Tight Foreskin
When a foreskin is too tight to be pulled over the head of the penis, this can have an extremely negative effect on a man’s quality of life, and sex life.
Symptoms of Tight Foreskin
- Painful foreskin when the penis is erect
- Sore/itchy/red foreskin or glans penis
- White discolouration of foreskin
- Cracking or fissuring of foreskin which can bleed after sex
- Tight/sore frenulum (banjo string)
- Difficulty retracting the foreskin to clean the head of the penis
- Difficulty bringing the foreskin back over the glans if it’s pulled back
Treatments for Tight Foreskin
- Conservative measures (E45 aqueous cream wash/Vaseline/trim pubic hair)
- Steroid creams (Dermovate for short periods)
- Foreskin stretching exercises
- If above fails or pathological phimosis
- Consider surgery (Frenuloplasty or circumcision)
Frenulaplasty
Simple operation that can be performed under local or general anaesthetic
A horizontal incision across the frenulum which is closed vertically
Risks of surgery:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Altered sensation (rarely numbness or increased sensitivity)
- Scar formation
- Failure to resolve the tight foreskin requiring circumcision
Circumcision (removal of the foreskin)
Circumcision to remove a tight foreskin can be performed under local or general anaesthetic.
It’s a day case surgery which takes 30-45 minutes. During surgery the abnormal foreskin is removed and sent for pathological review. Then the wound on the penis is closed with absorbable stitches.
In this video, our consultant Mr Paul Hadway explains the causes of Phimosis (a tight foreskin) in adults and provides an overview of circumcision under local anaesthetic.
Risks of surgery:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Meatal stenosis (rarely the external urethral opening can become scarred)
- Altered sensation
- 1% poor cosmesis requiring further revision surgery
- Rarely urethral injury
- Removing too much skin resulting in skin tightness during an erection
Post circumcision care:
- Most men take 1 week off work after surgery
- Can shower as normal but avoid soaking in the bath
- After drying apply Vaseline to the head of the penis and wound unless given an antibiotic cream instead
- Avoid sex for 4-6 weeks (until wounds healed)
- Expect the penis to be swollen and bruised for at least a week
- New post operative redness or purulent discharge is abnormal-seek a medical review/antibiotics
Next Steps
Get fast access to leading specialists for the swift diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions in a private clinic environment.
If you would like more information or wish to arrange a consultation with one of our specialist consultant urological surgeons then please either Call 0118 920 7040 or complete the form below.
Insured patients
Contact your GP and ask for a referral to the Urology Partnership.
All consultations, investigations and treatments are covered by major insurance companies (depending on policy).
Funding your own treatment
Self-funding initial consultation fee is £205. Follow up fees are £165.
Consultation charges are exclusive of any tests and other investigations that the consultant may wish to carry out.
