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Key features of Hellenistic culture were athletic exercises in gymnasia and athletic performances in public arenas, where men appeared in the nude. While the [[penis ]] sheathed in an intact foreskin was normal and acceptable, ancient Greeks and their Hellenistic successors considered the [[circumcised ]] penis to be offensive, as it was perceived as a vulgar imitation of [[erection]], unfit for public display. The ancient Greeks and their Hellenistic successors considered the "ideal prepuce" to be long, tapered, and "well-proportioned." Removing it was considered [[mutilation]]. Men with short foreskins, a condition known as ''lypodermos'', would wear a leather cord called a ''kynodesme'' to prevent its accidental exposure.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Hodges
|first=Frederick M.
[[Image:Foreskin restoration diagram.jpg |thumbnail|right|550px| A series of steps for non-surgical foreskin restoration. ]]
Nonsurgical foreskin restoration is the most commonly used method of foreskin restoration. It is accomplished through [[tissue expansion]] and involves pulling on the remnants of the foreskin. Both the skin of the penile shaft and the [[mucosa]]l inner lining of the [[foreskin]], if any remains after [[circumcision]], may be expanded. The skin is pulled forward over the [[glans]], and tension is applied manually, by using weights or elastic straps. In the latter two cases a device must be attached to the skin; surgical tape is often used.
[[Image:Tlctugger applied.jpg|thumbnail|left|150px| TLCTugger device applied to a [[circumcised ]] penis for non-surgical foreskin restoration.]]
An example of a device using elastic straps is the T-Tape method, which was developed in the 1990s with the idea of enabling restoration to take place more rapidly. Many specialized [http://intactwiki.org/wiki/Category:Foreskin_restoration_devices restoration devices] (like the [[TLC-X|TLC Tugger]] shown in the picture) that grip the [[skin ]] with or without tape are also commercially available. Tension from these devices may be applied by weights or elastic straps, by pushing the skin forward on the penis, or by a combination of these methods.
The amount of tension produced by any method must be adjusted to avoid injury, pain or discomfort, and provides a limit on the rate at which new tissue can be grown. There is a risk of damaging tissues if excessive tension is used, or if tension is applied for too long. Websites about foreskin restoration vary in their recommendations, from suggesting a regimen of moderate amounts of tension applied for several hours a day,<ref name="NORM regimen">{{REFweb
}}</ref> Unlike conventional skin expansion techniques, however, the process of nonsurgical foreskin restoration may take several years to complete. The time required depends on the amount of skin available to expand, the amount of skin desired in the end, and the regimen of stretching methods used. Patience and dedication are needed; support groups exist to help with these (see External links section). The act of stretching the skin is often described informally as "tugging" in these groups, especially those on the Internet.
[[Intact ]] men who would like to have a longer foreskin may use these same techniques of [[tissue expansion]] to lengthen a short [[foreskin]]. Benefits include improved protection of the [[glans penis]], improved [[gliding action]], and improved physical appearance.
It is impossible to predict how long it will take one to restore because there are many variables. The time is measured in years, but the time to enjoy one’s restored foreskin is measured in decades.
===Results===
Results of non-surgical methods vary widely, and depend on such factors as the amount of skin present at the start of the restoration, degree of commitment, technique, and the individual's body. Foreskin restoration by [[tissue expansion]] successfully restores sensitivity to [[glans penis]] and restores the [[gliding action]]. Certain parts of the natural foreskin cannot be reformed. In particular, the [[ridged band]], a nerve-bearing tissue structure extending around the [[penis ]] just inside the tip of the foreskin,<ref name="Taylor interview">{{REFweb
|quote=
|url=http://www.intact.ca/taylor.html
|accessdate=
|note=
}}</ref> which helps to contract the tip of the foreskin so that it remains positioned over the glans, cannot be recreated. Restored foreskins can appear much looser at the tip and some men report difficulty in keeping the glans covered. Surgical "touch-up" procedures exist to reduce the orifice of the restored foreskin, recreating the tightening function of the band of muscle fibers near the tip of the foreskin, though they have not proven successful in every case.<ref name=Joy-touchup>{{REFbook
|last=Bigelow
|first=Jim
As the [[shaft skin]] expands and gets longer the [[circumcision scar]] will travel down toward the tip and eventually turn under and be concealed inside the restored foreskin.
When the [[glans penis]] is habitually covered by the regrown foreskin, the increase in protection, plus moisture and oil from [[transudation]] provided by the foreskin will result in [[Keratinization#De-keratinization_treatment| de-keratinization]] of the [[glans penis ]] and increase in sensation.
== Surgical techniques ==
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Nonsurgical foreskin restoration does not restore portions of the [[Frenulum| frenulum]] or the [[ridged band]] removed excised during [[circumcision]]. Although not commonly performed, there are surgical [http://intactwiki.org/wiki/Category:Foreskin_restoration_touch-up_surgeries "touch-up" techniques] that can re-create some of the functionality of the frenulum and dartos muscle.<ref>{{REFbook
|last=Bigelow
|first=Jim