I created this site to document my experiences and progress with foreskin restoration. If you're unfamiliar with how it works, there are some helpful links below. See the navigation menu for progress pictures, my t-tape method, and my touch up surgery.
What is lost due to circumcision
The outer foreskin is a continuation of shaft skin. It protects the glans from becoming calloused due to day-to-day abrasion on clothing.
The inner foreskin is densely innervated and has a continuation of the specialized membrane on the glans. This membrane keeps the glans moist and sensitive.
Combined, the inner and outer foreskin is a very large amount of tissue (estimates are usually 5 - 15 in2). It makes the shaft a mobile sheath that rolls back and forth over the glans, which makes sex and masturbation easier and more fun.
The Frenulum: A highly eroginous band that connects the glans to the shaft. Considered to be the most sensitive part of the penis to fine touch. Often partially or completely removed by circumcision.
Dartos smooth muscle: A highly elastic smooth muscle beneath the skin which causes the foreskin to be extremely stretchy. It tapers and hugs the glans, especially when a person is active or exposed to temperature extremes.
Glans sensitivity: At birth, the foreskin and glans are adhered together. The act of cutting a boy involves using a metal rod to tear apart the foreskin and glans. It can be extremely painful in the moment, leaves the glans raw and painful long after, and then leaves it calloused and unprotected for life.
Men who choose to get circumcised as adults have significant post-operation discomfort as the still sensitive glans rubs on clothing. After weeks to months, the glans callouses over similar to those of us cut at birth.
Autonomy: For those of us who were cut without consent (the vast majority of cut men), it is disfiguring to be given scars in place of attractive and fun parts of our sexual anatomy.
Motivations/outcomes of my restoration
Sexual function: Foreskin plays important roles in sex. Although restoration cannot replace lost nerves, it can recover some functions the foreskin serves
Now that it is protected during day-to-day activities, the glans has become significantly smoother and more sensitive
Rolling motion of mobile skin on the shaft makes sexual activities easier and more fun for both me and and my partner
Instead of quickly going away, precum now stays under the foreskin, adding to sensation by making the skin glide around over the entire glans at the same time
Appearance: Foreskin is very attractive. A scar in its place is not, and often mentally pulled me out of sex with feelings of disfigurement and violation.
Mental health: The fact that I was cut at birth is something that has troubled and angered me since I was young. To take a knife to a person's genitals when there is nothing wrong with them and they cannot say "no" is an obvious and egregious violation of their autonomy. It is genital mutilation.
Men who advocate against circumcision are often mocked. Through discussions with parents who intend to or already have subjected their sons to gental cutting, it becomes obvious how rooted this tradition is in prudishness, vanity, religious branding, and greed and ego in the medical industry. To be branded by those things and frequently reminded of them by one's own body can be detrimental to mental health.
My Restoration Experience
My foreskin restoration method, with pictures
Shows how skin coverage changed over time
A procedure I got to tighten the new foreskin opening in absense of a ridged band. Keeps the foreskin in place better and is more visually similar to a natural foreskin
Other helpful resources:
restoringforeskin.org: Guides and forums
Reddit:
r/foreskin_restoration: For discussion of foreskin restoration methods, results, etc
r/restoringdick: For NSFW progress photos from men who are regrowing foreskin
r/circumcisiongrief: For men to express feelings about having been cut. Often very dark.
beschneidungsforum.de: Support and restoration help forums for cut men, in German
Common foreskin restoration methods:
T-tape: I personally have found this to give the fastest progress. It is best for beginners without loose shaft skin to work with, since other devices require some amount of loose skin to work.
TLC Tugger: I used this for many months with some amount of growth. It is a very solid and well-made product. Makes other restoration equipment as well.
DTR: I personally have not tried this device, but many restorers like it
Manual methods: I suppliment t-tape by doing this occasionally. I can't vouch for its effectiveness, but many restorers believe it works well.
Stealth retainers: Retaining product helps keep your shaft skin pulled forward to encourage growth during times when it is inconvenient to apply more tension.