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Foreskin restoration is a term that describes the process of restoring the foreskin (prepuce)usually in a circumcised male. Foreskin restoration techniques can sometimes be used by men who have sustained injury or have a naturally short foreskin
Men who have attempted restoration for several reasons. Some believe greater sensitivity of the glans penis is possible, and that restoring the foreskin will result in restoration of sensitivity. Some men have cited a desire to appear natural and want to experience gliding action during intercourse. Some men restore with the assistance of support groups who share information and ideas. Foreskin restoration groups are now active in several nations.
History
A form of foreskin restoration, historically known as epispasm, was practiced among some Jews in Hellenistic and Roman societies.[1] (http://www.cirp.org/library/restoration/rubin/)
European Jews, along with men circumcised for medical reasons, sought out underground foreskin restoration operations during World War II as a method to escape Nazi persecution.[2] (http://www.cirp.org/library/restoration/tushmet1/)
The practice was revived in the late twentieth century using modern materials and techniques.[3] (http://www.cirp.org/library/restoration/bigelow1/) The development of the T-Tape in the 1990's has enabled the process to take place more rapidly.
Surgical techniques
Surgical procedures have been developed to create the appearance of a foreskin, but these have been largely abandoned in favour of non-surgical restoration, which is generally believed to produce more satisfactory results without complications, and at low expense.
Surgical methods of foreskin restoration, sometimes known as foreskin reconstruction, usually involve some method of grafting skin and/or mucous membrane taken from elsewhere on the body, typically the scrotum, onto the distal portion of the penis. Another method involves a four stage procedure in which the penile shaft is buried in the scrotum for a period of time(1) (http://www.cirp.org/library/restoration/greer1/). Such techniques have produced some satisfactory results, but many men have experienced serious complications.
Nonsurgical techniques
Nonsurgical methods of foreskin restoration are performed by means of stretching the skin, dartos muscle, and mucous membrane covering the shaft of the penis to stimulate new growth. The process may take several years to complete, and varying degrees of success have been reported.
The most common method is stretching the existing skin and using tape to hold it in place. The tape can be attached to an elastic strap to apply tension to the skin, directing the skin and remnant of inner mucosa over the glans. Specialized devices that grip the skin without tape are also commercially available, as are books that demonstrate various techniques. The tension level of any device should never cause pain or discomfort. This is often the limiting factor in tissue expansion, since there is a risk of damaging tissues by use of excessive tension.
The foreskin has three principal components, in addition to blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue: skin, which is exposed exteriorly; mucous membrane, which is the surface in contact with the glans penis when the penis is flaccid; and a band of muscle within the tip of the foreskin. Generally, the skin grows more readily in response to stretching than does the mucous membrane. The muscle is called the dartos, which normally holds the foreskin closed. This portion is removed in the majority of circumcisions and cannot be regrown with known non-surgical techniques, so the covering acheived usually looser than that of a natural foreskin. According to some observers, however, it is difficult to distinguish a restored foreskin from a natural foreskin because restoration produces a "nearly normal-appearing prepuce" [4] (http://www.cirp.org/library/restoration/goodwin1/).
Foreskin restoration does not restore the frenulum or the ridged band. Although not commonly performed, there are surgical "touch-up" techniques that can re-create some of the functionality of the frenulum and dartos muscle. Some of the techniques require tissue removal. Restoring men sometimes choose only the non-surgical options with the understanding that there is simply less risk involved, and that natural regenerative processes could be more effective.
Physical Aspects
Tissue stretching has long been known to stimulate mitosis,[5] (http://www.cirp.org/library/restoration/radovan1/) and some research shows that regenerated human tissues have many of the attributes of the original tissue [6] (http://www.utmb.edu/otoref/Grnds/tissue-expand.html); whether this is true in the case of foreskin restoration has yet to be ascertained.
There are reports from those who have restored that over time their glans penis appears visually smoother.
Warren & Bigelow claim that restoration of the gliding action is an important advantage of foreskin restoration:
See also
External links
References
- Gary M. Griffin. Decircumcision: Foreskin Restoration, Methods and Circumcision Practices, Added Dimensions Publishing, 1992 (ISBN 1879967057).
- Jim Bigelow, Ph.D. The Joy of Uncircumcising!: Exploring Circumcision: History, Myths, Psychology, Restoration, Sexual Pleasure, and Human Rights" Aptos, California: Hourglass Book Publishing, 1st ed. 1992, 2nd ed. 1995.
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