How to Fix Penoscrotal Webbing (Turkey Neck)
Penoscrotal webbing, sometimes referred to as “turkey neck”, is when scrotal skin is pulled up the shaft of the penis when erect. It is most often caused by aggressive skin removal during circumcision, particularly on the ventral (under) side. When there isn’t adequate skin to cover the shaft during an erection, the little skin that is left will pull up the scrotum. Penoscrotal webbing can also be congenital and does occur in intact men, though most often it is caused by circumcision
The way to resolve penoscrotal webbing is actually very simple: grow more skin between the scrotum and the scar line. Although simple in theory, this is easier said than done. It is not uncommon for circumcised men to have only 1 or 2 centimeters of skin between the scrotum and scar line. Complicating the problem more is that common restoration methods are not always effective at applying adequate tension to this area of skin. In order to create a restored foreskin that looks natural, men in this situation will need to grow more skin on the ventral side than the dorsal (top) side, which requires extra attention and technique.
The most common solution is to use a ball stretcher or ball ring that holds back the scrotal skin when applying tension. This can work, but can also be uncomfortable to wear, and I am not so certain it is a good idea to have any device around the testicles at all. In order to fix this problem, I developed a unique strategy that I outline in detail in chapter 6 of The Complete Guide to Foreskin Restoration. It is a very simple homemade device* that holds back the scrotum when tugging downward with an elastic strap or weights (*Pre-made waist harness is now available for purchase here). I just call it “the harness method” because it is essentially a harness that goes under the base of the shaft and is anchored around the waist. It is much more comfortable than a ball stretcher, and you can adjust how much tension is holding back the scrotum. It is also discrete and easily hidden under the pants.
The harness method works with T-tape, the canister method, or any tapeless device that can be used with a strap or weights, but does not work with bi-directional or dual tension devices since the harness requires tension in the opposite direction to work. Ideally, the harness should apply just enough tension to hold back scrotum, with the strap or weights doing most of the work. Although, the purpose of it is to ensure that there is adequate tension on the ventral part of the shaft, the entire circumference of the skin will still be under effective tension to cause skin growth all the way around. For beginning and intermediate restorers with little ventral skin, I suggest using the harness method to make sure they are effectively growing skin all the way around.
This is a good way to start restoring, but it will not fix the uneven ratio of dorsal to ventral skin in the long run that many men are faced with. In order to get a natural looking restored foreskin, it may be necessary in the later stages of restoration to use methods that just focus on the ventral side to it can even out with the dorsal side.
Partial T-tape
My favorite way to isolate and target the ventral skin is to use partial T-tape in conjunction with the harness method. Instead of using a full T-tape that goes around the entire circumference of the shaft, a partial strip of T-tape that is 1 to 2 inches long can be applied just to the ventral side of the shaft at the scar line. With a strap pulling the tape downwards and the harness holding back the scrotum, this creates a constant tension between the scar line and scrotum on the. Instructions on how to make T-tape are covered in chapter 4 of The Complete Guide to Foreskin Restoration.
I recommend partial T-tape only for immediate to advanced restorers (approximately CI-4 or above). The main reason for this is that if you have a decent amount of dorsal skin, the tension from the partial T-tape is usually enough to cause the dorsal skin to roll over and protect the glans. If you don’t have skin for this to happen, the glans will be left exposed for this method. It is important to note that since you are only targeting part of the shaft skin and not the full circumference, you will need to use considerably less tension. I find that about a third of the tension that you would normally use for a full T-tape is a good starting point.
Foreclip
The Foreclip is a unique device that was designed to solve the problem of inadequate ventral skin. It works by grasping the skin in two locations with clips, and then applying tension to the area of the skin in between. The clips are surprisingly comfortable, although they need to be removed every hour or so to regain circulation to the skin. It can also be difficult to fine tune the tension with the locking arms, and the device is a little bulky overall, but it can be an effective way to target the ventral skin. I still prefer partial T-tape for this purpose, but the Foreclip is another option.
Manual methods
Manual methods can be used to target the ventral skin, but I am not a big proponent of manual methods in general for a few reasons. Manual methods require more active time commitment and scheduling, and I prefer methods that are passive with the least amount of time commitment as possible. Manual methods also don’t allow for constant tension, and you cannot precisely measure how much tension is used. Although manual methods can be effective, they aren’t my first choice.
Conclusion
Penoscrotal webbing is a common issue amongst restorers, but it is fixable, and easier to address when attended to early on. I highly recommend that beginning restorers use the harness method with whatever device or taping method they are already using to make sure there is adequate tension on the ventral skin. Once restorers start to enter the more advanced stages of restoration, techniques that isolate and target the ventral skin can be used to resolve any remaining discrepancy.
Image: Malcolm, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons