Frenuloplasty London | Private Penile Frenuloplasty Clinic UK

Medically Reviewed January 2024, by Mr. Bryan Mayou (GMC: 1414396) - founder of the Cadogan Clinic and one of the world's leading plastic surgeons

What is Frenuloplasty surgery?

Frenuloplasty surgery is a simple surgical procedure to release an overly-tight foreskin. The frenulum is a band of tissue which can be found on the underside of the head of

the penis. It runs from below the urethral opening to the inside of the foreskin.

A tight foreskin that cannot be pulled back, or tightness at the skin behind the head of the penis, can cause problems such as foreskin tears and recurring infections.

Frenuloplasty surgery is a simple surgical procedure that involves dividing the skin across before re-stitching lengthwise, lengthening the frenulum. Frenuloplasty is carried out as a day case.

Although a tight foreskin can be effectively treated by circumcision, this means that the foreskin is lost. Frenuloplasty allows the foreskin to be retained. The procedure also helps to rectify a bending penis.

It’s important to retract the foreskin in the days following a frenuloplasty. This is important to prevent scarring and shortening of the frenulum.

It should take four weeks to make a full recovery from frenuloplasty.

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Why do people have it?

There are a number of reasons why men opt for frenuloplasty surgery:

Pain or discomfort during an erection
Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse
Tearing or bleeding during sex
Experiencing recurring infections in the area
An overly-tight foreskin is causing a bending of the penis

Men who have an overly-tight foreskin often experience difficulty in keeping the area underneath the foreskin clean. This can increase the likelihood of infection from occurring.

A man with an overly-tight foreskin that causes him physical pain or discomfort may find that the condition causes him anxiety or depression. This may impact romantic and intimate relationships, causing further mental health problems.

The benefit of having a frenuloplasty over a circumcision is that the former allows you to keep your foreskin, maintaining the sensitivity on the head of your penis.

Words from our clients:

"I was extremely satisfied with the care and treatment I received at the Cadogan Clinic. My surgeon was friendly and informative and explained the procedure fully. My procedure went very well and with the excellent care of the nursing staff, I made a speedy and full recovery. Would recommend to anyone."

Eva Berry

"At the beginning before the operation the nurse taking care of me made me feel so comfortable. The surgeon and anesthetist helped me feel so calm. Fantastic before and after treatment"

Scarlett Elliott

"The girls on the reception at the clinic were very pleasant and professional. The nurse who took out my stitches after my surgery was just lovely and took me through step by step what she was doing and she also recommended a great cream to use to help with healing."

Georgina Nolan

“I was treated with care and provided with thorough knowledge about the procedure I was undertaking. My surgeon was very methodical (a perfectionist) and I felt I received A class treatment."

Courtney O'Sullivan

"Outstanding experience from the first appointment to being discharged. Very professional, friendly and a fantastic outcome."

Gemma Stevenson

"Reception staff very welcoming and efficient. Both nurses who I dealt with were fantastic, and the whole team (anaesthetist, surgeon etc) were friendly but professional, and really put my mind at ease. That I was able to stay later than I perhaps needed after my surgery to fit in with my husbands schedule was greatly appreciated."

Emma Davies

The Cost of Frenuloplasty

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Who is suitable?

Cadogan Clinic considers individuals fit for frenuloplasty, if all of the following are true of them:

Physically and psychologically fit and healthy
Have an overly-tight foreskin
Have realistic expectations of what can be achieved by surgery

You may also be experiencing one or more of the following:

Pain when having an erection
Pain, discomfort, tears or bleeding during sexual activity
A foreskin that cannot retract at all
Recurring infections
Difficulty cleaning underneath the foreskin
Mental or emotional distress
A negative impact on romantic or intimate relationships

How does the procedure work?

A frenulum is a small band of tissue found at the base of the penis. There are several different frenula in the body, including some in the mouth. These small folds or bands of tissue work to restrict the motion of a mobile organ in the body. If the frenulum on the penis is too tight, your foreskin will have difficulty retracting, or it may be unable to retract at all. This can make erections painful and cause bleeding or tearing during sex. Men with an overly-tight foreskin may struggle to clean underneath the foreskin, making them prone to recurring infections. A frenuloplasty ‘releases’ the foreskin, allowing it to retract as intended. Once you have fully recovered from your frenuloplasty, you will be able to have an erection and enjoy sexual activity without fear of pain or foreskin injury.

The frenuloplasty procedure itself is a simple, highly-effective surgery. The operation itself takes just 10 minutes to perform and is carried out as a day case.

The surgeon will administer a general anaesthetic, which will put you to sleep for the operation, or a spinal anaesthetic, meaning you will be awake for the procedure, but unable to feel anything from the waist down, including the penis.

Once the anaesthetic is working, the surgeon will cut a straight line near the top of the frenulum. This skin is then pulled downwards and folded into a diamond shape. The sides of the diamond are then pulled together and stitched lengthways. This frees the foreskin and lengthens the frenulum by around half a centimetre.

The incisions will be closed with stitches. These will dissolve within two to three weeks, meaning that you won’t have to return to the clinic to have them removed.

What to expect

Below you will find some key information to help you prepare for surgery and make necessary arrangements to ensure you have the support you need and that everything runs smoothly on the day.

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01.The consultation

Your journey with the Cadogan Clinic will start with a consultation with one of our leading specialist plastic surgeons at our award-winning premises in Chelsea. These consultations will take between 30 and 60 minutes.

During your consultation, your surgeon will ask about your expectations for surgery and talk about what will happen during the procedure. They will also explain how the procedure will affect you.

It is important that you are open and honest about what you hope to achieve through surgery to help ensure the best possible result. Your surgeon will be happy to answer any questions you may have at this point. It may be a good idea to write your questions down before attending the consultation. Having established what you want from the surgery, and what is possible given your anatomy, several key measurements will be made and standard clinical photography will be taken. Your medical history will be discussed and a physical examination will be carried out.

If your surgeon feels you are a good candidate for surgery, you are then invited to consider whether you would like to proceed with your surgery or not following a two week 'cooling off' period.

02.Leading up to procedure

Avoid smoking and drinking for 48 hours ahead of your frenuloplasty as this can delay the healing process. Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements in the week ahead of surgery.

In the six hours prior to surgery you must not consume food or any drink, other than small sips of still water, black coffee or black tea, which will be allowed up to two hours before you are admitted to the clinic.

03.On the day

You will be given a general anaesthetic to put you to sleep for the operation. Alternatively a spinal anaesthetic may be used, meaning you will be awake but unable to feel anything from the waist down.

The surgeon will then proceed to cut across the tongue of skin under your penis in order for it to be repaired lengthwise to lengthen the frenulum.

Following your frenuloplasty, you will recover in our ambulatory recovery rooms. You may feel a little drowsy but this often wears off within a few hours. Once you are able to eat and drink, and our specialist nursing team are happy that your initial recovery is complete, you will be allowed to leave the clinic with a friend or family member.

04.Recovery

Following your frenuloplasty, you will notice some swelling and bruising of the penis, which may last for several days. It is important to keep the surgical area dry for 24 to 48 hours, avoiding baths during this period. Keep your wound clean and dry after urinating. You should wear loose-fitting clothes for two to three days post-surgery

Our on-call nursing service is open 24/7 during your recovery period to help with any questions or queries that you may have.

It is important that you follow all the aftercare instructions issued by your doctor. Failure to do so may impact on your recovery and the final result.

The Patient Journey. A breakdown of what you can expect on your journey with us

We are deeply invested in ensuring that every step of your surgical journey with us is as informative and reassuring to you as it can be. This article outlines what you can expect at each stage of the journey

The Patient Journey

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I get a frenuloplasty on the NHS?

Yes, you can get a frenuloplasty on the NHS.

However the National Health Service has been, and continues to be, hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. High levels of staff sickness have had an impact on waiting times across the board. These waiting times vary from hospital to hospital. And any new waves of Covid-19 infections may result in this wait getting even longer. Because of this, many people choose to go to a private clinic for their frenuloplasty. At the Cadogan Clinic, there is no waiting list, so you can have the procedure promptly.

How much does a Frenuloplasty cost?

A Frenuloplasty at Cadogan Clinic costs from £2000.00.

If you choose the Cadogan Clinic for your frenuloplasty in London, you will get:

An in-person consultation lasting up to 60 minutes with a leading specialist plastic surgeon at our award-winning premises in Chelsea
Your Frenuloplasty carried out at London’s leading specialist cosmetic surgery centre of excellence
24/7 on-call nurse assistance following your procedure
A Dedicated Patient Coordinator, as a personal point of contact through your journey with Cadogan Clinic

What is the success rate for Frenuloplasty?

Frenuloplasty is a safe, straightforward and highly-effective surgery and the majority of men find that this simple surgical procedure is enough to free the foreskin and improve their quality of life.

Fewer than one in 50 men who have frenuloplasty surgery find that the surgery does not help to relieve their symptoms. If this is the case, then your surgeon may recommend a circumcision, which involves a complete removal of the foreskin, instead. Your surgeon will discuss success rates and potential risks and complications with you before your frenuloplasty.

What is the recovery process following Frenuloplasty surgery?

It takes around four weeks to make a full recovery from frenuloplasty. But like any surgery, it is important to follow all the aftercare instructions in order to aid the healing process and ensure the best results.

Vaseline should be applied to the stitch line and tip of the penis in the days following surgery in order to prevent your penis from sticking to your clothes. You should wear loose clothing for two to three days after your frenuloplasty. After three days, you should retract your foreskin daily in order to prevent scarring and to maintain the benefits of surgery. This also allows for gentle cleaning underneath the foreskin.

Keep the area dry for 48 hours and avoid taking a bath for 10 days. You should avoid swimming and exercise for two weeks after surgery.

In the days following surgery, it is important to keep the wound clean and dry after urinating. If a surgical dressing becomes soaked with urine, it should be removed.

You should refrain from sexual intercourse and masturbation for four to six weeks after your frenuloplasty.

You may notice some bruising or swelling of the penis after your frenuloplasty, which may last for several days. This is normal and is not a cause for concern. If you have any concerns or questions during the recovery period, you can call the Cadogan Clinic’s 24/7 hour on-call nursing service for support and advice.

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One of our friendly staff will be delighted to help with your enquiry.

0207 901 8500

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Frenuloplasty