Service
Short frenulum (frenuloplasty)
The frenulum is a fold of skin that connects the foreskin to the head of the penis (glans). When it is too short, it pulls tight and may tear. Frenuloplasty is a procedure that lengthens it.
What concerns does it address?
When is surgery done?
Surgery is considered when the frenulum of the penis is tight or painful, has already torn, or makes it difficult to pull back the foreskin.
How is it done?
The frenulum is cut across and the wound stitched lengthwise, which lengthens the frenulum so that it no longer pulls on the glans during an erection. We use stitches that dissolve on their own, so removing stitches is not necessary.
When is the procedure not suitable?
The procedure is postponed if there is active inflammation of the glans and foreskin or an active sexually transmitted infection, until they have cleared up. The procedure is done in adults. If a short frenulum is part of wider phimosis, frenuloplasty alone will not solve the problem and we then discuss circumcision.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Frenulum surgery (frenuloplasty, frenulotomy) | €300 |
| Circumcision and frenuloplasty together | €900–1,000 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: urology — examinations, diagnostics and procedures.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
A urological examination has two parts: a conversation about your symptoms, past illnesses and medicines, and a clinical examination. Depending on the findings, an ultrasound is done straight away, in the same visit, if needed. You receive the findings at the examination.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
In the same visit
- Phimosis and circumcision — frenuloplasty is done in the same procedure as circumcision, with a combined price in the price list.
Frequently asked questions
Can it be solved without a procedure? If the shortening is mild, gradual stretching of the foreskin and frenulum, with lubricant, over several weeks helps. When the frenulum tears or hurts every time you have intercourse, stretching does not lengthen it enough and the procedure is a simpler and more lasting solution.
Does it hurt? The anaesthetic injection is felt, the procedure itself is not. For the first few days it stings when you urinate and during an erection, which passes in a few days.
Will the frenulum shorten again? Rarely. The scar is soft and does not pull. If the wound opens several times in the first weeks, the scar can be harder, so patience during recovery is important.
What if the frenulum tears by itself? A tear during intercourse is common with a short frenulum, it bleeds and hurts. A scar after a spontaneous tear is often hard and the problem recurs, so a planned procedure is better than waiting.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.