Frenulotomy (frenuloplasty)

The loyalty program applies to surgical interventions in the inpatient department, making treatment even more affordable.

The penile frenulum is a thin vertical fold of skin that connects the foreskin to the glans. According to statistics, approximately 20% of men have an insufficiently long frenulum, which causes discomfort during ejaculation. You can understand that the frenulum is short by the following characteristic symptoms: excessive tension during erection, pain, tears of the frenulum, and mild bleeding.

Most often, a short frenulum is a congenital feature, although sometimes injuries and scar changes can be the cause. Every month, dozens of men who have encountered this problem come to Oxford Medical. It can be resolved with the help of a fairly simple surgical procedure. Frenulotomy is a minimally invasive operation during which the short frenulum is dissected and lengthened.

At Oxford Medical, the operation is performed by top-category genital surgeons using modern techniques. Penile frenulum plastic surgery does not require hospitalization, is performed under local anesthesia, and usually lasts up to 30 minutes.

If you have noticed symptoms of a short frenulum, do not postpone a visit to the doctor. To make an appointment for a consultation with a urologist or genital surgeon, use the online appointment form on the website or contact the contact center administrators by phone.

In some cases, a short frenulum may be combined with phimosis — narrowing of the foreskin. Then the doctor determines whether it is sufficient to perform penile frenuloplasty or whether it is more appropriate to combine it with circumcision.

Before the operation, the surgeon обязательно assesses the patient's general health condition and excludes possible contraindications. Most of them are temporary, so after eliminating the cause, the operation can be performed safely.

Penile frenulotomy is usually not performed in the following cases:

• acute infectious diseases;
• inflammatory processes or rashes in the genital area;
• blood clotting disorders;
• decompensated diabetes mellitus;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Doctors at Oxford Medical emphasize that before the operation it is important to eliminate temporary contraindications, in particular to treat acute infections or inflammatory processes. This makes it possible to reduce the risk of postoperative complications and ensure normal tissue healing.

Before the operation, the patient undergoes a consultation with a genital surgeon. The doctor clarifies the complaints, performs an examination, assesses the condition of the frenulum and determines whether its insufficient length is indeed the cause of the symptoms. During the consultation, the doctor also explains how the operation will be performed, talks about the specifics of recovery and answers the patient's questions.

Before frenuloplasty of the foreskin frenulum, the doctor may prescribe:

• a complete blood count;
• a coagulogram;
• other laboratory tests — if necessary.

During the consultation, you should inform the doctor about all medications that you take regularly, especially if they affect blood clotting. This will help to correctly assess possible risks and, if necessary, temporarily adjust their intake. It is also recommended to refrain from drinking alcohol for several days before the procedure and to perform usual hygiene procedures on the day of the operation.

Penile frenulotomy is performed on an outpatient basis. Shortly after the procedure is completed, the patient can leave the clinic.

The operation includes several consecutive stages:

• treatment of the surgical field with an antiseptic solution;
• administration of local anesthesia;
• dissection of the penile frenulum;
• lengthening of the frenulum and placement of cosmetic sutures.

In most cases, the procedure lasts up to 30 minutes. After the operation, the doctor provides recommendations on caring for the postoperative wound and schedules the date of a follow-up examination.

Recovery after frenuloplasty of the foreskin frenulum usually proceeds quickly and without complications. In the first days after the operation, redness in the area of intervention, slight swelling, and moderate pain may be observed — this is a natural reaction of the body to surgical intervention.

For normal healing, it is recommended to:

• properly care for the postoperative wound;
• maintain genital hygiene;
• refrain from sexual intercourse until the tissues have completely healed;
• avoid intense physical activity;
• attend follow-up examinations at the time scheduled by the doctor.

In most cases, complete tissue healing takes 2–4 weeks. It is recommended to return to sexual activity no earlier than this period, but only after a follow-up examination by the doctor.

Doctors at Oxford Medical note: after the tissues heal, excessive tension of the frenulum disappears, which eliminates pain and discomfort during erection and sexual intercourse. If a short frenulum was the cause of erectile dysfunction, sexual function usually recovers after the operation.

Frenulotomy is a minimally traumatic surgical intervention, so provided that the operation is performed correctly and the doctor's recommendations are followed, the risk of developing complications is low.

In rare cases, the following may occur:

• bleeding from the postoperative wound;
• infection of the wound;
• prolonged tissue healing;
• separation of postoperative sutures;
• formation of a coarse scar.

Most often, such complications are associated with premature resumption of sexual activity, significant physical exertion during the rehabilitation period, or failure to follow recommendations for postoperative wound care.

Doctors at Oxford Medical note: if severe pain, pronounced swelling, prolonged bleeding, purulent discharge from the wound appear after the operation, or the body temperature rises, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Such symptoms may indicate the development of complications.

You can find out the preliminary price for frenulotomy here. The final cost of treatment may depend on the type of anesthesia, the scope of the preoperative examination, and other individual factors. During the consultation, the doctor will conduct an examination and provide guidance regarding the full cost of treatment.

To make an appointment for a consultation, use the online appointment form or contact the contact center administrators by the phone number indicated on the website. At Oxford Medical, you can receive a full range of medical services — from consultation and diagnostics to surgery and postoperative care.

The information is for informational purposes only and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

Sources:

• British Association of Urological Surgeons
• US National Library of Medicine
• National Institutes of Health