Circumcision is a surgical procedure in which doctors remove all or part of the foreskin covering the head of the penis. Circumcisions are performed for medical as well as aesthetic and religious reasons.
Below you will find further information on the various circumcision techniques and circumcision specialists.
In many cultures and religions, ritual circumcision of the penis is common practice for newborns and children. In Judaism, this takes place on the eighth day after the birth of a boy. In Islam, circumcision is performed on boys between the ages of 7 and 14.
The most common medical reason for circumcision is a narrowing of the foreskin (phimosis). This can be congenital or the result of recurring infections or tears in the foreskin.
If the foreskin cannot be pulled back over the glans completely or only with pain, genital hygiene is impaired.
This increases the risk of:
In recent years, adult men in particular have opted for circumcision for aesthetic reasons. Many men and women find a circumcised penis more aesthetically pleasing than an uncircumcised member.
Sketch of a circumcision @ Nena /AdobeStock
Various surgical techniques are used for circumcision.
These depend on:
In the classic freehand technique, the doctor removes the foreskin along defined lines using a scalpel or surgical scissors.
With the clamp and forceps technique, the doctor carefully clamps the foreskin. He then separates it along the forceps or clamp using a scalpel.
Other techniques for circumcising small children include the Plastibell bell & Circ ring, where the doctor uses a thread or rubber band to tie off the foreskin. The foreskin, which is no longer supplied with blood, detaches itself completely after a few days and falls off.
In a modern laser circumcision, a medical laser is used instead of a scalpel.
Depending on the type and style of circumcision, doctors remove the foreskin of the penis completely or only partially.
In a radical circumcision, they remove so much skin that the glans is always completely exposed.
With a partial circumcision, on the other hand, they only remove part of the foreskin. The position of the scar on the penis shaft also depends on the style.
We have adopted the English term to describe the different styles.
If the scar is close to the glans, the circumcision is called "low". If the scar is on the shaft, doctors call it "high". Depending on how much skin the doctor removes, they refer to it as a loose or tight circumcision.
There are therefore 4 different styles of circumcision:
Aesthetic circumcision is a special type of circumcision. Instead of removing the foreskin, the doctor removes a piece of shaft skin directly at the base of the penis.
He then pulls the foreskin backwards to sew the shortened shaft skin directly to the base of the penis. This exposes the glans while the sensitive areas of the foreskin remain completely intact.
Circumcision is usually performed on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia. It takes about half an hour. After the procedure, the patient must wear a bandage. Sexual intercourse is possible again after two to four weeks.
The suture material is completely broken down by the body after approx. 4-8 weeks. The scar may still change in the first few months after the operation. It is barely recognizable after six months.
If the circumcision is performed due to medical necessity, the health insurance will cover the costs of circumcision. Circumcision for aesthetic reasons is not covered by health insurance.
Even if circumcision is a routine procedure, it requires routine and experience on the part of the surgeon. This is the only way to achieve a cosmetically satisfactory result without complications.
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