When I became afflicted with a tight foreskin I found the prospect of seeking medical advice too embarrassing. I did my own research I discovered that I had phimosis and that circumcision was the most effective and permanent remedy.

And on the internet I found the Gilgal Society to be the most comprehensive source of advice on foreskin problems and the merits of circumcision for the layman (and laywoman!). Having an admiration for the look of the circumcised penis I found the Gilgal Society an empathetic source of clear, unambiguous and concise advice.

I contacted the Gilgal Society and, after having made the decision to be circumcised, was directed towards the Custom House Surgery. With their support and encouragement I nervously telephoned the surgery and spoke to Sylvia who calmly took my details, made an appointment and emailed me an information sheet.

On the appointed day I trimmed my pubic hair and had a long shower paying particular attention to my foreskin and glans. Arriving at the Custom House Surgery I reported to reception and was invited to take a seat whilst Sylvia was informed of my arrival. After a few minutes Sylvia came out to the waiting room with a file tucked under her arm – there was paperwork to be done. Sylvia has a charming and reassuring manner and is clearly accomplished in welcoming the soon-to-be-circumcised to Custom House. We completed the formalities and Sylvia asked me to confirm that I had not had a previous circumcision.

I then waited for what seemed like an age before being greeted by Dr Zarifa and invited into his office. We had a brief discussion about my reasons for being circumcised. Being satisfied that I was rational and not having unreal expectations Z moved on to the physical examination. I dropped my trousers and lay down on the examination table. Z gently pulled back my foreskin to reveal my glans, the phimosis and my frenulum. On completing his examination Z pulled my foreskin forward, I pulled up my pants and we resumed our discussion at Z’s desk.

Z confirmed my suspicions and that the course of action was a full circumcision together with a frenulectomy. Z went on to explain, with the aid of a drawing, the circumcision procedure, how the wound would be stitched and bandaged, how long the bandage should remain, what the wound would look like as it healed, how to keep my penis clean whilst the wound healed and post operative aftercare including the use of anti biotics. Finally we agreed where the cicatrix (circumcision scar) would be placed on the shaft of the penis and I returned to the waiting room.

After another nervous wait Nurse Pat appeared and beckoned me into the minor surgery room. Pat led me to the operating table and asked me to undress while she continued with preparing for the surgery. I stripped naked apart from my T-shirt and lay on the table with my T-shirt pulled up to my chest. Soon Z came in wearing his surgical apron and Pat wheeled a trolley bearing the required equipment to the operating table.

Z donned his surgical gloves, took some antiseptic liquid from the trolley and began swabbing my genitals and the surrounding area before rolling back my foreskin and thoroughly cleansing the inner fold of the foreskin, the glans and the frenulum. Z then made four injections of anaesthetic into the base of my penis. These were entirely painless even though my full attention was concentrated on the procedure. After about a minute Z prodded my foreskin to see that the anaesthetic had taken effect. There was one area that had not gone numb so a fifth injection was administered and the foreskin was completely numbed The numbness was an odd feeling but not unpleasant: it felt as though my penis was having an out of body experience!

Z then placed a large sheet of absorbent paper over my groin; a hole in the centre of the paper gave access to my penis. Firmly grasping my foreskin Z pulled it forward and then back to expose the glans and the phimotic ring and to judge where to make the cut. After collecting a pair of locking forceps from the trolley Z pulled my foreskin forward again lifting my penis clear. Z began to set the position of the forceps on my foreskin and when he had the right position firmly closed the forceps into the locked position which held the full amount of my foreskin forward of the glans. He then let my penis rest with the forceps still in place. After picking up his scalpel from the trolley Z lifted my penis using the forceps and slid his scalpel along the side of the forceps severing my foreskin.

After putting the forceps and the severed foreskin in a kidney dish on the trolley Z saw that the remnant inner foreskin remained over the corona and he gently rolled it back into its new position where it would join the shaft skin. He then swabbed away the blood from the wound to identify the larger blood vessels which he sealed with an electrical cauterising instrument. Z then focussed his attention on the frenulum which he burnt away with the cauterising instrument. It looked as though Z working as a sculptor as he gradually moved his cauterising tool over my frenulum burning it away as wisps of smoke drifted from my penis.

After dispatching the frenulum Z proceeded to stitch the wound with sixteen evenly spaced sutures around the wound and then firmly bandaged the wound.

The surgery was over and I got dressed using an extra tight pair of underpants that would hold my penis firmly in place and stop it flapping around. I made my way back to the waiting room this time to wait for nature to take its course: before leaving Z had to be sure I could still urinate. After drinking several bottles of mineral water I completed the final act of the circumcision procedure and was off to make my way home.

I was feeling a little queasy but was able to collect my prescription for the antibiotics from the local chemists and have a pot of tea at the nearby café which cured my queasiness. As I made my way home I was surprised that I little sensation of just having been circumcised and had not adopted any telltale ‘funny walk’.

I maintained the regime prescribed by Z. After about five days my glans became extremely sensitive. I had expected any discomfort to be concentrated on the circumcision wound so I consulted Z who assured me that this sensitivity can occur and would resolve itself in due course and that I should now remove the bandage.

On removing the bandage I was surprised at how healed most of wound was after such a short time. The frenulum area was not so neat and was, as is normal, leaking lymph fluid. The sensitivity of the glans continued and I found that wrapping it in a paper kitchen towel eased the discomfort and absorbed any leaking lymph fluid.

Whilst the majority of the wound continued to heal the frenulum area appeared as an open wound and I checked with Z that this was in order. He confirmed that that was a typical stage in the healing of a circumcision where the frenulum had also been removed.

After about three to four weeks all of the wound had closed. The cicatrix was still reddened and this gradually faded as the healing of the wound continued

Now fully healed my penis is looking as pretty as a picture with a neat cicatrix about an inch behind the corona and no trace of ever having had a frenulum. Exactly what I wanted – a perfect penis!

I am now well rid of my foreskin and count myself fortunate to have found the path to Z and his Custom House circumcision team.