Prepuceplasty (child)
Information for patients from General Surgery
This leaflet is not meant to replace the information discussed between you and your doctor, but
can act as a starting point for such a discussion or as a useful reminder of the key points.
What is a prepuceplasty?
A prepuceplasty is an operation to allow the foreskin to be pulled fully back from the end of the
penis. The foreskin (its medical name is prepuce) is the skin which covers the sensitive tip of the
penis.
In the UK, this operation is recommended for only medical reasons such as a foreskin that will
not pull fully back to allow for cleaning underneath. Not cleaning effectively can result in pain,
inflammation (redness and soreness), and infections of the foreskin (called posthitis) or penis
(balanitis) or both (balanoposthitis). When older pain, tearing, and bleeding of the foreskin can
occur with erections.
Are there any alternatives to a prepuceplasty?
Only if a condition of the foreskin called Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans (BXO) is not suspected, then
steroid creams can be tried to soften and loosen the foreskin, or an operation called circumcision
can be tried instead in some boys. If BXO is suspected, then circumcision is mandatory.
What does the operation involve?
The operation is performed under
a short general anaesthetic and
usually takes 10 to 15 minutes
once asleep. The surgeon cuts
into the foreskin in such a way as
to loosen and widen it enough to
pull fully back and then sutures the
cut(s) closed – see diagram.
What complications can occur?
• General complications include:
- pain
- bleeding
- infection of the wound
- unsightly scarring.
• Specific complications include:
- difficulty passing urine
- developing an ulcer at the tip of the penis
- narrowing of the opening of the penis
- damage to the urethra (tube for urine)
- injury to the end of the penis
- cosmetic problems
- failure to fully pull back the foreskin
- future return of original symptoms
- developing an epidermal inclusion cyst.
How soon will my child recover?
Your child should be able to go home the same day, usually within a couple of hours.
The penis will look sore, swollen, and bruised. Steroid ointment will be provided to use on the end
of the penis twice daily after pulling back the foreskin which must then always be pulled forward
again. This is uncomfortable at first. It will take around a month for the sutures to dissolve and the
wound to settle.
They can usually return to school a week after surgery.
What should I do if my child feels unwell at home?
Should infection or significant bleeding occur, then your child should attend your nearest Accident
and Emergency (A&E) department or visit your GP.
Further information
If you have additional questions about prepuceplasty, you should ask your GP or other relevant
health professional. There is also information on the Royal College of Surgeons web site
www.rcseng.ac.uk
Prepuceplasty (child), May 2016
Any complaints, comments, concerns, or compliments
If you have other concerns please talk to your doctor or nurse. Alternatively please contact our
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01227 783145 or 01227 864314,
or email [email protected]
Further patient information leaflets
In addition to this leaflet, East Kent Hospitals has a wide range of other patient information leaflets
covering conditions, services, and clinical procedures carried out by the Trust. For a full listing
please go to www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patientinformation or contact a member of staff.
After reading this information, do you have any further questions or comments? If so,
please list below and bring to the attention of your nurse or consultant.
Would you like the information in this leaflet in another format or language?
We value equality of access to our information and services and
are therefore happy to provide the information in this leaflet in
Braille, large print, or audio - upon request.
If you would like a copy of this document in your language, please contact the ward or department
responsible for your care.
Pacjenci chcący uzyskać kopię tego dokumentu w swoim języku ojczystym powinni skontaktować
się z oddziałem lub działem odpowiedzialnym za opiekę nad nimi.
Ak by ste chceli kópiu tohto dokumentu vo vašom jazyku, prosím skontaktujte nemocničné
pracovisko, alebo oddelenie zodpovedné za starostlivosť o vás.
Pokud byste měli zájem o kopii tohoto dokumentu ve svém jazyce, kontaktujte prosím oddělení
odpovídající za Vaši péči.
Чтобы получить копию этого документа на вашем родном языке, пожалуйста обратитесь в
отделение, ответственное за ваше лечение.
We have allocated parking spaces for disabled people, automatic doors, induction loops, and can
provide interpretation. For assistance, please contact a member of staff.
This leaflet has been produced with and for patients
Information produced by General Surgery
Date reviewed: May 2016
Next review date: May 2018
Web 252