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Circumcision (foreskin removal)

Duration of the OP
Approx. 1 hour under local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic (especially when combined with other procedures)
Aftercare
Outpatient operation, rest for approx. 14 days, suture removal not necessary (self-dissolving)
Sociability
immediately
Sport
after approx. 2 weeks
Pain
low

There are many reasons to undergo circumcision: Cultural, aesthetic and, of course, medical reasons.
In many societies, boys or young men are always circumcised or decide in favour of circumcision themselves at a certain age. The reasons are anything but cultural and religious, as circumcision has many other advantages: first of all, there is an aesthetic issue, as many men (and women!) simply find a circumcised penis more aesthetic and attractive. In other words, neither men nor women find a long and flaccid foreskin attractive.
In addition to the aesthetic aspects, there are also medical reasons to undergo circumcision, as an unhygienic environment is created under the foreskin, which must be constantly cleaned and sanitised.
In addition to all these aspects, there are of course also changes to the foreskin that make circumcision necessary. For example, if the male foreskin is constricted and can only be retracted with difficulty or not at all, this is known as phimosis (narrowing of the foreskin) and surgery should definitely be carried out to ensure intimate hygiene. In the case of foreskin constriction, it can also happen that the foreskin slips backwards during an erection, for example, and then becomes entangled and can no longer be pushed forwards.
In many countries, such as the USA, the majority of young adults are circumcised - regardless of whether foreskin constrictions exist or not. Here, the aesthetic image of a circumcised penis has prevailed.
Another, less well-known reason for circumcision is the desire to change sensitivity during sex. By exposing the glans, one would assume that greater sensitivity would result and thus also more intense arousal and a faster orgasm. However, this is generally not correct. As part of a circumcision, a so-called frenuloplasty can complement the operation and reduce arousal so that you can last longer during sex. The reason: the ‘frenulum’ is the ligament that connects the foreskin on the underside of the penis to the glans. The density of nerves is particularly high here and a frenuloplasty can reduce hyperexcitability and intensify and prolong sex. Circumcision in combination with frenuloplasty can therefore also improve your sex life in the long term.

A final remark: Of course, circumcision (with or without frenuloplasty) can also be combined with penis enlargement. A thickening alone is particularly suitable as a combination operation, as the distraction treatment required for penis enlargement may be impaired by circumcision. But these details are best discussed in a personal consultation.

 

For further information, please see the bottom of the page. This is where the advantages and disadvantages of the procedures are presented and the risks and side effects are explained. However, this cannot replace a personal consultation (also via video), in which these aspects are explained and adapted individually. We therefore look forward to a personal consultation with you!

Who is it for?

Who is circumcision suitable for? Circumcision can generally be performed on any man. Regardless of whether you suffer from phimosis (a narrowing of the foreskin) or whether you are considering circumcision for hygienic or aesthetic reasons, we will be happy to help you with information and details about the operation so that you have a sound basis for your decision. By the way: If patients want a penis thickening, we even recommend circumcision at the same time so that the foreskin is not thickened at the same time and functional impairments occur.

Details

How is a circumcision performed? Circumcision alone is usually performed under local anaesthetic, but is often combined with other treatments and then planned under a short anaesthetic. Before planning, the different types of circumcision need to be discussed and determined. Two aspects are important here: 1. how much skin is to be removed? Here the question arises as to whether maximum skin removal should be planned (so-called ‘tight’ technique) and the skin then sits tightly on the shaft during the erection, or whether a normal excess of skin should be left (so-called ‘loose’ technique), which is still slightly movable during the erection. Most of our patients opt for normal skin mobility, i.e. the ‘loose’ technique. 2 Where should the transition from the penile skin to the mucous membrane be placed? During a circumcision, the scar can be placed close to the glans (so-called ‘low’ technique) or more towards the centre of the shaft (so-called ‘high’ technique). While many men in the USA want the transition to the more reddish mucosa close to the centre of the shaft, in Europe the desire to place it close to the glans predominates.

After the treatment

What to consider after circumcision. After the circumcision, the wound is naturally somewhat painful and the nocturnal erection can lead to brief discomfort, but does not really jeopardise the suture. The stitches are self-dissolving, but take some time to absorb, so you should allow 3-4 weeks for sexual downtime. The pain is generally minor and taking ibuprofen or paracetamol is sufficient.

Results & Risks

Results and risks of circumcision? The results are generally good and circumcision surgery is a safe treatment. In some cases, scar healing is not quite optimal and small, fine bulges form, which usually disappear over the following weeks. Very rarely these need to be corrected again. Improper or inexperienced circumcisions can result in the removal of too much skin, which can cause the skin to tighten during an erection or prevent the penis from reaching its full length. If ‘too little’ skin is removed, it will still lie over the glans when the penis is erect, resulting in further surgery.

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