A frenuloplasty of prepuce of penis (also known as a release of frenulum) is a

frenuloplasty Frenuloplasty is the surgical alteration of a frenulum when its presence restricts range of motion between interconnected tissues. Two of the common sites for a frenuloplasty are: * Frenuloplasty of tongue * Frenuloplasty of prepuce of penis A ...

of the

frenulum of prepuce of penis The frenulum of prepuce of penis, often known simply as the frenulum, is a highly erogenous elastic band of tissue under the glans penis that connects the foreskin to the vernal mucosa, and helps contract the foreskin over the glans. Along with th ...

. An abnormally short or sensitive

frenulum A frenulum (or frenum, plural: frenula or frena, from the Latin ''frēnulum'', "little bridle", the diminutive of ''frēnum'') is a small fold of tissue that secures the motion of a mobile organ in the body. In human anatomy Frenula on the h ...

of the

penis A penis (plural ''penises'' or ''penes'' () is the primary sexual organ that male animals use to inseminate females (or hermaphrodites) during copulation. Such organs occur in many animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate, but males do n ...

can make some types of sexual activity uncomfortable or even painful. This may be a complication of circumcision or a naturally occurring event. When it is a naturally occurring event, a short frenulum can restrict normal retraction of the

foreskin In male human anatomy, the foreskin, also known as the prepuce, is the double-layered fold of skin, mucosal and muscular tissue at the distal end of the human penis that covers the glans and the urinary meatus. The foreskin is attached to the g ...

during

erection An erection (clinically: penile erection or penile tumescence) is a physiological phenomenon in which the penis becomes firm, engorged, and enlarged. Penile erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular, ...

(a condition known as frenulum breve). The goal of treatment is to allow normal retraction of the foreskin. Circumcision may relieve this condition but is not indicated solely for treating frenulum breve.

Procedure

The procedure usually involves the removal of the frenulum or the creation of an incision in the frenulum that is then stretched to lengthen it and stitched closed. The incision can be z-shaped, y-shaped or a single horizontal cut. Once healed, the procedure effectively elongates the frenulum, allowing normal function. Under normal circumstances the incision heals completely in around six to eight weeks, after which time normal sexual activity can resume. Other methods of treatment include horizontal stitches in the frenulum which over the course of a week cut through the tight skin, elongating it. This is generally more painful than the standard procedure, but heals faster. Another reason for the treatment is to correct a rare complication of a frenulum breve which presents as scars on the frenulum, these scars cause pain and make normal sex very difficult and are caused by the rubbing of the frenulum whilst engaging in sexual activity. These scars only affect those with frenulum breve. The frenuloplasty can be conducted under both general or local anesthesia.

Risks

One study suggests around 15–20% of men require additional circumcision after a frenuloplasty, because not all symptoms indicating the surgery improved. The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) estimates this number to be lower at 2–10%. Frenuloplasty might avoid the need for circumcision even when a clinician felt circumcision to be indicated at presentation. A swelling of the penis occurs in 10–50% of patients after operation, usually lasting a few days. Reduced sensation in the glans penis is reported in 2–10% of patients. Below 2% of patients experience an infection of the incision requiring antibiotics or further treatment.

Additional images

File:Frenulum disrupt.JPG, A removed frenulum preputii penis File:Frenulectomy before and after.jpg, Before and after frenuloplasty File:Healing of Frenuloplasty.jpg, Healing of frenuloplasty File:Before and after frenoloplasty.jpg, Before and after frenoloplasty

References

{{Male genital procedures Male genital surgery Penis