www.tabletnewspaper.com/vol2iss_19/features/foreskin.htm
Add to this the notion of trying to replace a missing foreskin and most people roll their eyes in disgust. For men interested in learning techniques on how to regain a foreskin, RECAP has been a safe haven for exchange of information free from prejudices and ridicules. On RECAP's message board, men write to each other to lend support, exchange techniques about naturally restoring the penis, and discuss matters of the foreskin. Speaking to Bryce, one gets a sense of a man with a clear mission, willing to challenge traditional notions. Tablet: Are men uncomfortable about admitting that they want to restore their foreskin? Bryce: I think that men are concerned that they don't have any support. I have seen the influence of the Internet assist with restoration in a big way. Just talking about a penis can put folks in an uncomfortable setting. I remember keeping it to myself since I didn't know anyone else restoring. There is always the question of doing it correctly, since asking the family doctor might get you in for some psychological tests. Tablet: When was the first time that you released that you wanted to have your foreskin back? B: I first realized that I was missing something when I got to see a neighbor's natural penis. He told me that he wasn't circumcised because the men in his family had the tradition of remaining intact. Until that point I knew nothing about foreskin and it was a mystery. It seemed like I might have been missing out on something. I began to question what tradition I had and I was open to starting the investigation. When I found out that restoration was actually possible, I did it. I didn't have an intense drive, but I was serious enough to see if it would work. My efforts have paid off and I prefer having my glans covered. B: Circumcision is worldwide, as a right of passage for social or religious reasons. The medical establishment has an interest in keeping this money-making, cosmetic surgery profitable. Also, in years past we didn't question the authority of a doctor. How is it that the majority of the world is fine leaving their boys natural and the US believes that nature needs to be altered? Can circumcision be seen as a crime if the procedure is not needed? The history and stories are amazing when one looks into it. As for an actual number of boys surgically altered, that varies among studies and sources. My main interests are with restoration, though I am concerned with ending routine circumcision. Tablet: One of the reasons for circumcision is the belief that a circumcised penis is cleaner. B: There are a number or reasons to justify circumcision; The old notion that the body is evil or sex is "dirty" might still be a factor for continuing the practice. A large part of the world remains intact, and those men don't have the problems that have panicked many parents in the United States. There are numerous beneficial factors to retaining an intact penis. Tablet: Was it difficult to find other people who had similar views as you? B: I started foreskin restoration in April of 1987 and there was nothing out there as far as awareness or books. I found a single ad in the Advocate and started corresponding with a Tony Lesce in Arizona. Years later I learned about the magazine Foreskin Quarterly and that's when I realized that other men had interests in foreskin. At that time there was a column about restoration so it was another source of information. B: The main organization called RECAP is gone, but for some reason the name remained with us. Right now our Seattle group has 29 guys that get notified of our meetings. There are about 10 to 15 that regularly get together, and in the past we've had holiday parties and a summer BBQ. We also have craft parties where work on customizing a restoration devise or work on a project dealing with restoration. B: The main idea of the group is to support each other in the quest for future foreskin. Men are at different stages of awareness when it comes to foreskin restoration. There are many different techniques for restoring, and each guy brings his own solution to the project. We cover topics on circumcision such as prevention and education and then everything imaginable when we are talking about restoration. The name RECAP came from ReCover A Penis, and is from a time when the group originator for Seattle was Chris Ertel. There were other groups in the US, but nothing around the Puget Sound. We usually meet every other month for a few laughs and to learn about what challenges and successes have surfaced. Tablet: Your letters and Web site discuss issues surrounding a sense of loss and the lack of masculinity. How does the taking away of the foreskin provoke these feelings? B: My letters and the Web site info show my opinion of the subject of loss and removing an element of masculinity. I think that humanity might be better off if we weren't initiating our infant males this way. Genital integrity is a birthright as far as I am concerned. I have such a deep conviction that routine circumcision is wrong and should be the choice a man makes for himself unless truly medically necessary. B: I think our group is mainly comprised of gay men, but there are also those that span the spectrum. The guys in the group have shown an openness to the whole concept of restoration and are serious about their gain. I think that straight men aren't as concerned with the ideas of restoration and probably don't feel as if they are missing much. Talking about the penis can be seen as threatening or homoerotic. It's really about the body, the structural integrity and sensuality instead of sexual orientation. It's great to have a support system that allows for some talking out loud and to hear how other men are dealing with the different issues that, no doubt, will arise. B: The restoration process starts off by realizing that it can actually be done. It's not a true replacement of the sensitive, nerve-rich tissue that was removed, but by having extra skin to cover the glans, moisture and sensitivity can return. The restoration concept is to create tension on the shaft skin by using tape or weights. Gaining skin shouldn't be painful, and if it is uncomfortable, there's something wrong and it will usually get worse. The entire process has to be individualized due to each man starting off with his own unique penis and type of skin. How the skin deals with adhesives is an important factor as well. A simple way to begin would be to try to apply a 1-inch piece of tape from left to right taking precautions to keep the glans away from the adhesive. Some men start with a band-aid, resolving the precaution. There is also the T-tape method where adhesive tapes are folded together to sandwich equal tension on the outer shaft skin and the inner skin. This method is widely used in the group and gets good results. It's a bit difficult attempting to describe the ways to tape and that's why the group is so important. B: There is a medical procedure and there is a large cost associated with it, but the main restoration movement is through stretching and growing new skin that way. The only costs associated with this method are the investment of time and tape. There is now a tape-free method termed as a "Tugger" involving weights that will probably get more attention. B: A weighted silicone pud (penis un-circumcising device) is a device that gets placed on top of the glans while the skin gets pulled up the sides and taped. Weight has been added to allow gravity to assist in the process. Sitting all day won't do much for the weight and gravity. Some men can get the skin completely over the top of this pud, and it all depends on the size of cone and what sort of skin you have to work with. The cones come in a set of three and offer no real customizing. I know several men that think these are quite comfortable. There is also a urine hole so you can attempt to pee with it on. You might have to take it off anyway if your alignment of urine flow isn't right on. The tape should be strong enough to hold, but not so strong that the skin gets torn when it is removed. I'm convinced that body awareness increases with this entire...
|
http://csua.com/feed/