Circumcision
(Circumcision)

Circumcision / Circumcision: Medical and aesthetic

Circumcision — medically called circumcision — is one of the most common urological-plastic procedures worldwide. About one third of all men are circumcised: for medical, aesthetic, cultural, or religious reasons. At the Androklinik® of the Praxisklinik am Rosengarten®, circumcision is offered both as a standalone procedure and in combination with other intimate surgical procedures.

Did you know? Only about 20% of men in Germany are circumcised – with a strongly rising trend. In the USA, it is over 80% of men. The reasons: hygiene, aesthetics, and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

What sets this page apart from the standard: As a clinic with a comprehensive spectrum of male intimate surgery, circumcision at Dr. Spanholtz is often embedded in a larger treatment plan — as an access for Phallograft®, EjaNova®, or penis thickening, or as a standalone aesthetic decision. This makes the quality of execution particularly important.

Circumcision — Consultation

Discreet, factual, without pressure — via video or at the private clinic K61.

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At a glance

Circumcision / Circumcision — the most important key facts

Procedure:

Removal of the foreskin (fully or partially)
Anesthesia:

Local anesthesia or short anesthesia — depending on preference and extent
Performance:

Outpatient — direct return home possible
Stitches:

Self-dissolving — no removal of stitches necessary
Healing:

Wound heals in approx. 2–3 weeks
Sex & Sport:

Approx. 2–4 weeks after the surgery
Costs:

Medical indication: possibly statutory/private health insurance reimbursement · Aesthetic: self-payer
Combination:

Possible with Phallograft®, EjaNova®, penis thickening in one session

Why do men get circumcised? The most common reasons

There are many reasons to undergo circumcision — and none is less legitimate than the other:

Indication	Explanation
Phimosis (foreskin narrowing)	Foreskin too tight, which cannot be fully retracted in the erect state — painful, can lead to problems during sex and urination · medical indication, often reimbursable by statutory/private health insurance
Recurring inflammations	Recurring inflammations of the foreskin or glans (balanoposthitis) · under the foreskin a warm, moist environment develops that favors germs · circumcision permanently eliminates the problem
Paraphimosis	Retracted foreskin that can no longer be pushed forward over the glans — medical emergency · circumcision can be indicated preventively or acutely
Aesthetic desire	Many men (and their partners) find the circumcised penis aesthetically more attractive · a flabby or too long foreskin disturbs the appearance · a completely legitimate reason
Hygiene	Under the foreskin an environment forms that requires regular thorough cleaning · after circumcision hygiene is easier and more straightforward
Cultural / Religious	In Islam, Judaism, and many other cultures, circumcision is part of the tradition · Dr. Spanholtz also performs culturally-religiously motivated circumcisions
Premature ejaculation	The exposed glans gets used to direct contact and loses some of its hypersensitivity · can improve ejaculation control
Access for other procedures	Phallograft® implant and EjaNova® surgery require a circumcision access · sensible combination of both procedures in one session

Discuss your personal reason

Dr. Spanholtz takes all reasons seriously — medical as well as aesthetic.

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Why experience is crucial in circumcision

A circumcision sounds like a simple procedure — and in experienced hands it is. The decisive factor is precision: it is about removing exactly the right amount of foreskin.

What can go wrong with poor technique

Too much skin removed: The skin tightens painfully during erection · the penis cannot unfold its full length

Too little skin removed: The glans remains covered in the erect state · a repeat surgery becomes necessary

Uneven scar: Aesthetically unsatisfactory · in rare cases small bulges that have to be corrected afterwards

Dr. Spanholtz measures and plans precisely before he cuts. The result should be functionally flawless and aesthetically convincing — right away.

Circumcision styles: High or Low — Tight or Loose?

A circumcision is not a one-size-fits-all solution. How much foreskin is removed and where the cut is made significantly influences the aesthetic and functional result. In technical terms, a distinction is made between two axes: the height of the cut (High or Low) and the tightness of the remaining skin (Tight or Loose). From their combination arise four classic style options.

Our specialist discusses individually in the consultation which style suits your anatomy and your wishes. There is no universally 'correct' variant — but there is one that is best for you.

The two axes: height and tightness

Axis 1 — HIGH or LOW (height of the cut):

HIGH:

The cut is made near the base of the glans (sulcus coronarius) — relatively high up on the penile shaft. After healing, the glans remains permanently fully exposed, even in the flaccid state.
LOW:

The cut is made a bit further from the base of the glans — a bit lower on the penile shaft. A larger portion of the inner foreskin is preserved.

Axis 2 — TIGHT or LOOSE (tightness of the remaining skin):

TIGHT:

The remaining penile skin is sutured tightly. Little or no residual mobility of the skin on the penile shaft remains.
LOOSE:

The suture leaves somewhat more tissue in place, so that the penile skin retains a certain mobility in the flaccid state.

	TIGHT (close-fitting)	LOOSE (loose, with mobility)
HIGH	HIGH & TIGHT Maximum exposure: cut high up (near the base of the glans), glans permanently fully exposed — even in the flaccid state. Hardly any penile shaft skin remains. Tight scar without leeway.	HIGH & LOOSE Cut high up, but scar set so that some residual mobility of the penile skin remains. Glans almost always exposed. A good compromise for many patients.
LOW	LOW & TIGHT Cut somewhat further from the edge of the glans. More inner foreskin is preserved. Tight scar, little residual mobility. In the flaccid state the glans can still be slightly covered.	LOW & LOOSE Most conservative variant: cut far from the edge of the glans, more tissue is preserved, distinct residual mobility of the penile skin. In the flaccid state the glans is often still covered. Rarely an aesthetic goal in adults.

Which style suits whom?

The choice of style is individual and depends on several factors:

Aesthetic goal: Maximum exposure of the glans or rather a natural appearance?
Anatomical conditions: length and elasticity of the existing foreskin, penile shaft length
Accompanying procedure: When the circumcision serves as an access for Phallograft® or EjaNova®, the surgical technique often determines the style
Medical indication: In case of phimosis the anatomy can limit the available scope

The most common choice in aesthetic elective circumcision

HIGH & LOOSE is often the preferred combination among men who decide on a circumcision for aesthetic reasons: The glans remains permanently largely exposed, but the penile skin retains a slight natural mobility — the result appears defined without functional limitations.

Dr. Spanholtz advises you on a case-by-case basis. The right amount is decisive — too tight can tighten painfully during erection, too loose misses the aesthetic goal.

The surgical procedure

	Phase	What happens
1	Consultation & Planning	Detailed discussion (via video or at the clinic) · clarification of the indication (medical or aesthetic) · discussion of the desired style and the extent · in case of medical indication: clarification of cost coverage with statutory/private health insurance · planning of possible combination procedures
2	Anesthesia	Local anesthesia or short anesthesia depending on preference and extent · in combination with Phallograft®, EjaNova®, or penis thickening: short anesthesia · outpatient
3	The procedure	Foreskin is precisely removed after exact measurement — according to the principle: as much as necessary, as little as possible · small blood vessels are treated · wound closure with self-dissolving stitches · no removal of stitches necessary
4	Aftercare & Healing	Wound heals in approx. 2–3 weeks · stitches dissolve on their own · slight swelling and redness in the first days is normal · sex and sport possible after approx. 2–4 weeks · occasional small bulges usually disappear on their own

Circumcision as part of a larger treatment plan

At Dr. Spanholtz, circumcision is often not an isolated procedure — it is often a sensible part of a combined treatment plan:

Phallograft® penis thickening

The Phallograft® implant is inserted via the circumcision access. If you desire a Phallograft® thickening and are not yet circumcised, simultaneous circumcision is the obvious solution — one anesthesia, one healing process

More about Phallograft®

EjaNova® (premature ejaculation)

EjaNova® microsurgery is also performed via the circumcision access. Men who desire EjaNova® and are not yet circumcised combine both procedures in one session.

More about EjaNova®

Penis thickening with autologous fat

If you are planning a penis thickening with autologous fat and are not yet circumcised, the circumcision can be sensibly combined in the same short anesthesia — since the foreskin cannot be treated along with the thickening anyway.

More about penis thickening

Important: Plan combination with penis lengthening separately

Special case penis lengthening: If a distraction (stretching treatment) is performed after a ligamentotomy, a simultaneous circumcision can impair this aftercare. If you desire penis lengthening and circumcision, please discuss the optimal sequence in the consultation with Dr. Spanholtz.

More about penis lengthening

Cost coverage: When does the health insurance pay?

Medical indication (phimosis, recurring inflammations, paraphimosis): Usually covered by statutory and private health insurance — please clarify in advance with your insurer
Aesthetic elective circumcision without medical indication: self-payer service
Combination with Phallograft® or EjaNova®: Both are self-payer services — total costs individual after consultation

An individual clarification with your private health insurance can be worthwhile — especially in case of existing pre-existing conditions or recurring complaints.

Precision that you can see

Circumcision at Dr. Spanholtz — experienced, aesthetically precise, combinable.

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Frequently asked questions about circumcision

Are the stitches removed after the surgery?

No — The Androklinik® uses exclusively self-dissolving stitches. They dissolve on their own after approx. 2–3 weeks. No appointment for stitch removal is necessary.

How long does healing take?

The wound usually heals within approx. 2–3 weeks. Slight swelling and redness in the first days are normal and subside. Sex and sport are possible again after approx. 2–4 weeks.

Does circumcision have effects on the sex life?

Erectile ability and strength are not affected by a circumcision. The exposed glans gets used to direct contact and loses some of its hypersensitivity — some men report better ejaculation control. The orgasm remains fully preserved.

Can I have a penis lengthening done at the same time?

Not readily — the distraction (stretching treatment) after a ligamentotomy can be impaired by a simultaneous circumcision. In this case, the circumcision should take place either well before the penis lengthening or after completed aftercare. Dr. Spanholtz plans the optimal sequence in the consultation.

Does the health insurance cover the costs?

In case of medical indication (e.g. phimosis, recurring inflammations) the costs are usually covered by statutory and private health insurance. Please clarify the cost coverage in advance with your health insurance. An aesthetic elective circumcision without medical indication is a self-payer service.

Related procedures — often combined with circumcision

Functionally flawless. Aesthetically convincing.

Circumcision at Dr. Spanholtz — precise, experienced, outpatient.

About the author

Dr. med. Timo A. Spanholtz
Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery - Specialist for Men's Health and Intimate Surgery

Dr. Spanholtz is the founder and chief physician of the AndroKlinik. With many years of clinical experience in men's health, andrology, and reconstructive urology, he supports patients from the entire German-speaking region.

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Circumcision
(Circumcision)