I just wanted to write to express my gratitude at the service I received a few months ago at your surgery. This is a short account of my experience for others to read.

I had always know from about the age of 15 that I needed to be circumcised, as I could not pull my foreskin back over the head of my penis at all. Unfortunately, it took me to the age of 25 to finally get up the bottle to have the procedure carried out..

Upon arrival at the surgery I was physically shaking with fear and felt sick at the prospect of what I was about to do. I made my way into reception and gave in my name. Others attending should be aware that it is not a clinic exclusive for this procedure, other members of the public are present to see GPs for other things.

This was no problem at all though. I was met, in a matter of minutes, by Practice Manager Sylvia, who took me to one side and went through a few things with me and gave me some paperwork. Moments later, I saw the smiling face of a man who introduced himself as Dr Zarifa, who took me into his consultation room.

Everything was fully explained to me (with the help of some very skillful diagrams) and a brief examination took place. After that, I was asked if I wanted to go ahead with the operation, or would I like some time to think it through? By now I was confident that this was right for me. Dr Zarifa had already put me completely at ease, so I opted to go right ahead.

We then made our way into the 'operating room'. This was not a large imposing operating theatre, but a small, sterile room, where I was met by nurse Pat, who made me comfortable on the couch. Dr Z then returned, all scrubbed up, and administered 2 or 3 injections into the base of my penis. This was the only uncomfortable part of the procedure, but even so, was nowhere even close to painful.

I then laid back whilst Dr Z (as he is fondly known) did his surgery and we chatted for about 20 mins about all sorts. A few times he asked me if I'd like to have a look at what he was doing, and I did have a look. There was not really a hell of a lot to see; no blood, no large instruments or clamps.

Once the procedure was complete, I went and took a seat in the waiting room for about 20 mins, before returning to be re-examined by the doctor to check for bleeding etc.

There was none. I was out of the surgery within an hour of when I had first entered. I drove home and rested for two days before returning to work. The dressing remained in place for five days and then I removed it in the bath. Initially, I was a little shocked at what I saw. The swelling along the scar line was more than I had expected but I did as the doctor had told me and showered or bathed three times a day. The very small stitches soon removed themselves. There was never any real pain, although there was some minor discomfort for the first few days after I removed the dressing as my penis rubbed on my underwear. This very quickly faded away and I was perfectly well healed within a month, and back in bed with my girlfriend; (gently at first!) I never even needed a Paracetamol throughout the whole thing.

Basically, all I can say, is that this was the best thing I have ever had done. It has changed my life. Thank you so much Dr Zarifa and all his staff for making it so quick, easy and painless. Also, I appreciated the extremely reasonable cost. It did take a little saving for me to afford to have the procedure done, but had I opted for one of the cosmetic surgery clinics that tend to advertise a lot, it would have cost me three or four times as much. I don't feel I could have got a better service anywhere else!

Thanks again, C, South London