I got circumcised when I was 18 because of various, stupid, and insecure reasons (got made fun of in school, etc), and not knowing at all the Hell I was getting myself into. Being young and naive, I did not look into the dark history or anything else about circumcision before I got it done. I did it strictly for the look, and of course the doctor did not tell me any of the consequences. I actually was told thatIi would have more sensation which I know now is the biggest lie in the world. After they did it I basically had no sensation or feeling at all in my penis. I knew something was completely not right but I thought if I just waited maybe things would change but it only got worse. I was in total denial for a while until one day reality hit me. And it hit me hard. When I called up the doctor to tell him how upset I was he said that it’s just me and that kind of thing does not happen. He cut me off and said he’s busy and not to call him again. Then he hung up on me. They never even charged me for having it done, which I didn’t understand at the time. I think he knew after I talked to him that he screwed up not telling me what the consequences were and they were hoping that I didn’t pursue legal action.

Sexually I went from a 10 to basically a zero and I did not really understand what was going on and had no idea what to do. I got into a deep dark depression and basically have been really depressed since then. I have gotten a little better and I am not so suicidal and self destructive anymore but it comes back to haunt me all the time. I have nightmares every once in a while. I just can’t believe people and doctors can completely ruin a person’s life like that and still get away with it. It does not make any sense at all.

I finally tried to sue but they said I waited too long. I wasted too much time locked up in my room being depressed and numb. If only I had known I could and looked into suing earlier. I joined the Pittsburgh chapter of National Organization of Restoring Men to get some kind of help. They assist men in non-surgical restoration of their foreskin. I’ve been restoring for 3 1/2 years, and have grown a lot of outer skin. I’m almost completely covered when flaccid. I started with t-tape and the pill tube method, and now using the Recap Inflatable and Recap Softy, which does a really good job at tugging. I have no increase in sensation, which is what I’m really worried about, and don’t know if I ever will. I’m just trying to be patient and to keep hoping that with time I will get something back. My brain still kinda remembers how unbelievably good it always felt being intact and how I so enjoyed it then, so that makes it even worse. I know it will never be like it was but any improvement of sensitivity is better than what it’s like now. This is definitely going to be a long journey and healing process.

I began restoring my foreskin at age 55 because masturbation and sex with my wife was becoming more and more difficult due to lack of sensitivity. I had no idea it was because I was circumcised at birth. I did an internet search on improving sensitivity and found so much information it was mind boggling. After some thought and discussion with my wife I decided to try to restore some of the damage that was done. I found that the reason for the loss of sensitivity was the keratonization* of the head due to the lack of protection that a foreskin provides. Years of rubbing against clothing and having to masturbate without a foreskin caused most of the damage.

The method I chose to use to restore was manual tugging and t-tape. I did have a bit of a head start because I was cut loosely. After 7 months of restoration I’m happy to report amazing progress. When flaccid the shaft skin covers about half the head which has caused the keratonization to disappear and leave me with a very shiny head when fully erect.

The sensitivity that has returned is overwhelming at times. To be very frank I never used to get any pre-cum due to lack of sensitivity. I wasn’t even aware of that phenomenon. When fully erect I am beginning to be able to learn how to use the shaft skin to stroke with during masturbation. I need to do this at this point because it is almost too sensitive to directly stoke the area with the hand like I used to. I plan on continuing this process although it probably will be more difficult to get such great results as I continue.

*(Ed: keratonization is a response by the skin to external influences resulting in skin hardening and the growth of additional layers of skin. Similar to callusing.)

Circumcision. For many years I couldn’t say that word. If someone nearby said “cir… cumstance” my heart would leap into my throat, just hearing the first few letters of that word, and my fight or flight reactions would kick in a big way. Circumcision has had a profoundly devastating effect on my life, very much I would think like being repeatedly raped by your parents (more…)

Long ago I decided that circumcision was wrong and definitely not what I would have chosen for myself if given the chance. I’ve tried restoring my foreskin for periods of 9 to 15 months over the past 18 years. Overall, I’ve spent more than 4 years in traction. And that’s quite enough.

But you never know, I could end up deciding I want to keep trying. Why? Because the result has been stretchier skin, but little new skin growth. And frankly it still looks every bit as cut as it always did. The unfortunate thing is that when I have stretched a while the greater color difference between the inner foreskin and outer or shaft skin makes the scar line more apparent.

Sensation? I have noticed, like a lot of men, a slow progressive loss in sensation over the years. When I have been stretching a while or keeping the skin pulled down in one way or another, I get much stronger orgasms and more powerful and longer lasting erections. At this point, I’m really not interested in wearing devices anymore. What I have found works for me is wearing tight briefs that holds it all in place. In this way, I stay covered, but I don’t have to deal with the hassle. And more importantly, I can enjoy some of the benefits of restoration even though my body has so far refused to grow skin.

I would definitely recommend that people restore. The benefits are great for those who succeed. I would only caution people not to feel down if their body won’t do its part. Everybody can get some benefit even if it doesn’t turn out as you expected or hoped when you started.

Hi, my name is Tom and I’m from Michigan. Here’s my story and where I’m at now.

I always thought being circumcised was “normal.” As normal and necessary as cutting the umbilical cord on a newborn baby. As a teen, I remember often getting in an argument with a friend who was originally born in Germany about how the uncircumcised penis needed to be cut, because there was “too much” skin, and it was ugly and didnt look like a “real” penis. When I say often, I mean just about every time we’d be out hiking in the forest or were a little far from home and had a piss. I guess comparing penises is something kids do.

Anyways, I always thought I had the most perfect penis that anyone could possibly have. It never came across to me that the reason I always had to wear one-size-too-small briefs was to keep it from rubbing and causing a terrible pain or sensation with nearly every move I made. I always thought it was “normal” to have to experiance that terrible pain when I moved certain ways, or every time I got up or sat down. When I was 17 I decided that (more…)