and soft, but my understanding is us growers just can have it both ways.  I got circumcised at 24 and I said to the doc, but me really tight.  After examing me soft (barely 2"), and pulling me out to tell that I would be nearly 7" hard, he explained the problem like this.  "I need to make sure you have enough skin to achieve a full erection.  I an make that really tight, which you have asked for.  But no matter what I do, when you are soft, there is going to be skin bunching up behind your glans."  I didn't take pix, but I did see these on the Internet and they are just like me.

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Freehand German Circumcision

Before

For many years I had dreamt of getting circed. Why? I don’t really know. It was just a strong feeling. I liked the idea of having a cut dick. There was no medical necessity. It just turned me on. I am gay, but I don’t think that this was the reason for my desire.

Nevertheless I hesitated: Would I miss my foreskin one day? How to find the right doc? Would I really get the right result? Might I loose feelings with my foreskin? Would I have pain? Could erections after the operation destroy the sutures?

When I got an internet access I looked for further information - and quickly I found the circumcision Newsgroup. A member of this newsgroup gave me two important informations: the address of the circlist and the address of a medical person with much circ experience.

So I became a member of the Circlist, asked many questions and got many answers. Answers of people who had become cut as adults. And more and more I got the feeling: I should do it!

I wrote a letter to the medecine, Rolf Assmann, and he sent me an information sheet. I visited him in Bonn - no problem because I am living in Duesseldorf, Germany, about 80 km from Bonn. I wanted to know whether I could trust him. A doctor who makes circs at home... I was very curious.

Well, the impression I got was a very good one. I could ask him ALL questions, and he asked many questions, too. He had not only no problems with my desire of getting cut, he really UNDERSTOOD it. He examined my penis, I explained how I would like it (high and tight), he explained how to do it. Rolf never  tried to convince me or at least to influence my opinion. He said that it would have to be MY decision whether to get circed or not.

Being back at home I still could not yet decide whether to do it or not. Again I would need much time. Half a year later, at the age of 36, I called Rolf again and made THE appointment.

The Operation

July, 24th, 1998 (Friday)

I arrived at the home of Rolf at 7 pm. At first we had some coffee and cake for calming my nervousness. At about 7.30h I put my trousers off and lied down on a special chair. Before (at home) I had shaved my pubic hair - not really necessary, but I thought it might reduce the risk of infections. Rolf had told me before that it would be enough to shorten the hair. With a pencil Rolf marked a line 2 cm behind the glans - the upper cutting line. Then I got about six injections - the first three were a little bit painful. At 7.45 pm the OP began - freehand style, frenulum removed, high and tight. Rolf got assistance by his friend. At 8 pm the foreskin and frenulum were cut away, and Rolf began with sewing. Rolf has a special technique for sewing, it needs a lot of time, but the results are good. He needed 1.15 h for sewing, at 9 pm everything was ready.

Again we had some coffee, half an hour later I remarked that the anesthesia began to decrease. A little and harmless burning, not more. Rolf offered me to sleep at his home, but I feld this was really not necessary. So I went home by car. Concerning the costs Rolf only took the prime cost, in my case DM 162.

Afterwards

I had been afraid of erections, but in the first night this was no problem. The second night I had the first erection, but the sutures had no problems with it. The first two days my dick looked awfully: swollen, blue and green, the wound bloody. But then it quickly became better. The wound became closed, the strange colours disappeared, the look became better. Already after two weeks my dick looked like a "normal" circed one, nothing strange to see apart from the fact that my pubic hair had been shaved. In fact I went into a sauna exactly 16 days after the procedure, and there was nothing spectacular to see besides my short hair. And in Germany we are totally naked in the saunas, so I couldn’t hide anything!

Six months after the procedure, I am totally happy with my circ. I am very glad to have let it done. And I am glad to have found Rolf, who has done - at least for my taste - a rather good job.

Can I recommend anybody to get circed? No, recommendations are not the right way. Don’t listen to those who try to convince you of anything. Everybody has to find his OWN decision by himself. The decision to get circed is a very personal one and nobody should make it for you!

FrankG (Germany)

Uncircumcised	Uncut-Skinned Back	Two Days After Circ
Four Days After Circ	Two Weeks After Circ	Two Weeks After Circ
Three Weeks After Circ	Three Weeks After Circ	Two Months After Circ

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THE BACKGROUND

I know my experience is similar to many others who have chosen to make the transition from uncut to cut - but I hope its a story worth retelling. There aren't too many ways to snip off a foreskin after all - the exhilaration of having been circumcised is what is I remember most.

From the earliest age the circumcised cock always looked so much more attractive ... and felt even more so. My father and kid brother are both cut - but the knife passed me by for reasons I know not! At school in London (UK) about half of the class were cut and I envied my many circumcised friends. Like all kids we engaged in mutual masturbation and this I did nearly exclusively with circumcised boys - and each experience reinforced the feeling that this was the better way to be. They were cleaner, more attractive and had a most wonderful shape - their cocks looked like something that had been designed for a purpose rather than the floppy tube of shapeless skin I had. Rubbing the soft velvet like glans was magic - mine was a tender damp thing that didn't like even gentle handling - let alone more vigorous attention!

I didn't have a very long foreskin - quite the reverse. The glans just peeped out of a little circle at the end of my foreskin and this meant I could retract it very easily and form my early twenties till I was cut the skin stayed neatly folded back behind the glans. After a couple of moderately itchy days it began to feel great - the glans color mellowed and the sensation calmed down. Apart from under the ridge where the foreskin still lay fopishly folded it became soft and dry.

From a distance it looked as if I had been cut in (what I think people refer to as) the English Style. Only when it came to using the thing there was still this excess of flabby skin which could get caught in things (occasionally - ouch!) - and your hand would just slide up and down the shaft as the excess skin slid from one end to the other without any sensation at all! After a few years I knew that Id have to take the plunge and get cut or regret it for the rest of my days!

I was so embarrassed I couldn't go to my GP - especially living in a smallish village where everybody knows everybody and so searched for some way to get done. Before the net there was no way to make contact with like minded folk, or learn from their experiences. But eventually I found a small clinic in London. I wrote to them and was able to make all the arrangements by phone and letter - which made it so much easier.

The idea was to be circumcised on Thursday so Id be back at work on the Monday.

THE CUT

I woke up early on the chosen Thursday morning and showered ... for almost ten years Id had the skin rolled back and when I had a wank I tried to ignore my foreskin. Now I rolled it forward and masturbated for the last time with the head covered: it felt strange and not at all pleasurable - this wasn't for me. I really was doing the right thing.

At 10 o'clock I walked a little nervously (no - be honest - petrified!) into the clinic to be met by the very soft spoken surgeon. I had already had a printed sheet that explained exactly what to expect - and got the impression that there was a constant flow of men wishing the same service! He asked me a couple of simple medical history questions and asked me to simply strip off to the waist and ushered me through and to jump on the table.

There I lay fully exposed yet neither nervous nor embarrassed: this was my destiny: to be circumcised - at last. I felt very much at peace now Id got to the point of no return. This was the right thing to do. I still feel that I am more somehow more complete without that stupid bit of skin.

The surgeon washed the area (cock, balls and all) with an anti-septic and then pulled my cock gently through a sterile cloth and reached for a syringe. He said the injection might sting a little but to my surprise it didn't! Yes, I felt a jab but he did three injections around the shaft - quickly going deeply then infusing anesthetic into the shaft as he withdrew the needle. No need to shave my pubes - what a relief!

As the lignocane took effect he cleaned the whole area again with a dark liquid - by now I couldn't tell quite what he was doing as all sensation had gone from my cock. He was cleaning all round the glans and obviously sizing up the situation. He took a pair of forceps and I heard the ratchet click shut as he asked if I could feel anything. Id hardly be lying here quietly if I could! was the puerile, but totally truthful, reply. I wasn't watching at this point but was aware that he'd clamped the forceps tight shut onto my foreskin and without the injections would have been in certain agony!

He had placed my cock on my abdomen pointing up towards my navel - he had clamped along that line that runs up the underside of the penis. He then made the first cut. Underneath. All the pictures I'd seen seemed to suggest you cut down the top and then go around; but he cut down to the frenulum and then with a pair of scissors circled my glans in four clean cuts - clamping the foreskin ahead and he seeming to be using the length of the forceps as a guide. As he made each cut he sutured up the wound behind - using a continuous suture before moving on to the next quarter ending up where he began, at the frenulum.

In no time he was done - there were only a few drops of blood. After a non-stick dressing he put on a few layers of a compression bandage - the sort of elastic gauze you put on fingers leaving the end of the glans poking out so I could pee. I was then instructed to go and enjoy a cup of coffee in the lounge outside. Was this what all the fuss was about? Was this surgical mutilation?

Fifteen minutes from start to finish: and the sense of elation! At last I was a regular circumcised guy - I was cut! At last I was whole! The real me at last!

As I finished my coffee the surgeon reappeared and had a quick look at the bandage and pronounced all was well (no blood ). He gave me a prescription for some painkillers, anti-biotic cover and told me to leave it alone for 48 hours then carefully soak off the bandage; and to bath twice a day as the water would help dissolve the stitches and they should all have gone in about a week to ten days. He shook my hand and ushered me out! That was it!

I lay naked in bed for the rest of the day intoxicated with the idea of my new look cock and couldn't wait to see the result let alone wait for sex.

RECOVERY

After the first night I found that nocturnal erections hurt as Id wake with one hell of hard on and the stitches pulling like mad. This was the only problem during the second night; and then it was time to remove the bandages.

My cock was a bit swollen -more so on the right side - but the compression bandage had kept the swelling to a minimum. It still looked a bit odd and not the majestic organ Id expected! I must admit I panicked a bit! All the things the doctor had said left me: expect swelling; expect redness and discomfort for a week.

You mustn't expect your cock to look like it was cut years ago just two days after being circumcised! Slowly the stitches dissolved and fell off, and the scar, a bright red line, began to fade. I still had a little skin left behind the glans which on erection tightened nicely along the shaft with just enough movement to masturbate without needing to lube.

After a couple of weeks I could jerk off! Ecstasy! Like nothing Id experienced before. My cock now felt bigger, with real shape and the feelings were more differentiated. Before the glans was too sensitive and the foreskin seemed to be another unrelated area of sensation. Now my cock seemed to feel like one coherent set of sensations (I'm sorry I find this hard to explain) and I could gently stroke the glans for hours: now it was fully exposed I could gently circle my hand round it (or better still have someone do it for me) it was and still is hypnotic and cathartic: you just let go and relax. Stroking behind the glans, teasing the ridge with your fingers too is unbelievable and then the shaft gets tight and firm.

The first time I went to a swimming pool I didn't hide in a corner anymore - I was totally unashamed at being cut - it had done my self-image no end of good. Here I am and I've a great looking cock at last! The scar now is darkish, and there are a couple of suture marks - but you need to look closely to find them. The cut is slightly angled which seems to give my cock a character of its own. To the touch you wouldn't know I wasn't done as a kid.

Someone recently said that having a foreskin is like walking down the road with a pair of big clumpy boots on - circumcised is like running across the sand on a beach barefoot! I cant put it better!

I was cut 12 years ago now and have only one regret - that I never took pictures before and after, nor made detailed notes at the time. My rite of passage is simply a memory - like a wedding without any pictures. But that doesn't really matter - every time I look down at it I still celebrate the joy of having been circumcised!

Martin (UK)