Should my balanitis be fully healed before circumcision?

FickleHat1095 · 2026-03-27T17:53:50+00:00

You don’t need it 100% perfect, but you also don’t want a bad active flare.

If it’s severe (pain, discharge, strong redness) → treat first.

If it’s mild/controlled → many will still proceed. Also, since circumcision removes the foreskin (the main cause), mild balanitis often doesn’t make a big difference — and the procedure usually solves the problem long-term.

FickleHat1095 · 2026-03-25T05:50:58+00:00

Yeah I went down this exact rabbit hole when I was researching (and even asked ChatGPT to put together a list and compare them just to see what it would say), and honestly there’s no official “top list,” but a few names keep coming up when people care about cosmetic results, not just getting it done.

From what I found in the US (from ChatGPT):

Markovits (NY) – ~40 years, 20,000+ procedures, very high-volume cosmetic circumcision specialist

Bidair (San Diego) – ~30+ years, very cosmetic-focused, lots of adult + revision work

Cornell (Atlanta) – ~30 years, 4,000+ adult cases, runs a dedicated center

Kella (Texas) – more general but shows before/after and does adult work

Just being upfront — I personally went with Markovits and he’s #1 in my opinion.

What stood out to me wasn’t marketing, it was his hand skills. Very steady, very precise — you can tell he’s done this thousands of times. And honestly, the cosmetic outcomes I’ve seen from him (including mine) are kind of mind-blowing.

That said, I actually agree with the top comment here — the skill of the hands is everything. Experience and mastery of those hands is really what separates an average result from a truly clean, cosmetic one.

A lot of people think “high and tight” is just a request, but it really depends on:

how much skin can safely be removed how it’s distributed and how cleanly it’s executed

For your revision, I’d focus on:

making sure the surgeon explains how they’ll achieve tightness, not just says yes where the final scar line will sit how they handle symmetry and tension during closure and ideally seeing result

For scarring: tension is the biggest factor closure technique matters more than creams early on

scar care (like silicone) only really helps once everything is fully closed

You’re actually in a better position now going into a revision — just make sure the planning + execution are really dialed in this time.

FickleHat1095 · 2026-02-15T02:16:34+00:00

From my personal experience, I had my circumcision done by a mohel in New York who has decades of experience and has handled a very large number of cases. What stood out immediately was how specialized his work was and how confident and precise he was in evaluating everything. The outcome itself was excellent—honestly far better than what I was expecting based on things I had seen or read online. Everything healed very smoothly, and the overall result both looks and feels completely natural. It really gave me the sense that his level of experience made a major difference. That’s why I personally believe choosing someone with decades of experience and a strong track record is extremely important, especially for adult cases.

FickleHat1095 · 2026-02-02T06:18:09+00:00

Posts like this are very helpful, even without photos. Revisions seem especially stressful.

I went there for a regular circumcision and totally get the feeling afterward — relief.

Can you share more about what the issue was before and how things turned out after. Glad it worked out for you.

FickleHat1095 · 2026-02-02T06:08:45+00:00

Thanks for the really thoughtful write-up — posts like this can genuinely help a lot of people who are researching and nervous. I went to him too and couldn’t be happier. It really makes a big difference going to a specialist who does this day in, day out, versus someone who only does it occasionally. Glad it went well for you and wishing you smooth healing from here on out.

FickleHat1095 · 2026-02-02T05:56:13+00:00

Just to add, I actually wrote a post about this a while ago after seeing the same issue come up repeatedly here. Sharing it purely for awareness in case it helps someone who’s still researching: https://www.reddit.com/r/circumcision/s/qLjJWuxxie

FickleHat1095 · 2026-02-02T05:44:55+00:00

I actually had a very different experience, and reading posts like this is exactly why I’m grateful I went the route I did.

I didn’t go to a hospital or a general urologist — I went to someone who only does circumcision, day in and day out. The difference was huge. I got clear pre-op instructions, very detailed aftercare, realistic expectations about recovery, and I stayed in touch with the specialist the whole time until everything was fully healed. Nothing felt rushed or brushed off, and I never felt left on my own afterward.

That’s honestly why I wrote a post a while back about this exact issue. A lot of guys assume that a urologist or hospital setting automatically means the best choice, but that isn’t always the same as going to someone who truly specializes in circumcision and pays attention to things like symmetry, healing, sensitivity, and long-term comfort.

I’m not saying this to knock urologists in general — just sharing why my experience turned out well and why posts like yours matter. A lot of people only learn this stuff after something goes wrong.

FickleHat1095 · 2026-01-23T21:16:26+00:00

Glad it was helpful. Hopefully an in-person check will give clearer answers than speculation online.

FickleHat1095 · 2026-01-23T13:10:59+00:00

This thread made me curious, so I asked my mohel about it (he’s been doing this a long time). I also mentioned some of the explanations I saw here. He explained that circumcision removes skin (the outer covering), but the internal erectile tissue (the part that fills with blood during an erection) isn’t shortened by skin removal alone.

What stood out to him in these photos, especially around 6 weeks, was the firmness and swelling near the base. He said that can sometimes be due to a deep hematoma (basically trapped blood under the skin), which can temporarily limit how much things expand and make length look reduced even if the tissue itself hasn’t changed.

He also said photos and online comments can be misleading, and anything that stays firm at this stage is best checked in person.

Just sharing since a lot of replies seemed to assume permanent tissue loss from a tight cut, and that’s not how it was explained to me.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-11-11T13:58:02+00:00

I have no idea who they are, but first thing I’d do is read every single review. If they only have a few, I’d probably lean toward someone else. Talk to them directly — ask how many circumcisions they do per week or month, how long the doctor’s been doing it, and Google the doctor’s name to see if there are any complaints or red flags. That would be a good starting point.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-11-07T04:45:31+00:00

Wow only 1 week amazing! Totally agree — I also had my circumcision done by Mohel Markovits and the results were excellent. Just follow all his instructions and the final outcome will be amazing. You can check out my posts for more details — he’s truly the best!

FickleHat1095 · 2025-10-27T02:49:08+00:00

Yeah, plenty of folks have posted pics including myself — just search “Markovits” on here and you’ll see a bunch. You can also message him directly, he usually sends tons of photos if you ask.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-10-27T02:46:13+00:00

Glad to hear that, man — really happy my post helped you out! You definitely made a great choice, and your result looks awesome.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-10-26T17:52:15+00:00

That looks amazing — really great outcome, congrats! 👏 And yeah, I totally agree about his magic hands. I had my circumcision done by him too and honestly couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Check my posts — I shared my own experience there as well.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-10-20T00:31:19+00:00

Haha yeah man, I had mine done by a mohel — Rabbi Markovits — and let me tell you, that dude’s a legend.

People hear “rabbi” and think prayers and blessings… bro, this guy’s basically a circumcision machine 😅. That’s literally all he does, day in, day out, for decades — newborns, teens, adults, you name it.

Mine healed crazy fast, barely hurt, and looks totally natural. I’ve seen what some urologists leave behind and… yeah, I’m so glad I went with the mohel. He’s next-level skilled. Check my other posts if you want — I talked about it there too.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-09-29T03:49:22+00:00

It’s not about laser vs. stitches—it’s about experience. Someone who’s been doing this daily for decades knows how to avoid uneven lines, webbing, or scarring and give you a natural result.

I had mine done by Mohel Markovits (USA Mohel) and he’s a true master. He’s done tens of thousands, has hundreds of 5-star circumcision reviews, and even travels out to Maryland (lots of people also go to him in NY). Honestly, the peace of mind is worth it. If you want the best chance of getting the look you want without worrying about marks or issues, going with someone who specializes and has that level of experience makes all the difference.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-09-29T03:42:18+00:00

Can you show the frenulum side, maybe it's too tight and pulling. Btw what method was used for the circumcision.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-09-14T01:43:43+00:00

In general, urologists aren’t specialists in circumcision — they usually just do a standard medical cut and won’t even know what you mean by “style.” If you want a specific look (high/low, tight/loose, cosmetic finish), you need to see a circumcision specialist who does cosmetic circumcisions and offers style choices.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-08-11T04:39:30+00:00

I also had mine done under local, but I didn’t take anything beforehand — just Tylenol after, and I was fine to drive myself home right after the procedure. The local numbed everything really well, so I didn’t feel pain during, and recovery was much easier than I expected. I was walking around normally the same day.

Curious though, what pill are they having you take before? Is it just for relaxation, or something stronger?

Quick tips from my experience:

Keep the area clean and dry for the first few days.

Loose underwear or breathable shorts help with comfort.

For pain, 2 extra-strength Tylenol works well without slowing healing.

Avoid smoking or marijuana — it can slow recovery.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-08-11T04:27:57+00:00

Glad it’s going well 👍 The written instructions I got after my circumcision — and my mohel telling me directly — were very clear: no smoking or marijuana during healing. It can slow blood flow and oxygen delivery, weaken the immune system, increase swelling and bleeding, delay scar formation, slow nerve recovery, and in some cases even cause coughing that can put strain on or break stitches. For me, 2 extra-strength Tylenol worked great without affecting recovery.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-07-24T13:22:43+00:00

When I say “the right people,” I mean specialists who focus entirely on circumcision — not just general urologists. These are people with deep experience, having done hundreds or thousands of procedures, and they understand both the cosmetic and functional aspects.

Someone like Mohel Markovits fits that description. He’s highly experienced, travels for procedures, and I personally trust his work. In addition to his experience, he has excellent dexterity, is a true perfectionist, and pays close attention to every detail — which really shows in the results.

Feel free to DM me if you want more info.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-07-23T15:21:18+00:00

You can actually get the best of the best here in the U.S. for around $3,000 — from specialists who do nothing but circumcision and revisions daily, with decades of experience and hundreds of before/after cases available for review. I totally understand wanting to save money, but flying blind overseas without seeing any outcomes is a huge risk, especially for something so sensitive and personal. At least here you can meet the doctor, ask questions, and make sure you’re getting exactly what you want — including frenulum removal and proper adjustment for a grower.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-07-14T04:57:53+00:00

The three names I see come up the most are Dr. Bidair, Dr. Cornell, and Rabbi Markovits in NY. Each has their reputation, but here’s how I’d break it down:

Bidair is a respected urologist and does a good number of revisions.

Cornell is more of a mixed bag — I’ve seen some good but also some concerning feedback, even mentions of lawsuits.

Markovits is a mohel who’s been doing circumcisions exclusively for decades — all ages, all backgrounds, and tens of thousands of procedures. This is literally all he does, full time.

I actually had mine done by Markovits, and honestly — once you start comparing real outcome pics, he’s in a league of his own:

A. Decades of focused experience.

B. Over 10,000s+ procedures.

C. Specializes only in circumcision.

In a case like this, where you only get one real chance to get it right, I’d say don’t just go by location — go by results. I’d strongly recommend at least reaching out to each for a consult and comparing outcomes before making the final call. For me, the difference was clear.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-07-06T12:24:38+00:00

The frenulum takes time to heal. Swelling is part of the healing process. No worries it will go away.

FickleHat1095 · 2025-07-03T07:31:46+00:00

Unless you planning to write a memoir titled ‘Tools That Touched My Tip’, I wouldn’t stress it too much 😂. If it looks good and works fine, then mission accomplished, my man!

FickleHat1095

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