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{{GraphicWarning}}
[[File:Circumcised_flaccid.jpg|thumb|Penis with a visible circumcision scar]]
In males who have been [[circumcised]], the '''circumcision scar''' refers to the scar remaining after a [[circumcision]] has healed. In some cases, the scar can be darker-colored, <ref name="tirana2022">{{REFjournal |last=Tirana |first= |init=R |author-link= |last2=Othman |first2= |init2=D |author2-link= |last3=Gad |first3= |init3=D |author3-link= |last4=Eisadek |first4= |init4=M |author4-link= |last5=Fahmy |first5= |init5=MAB |author5-link=Mohamed A Baky Fahmy |etal=no |title=Pigmentary complications after non-medical male circumcision |trans-title= |language= |journal=BMC Urol |location= |date=2022-04-04 |volume=22 |issue=1 |article=50 |page= |pages= |url=https://bmcurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12894-022-00999-5 |archived= |quote=In a survey completed by the [[15 Square| National Organization of Restoring Men]] in the UK, 74% of the respondents were dissatisfied with the appearance of their circumcised penises, and 26% complained about the variation in skin color. |pubmedID=35379191 |pubmedCID=8981744 |DOI=10.1186/s12894-022-00999-5 |accessdate=2023-11-07}}</ref> and, in all cases, it will encircle the shaft of the [[penis]].
==Appearance==
The scar, which completely encircles the shaft of the [[penis]], is located at the boundary of the [[shaft skin ]] and the inner [[foreskin]] remnant, which is the portion of the [[foreskin ]] that was not removed during [[circumcision]]. This foreskin remnant is [[preputial mucosa]] that lies between the [[glans ]] and the circumcision scar, which results in dissimilar tissue healing together. In [[adolescent and adult circumcision ]] part of the [[frenulum]] may remain [[intact]]. The foreskin remnant is dried [[mucosa ]] and can often have a different color and texture than the rest of the [[penile skin]]. It can be pinkish or light-colored, and it typically becomes covered with [[keratin ]] to protect it from a dry environment. Some circumcision scars result in a marked color difference on the shaftand a two-toned appearance.<ref name="tirana2022" />
The characteristics of the circumcision scar often depend on the technique that was used. Open surgical techniques using sutures may cause uneven scarring where the sutures were placed. Newborn circumcisions do not require sutures and therefore may result in a fine, even scar, but may also result in adhesions and [http://www.circumstitions.com/Restric/Botched1sb.html skin bridges].<ref name="gracely-kilgore1984">{{REFjournal
|last=Gracely-Kilgore
|first=Katherine A. |init=KA
|author-link=
|etal=no
}}</ref> <ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Ponsky
|firstinit=L.E.LE
|author-link=
|last2=Ross
|first2init2=J.H.JH
|author2-link=
|last3=Knipper
|first3init3=N.
|author3-link=
|last4=Kay
|first4init4=R.
|author4-link=
|etal=no
}}</ref> Circumcisions after the newborn period that are performed without sutures (techniques that use cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive instead of sutures and techniques like [[Plastibell]] that heal by secondary intention) often result in an even, circumferential scar.
Non-surgical [[foreskin restoration]] will eventually result in the scar being concealed within the new [[restored foreskin]].
==Problems with the scar==
<!--There is some controversy as to what happens to the severed nerves of the foreskin at the scar. Xin ''et al''. (1997) suggest that nerves regenerate, forming new receptors.<ref name="Xin1997">{{REFjournal
|last=Xin
|firstinit=Z.C.ZC
|author-link=
|last2=Choi
|first2init2=Y.D.YD
|author2-link=
|last3=Rha
|first3init3=K.H.KH
|author3-link=
|last4=Choi
|first4init4=H.K.HK
|author4-link=
|etal=no
|DOI=10.1016/S0022-5347(01)64499-9|
|accessdate=2019-10-18
}}</ref>-->Pathologists Cold & Taylor (1999) report: "Histology of the male circumcision scar shows [[amputation ]] neuromas, Schwann cell proliferation and the bulbous collection of variably sized neurites. Amputation neuromas do not mediate normal sensation and are notorious for generating pain."<ref name="cold-taylor1999">{{REFjournal
|last=Cold
|firstinit=C.J.CJ |author-link=Christopher J. Cold
|last2=Taylor
|first2init2=J.R.JR
|title=The prepuce
|trans-title=
}}</ref> Several reports of cancer forming on the circumcision scar have been published.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Bissada
|firstinit=N.K.NK
|author-link=
|last2=Morcos
|first2init2=R.R.RR
|author2-link=
|last3=el-Senoussi
|first3init3=M.
|author3-link=
|etal=no
}}</ref> <ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Fetsch
|firstinit=J.
|author-link=
|last2=Davis
|first2init2=C.J.CJ
|author2-link=
|last3=Miettinen
|first3init3=M.
|author3-link=
|last4=Sesterhenn
|first4init4=I.A.IA
|author4-link=
|etal=no
|DOI=10.1097/00000478-200401000-00014
|accessdate=2019-10-19
}}</ref>
The circumcision scar may tighten up in front of the [[glans penis]], trapping it, and cause iatrogenic secondary [[phimosis]].<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Redman
|first=
|init=JF
|author-link=
|last2=Scriber
|first2=
|init2=LJ
|author2-link=
|last3=Bissada
|first3=
|init3=NK
|author3-link=
|etal=no
|title=Postcircumcision phimosis and its management
|trans-title=
|language=
|journal=Clin Pediatr (Phila).
|location=
|date=1975-04
|season=
|volume=14
|issue=4
|article=
|page=
|pages=407-9
|url=
|archived=
|quote=
|pubmedID=1120386
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=10.1177/000992287501400415
|accessdate=2022-05-26
}}</ref><ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Blaylock
|first=
|init=HJ
|author-link=
|last2=Vemulakonda
|first2=
|init2=V
|author2-link=
|last3=Ritchey
|first3=
|init3=ML
|author3-link=
|last4=Ribbeck
|first4=M
|init4=
|author4-link=
|etal=no
|title=Outpatient Management of Phimosis Following Newborn Circumcision
|trans-title=
|language=
|journal=J Urol
|location=
|date=2003-06
|season=
|volume=159
|issue=5
|article=
|page=
|pages=2332-4
|url=http://www.cirp.org/library/complications/blalock1/
|archived=
|quote=
|pubmedID=12771793
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=10.1097/01.ju.0000067602.42875.d8
|accessdate=2022-05-26
}}</ref>
{{SEEALSO}}
* [[Adult circumcision]]
* [[Cicatrix]]
* [[Circumcision scar removal]]
* [[Keratinization]]
* [[Traumatic neuroma]]
{{LINKS}}
* {{REFweb
|url=http://covenantcircumcision.info/pages/scarring.html
|title=Some photos enlarged to show detail
|last=
|first=
|init=
|publisher=Covenant circumcision
|date=
|accessdate=2023-08-22
}}
See page 100 ''et seq''.:
* {{REFbook
|last=Fahmy
|first=Mohamed
|init=M
|author5-link=Mohamed A Baky Fahmy
|year=2009
|title=Complications in Male Circumcision
|url=http://circumcisionharm.org/images-circharm.org/Fahmy%20Ch%2010,%2011,%20title,%20TofC.pdf
|page=193
|isbn=978-0-323-68127-8
|accessdate=2020-06-23
}}
{{REF}}