What is frenuloplasty?

Frenuloplasty refers to a urological procedure where surgical alteration of the frenulum, a small fold of tissue which is located on the underside of the penis, is made.

How is it performed?

The procedure involves lengthening the frenulum and doesn’t require the removal of tissue. An incision is made in the frenulum, and it is then stretched in order to lengthen it. After this, the wound is closed with stitches.

It is performed in an outpatient clinic, under local anaesthetic. There may be some discomfort due to the anaesthetic, but the pain is minimal; it lasts for only two or three seconds, and then it's completely painless.

The procedure lasts around 25 minutes and for 95% of men, undergoing this procedure will prevent the need for circumcision.

How can you prepare for frenuloplasty?

Before frenuloplasty, your doctor is likely to ask you to stop smoking, as with any surgical procedure. This is because smoking increases the likelihood of complications and slows the healing process.

You may also be told to stop eating and drinking for a period of time before the surgery, depending on the anaesthetic which will be used. You will have to inform the doctor about any allergies you have, and will have to answer some questions about your general health and any medication you may be taking, as in some cases you may be advised to stop (e.g in the case of blood-thinning medication).

What is involved in the aftercare for frenuloplasty?

Frenuloplasty is often performed as a day case procedure and you may be able to go home the same day after surgery, as long as you have recovered from the anaesthetic and the wound is no longer bleeding. In this case, an overnight stay will be necessary.

There are no strict steps to follow after a frenuloplasty. However, it is recommended that the patient takes a painkiller takes a painkiller such as some ibuprofen or paracetamol after the procedure. 

There is a six-week celibacy period following the operation. It is also recommended that you leave the foreskin forward for a day, put it back two or three times a day, and wash with water. Some men may choose to use a moisturising cream or Sudocrem (a nappy rash cream), although this is not strictly necessary.

After six weeks you will have a follow-up appointment with your urologist in order to clarify that everything is ok. Some surgeons may even ask patients to send a picture, rather than asking them to come for an in-person appointment.

How long does it take to see the results of frenuloplasty?

The results of the operation are usually visible after six weeks. In most cases, immediately after the operation, there are around two and a half centimetres of lengthening on the frenulum, which gives a good indication to surgeons of the success of the operation. However, the results then become more apparent at the six-week point.

In terms of scarring, it will take several months for a surgical scar to mature, as is the case with any surgical operation.

What risks are associated with frenuloplasty?

As is the case with any surgery, frenuloplasty can cause bleeding, infection, and the possibility of failure. However, the risk of bleeding is extremely low. If any bleeding does occur, a method known as microbipolar diathermy can be used to treat this, in a highly successful manner.

Additionally, as is the case with any genital procedure, there is a risk of infection. However, the body can respond to this very well. Again, the risk of this is very low and only affects around 20% of men.

The risk of failure

Failure typically only occurs in men with a tight foreskin or with scarring, who were previously recommended to have a circumcision, but chose a frenuloplasty instead. If the operation does fail, a circumcision will be performed instead.