What is Y-V Preputioplasty?
Y-V preputioplasty is a corrective surgery for men who suffer from a condition called
phimosis. Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin (also known as the prepuce)
cannot be fully retracted from the penis. The tight foreskin is not just a cosmetic
problem; it is often a functional problem as well, because it may create difficulty
when urinating, or during intercourse..
Los Angeles urologist Dr. Michael Safir is particularly well qualified to perform these urology surgeries; in addition to extensive training in all aspects of general urology, he completed a year-long fellowship in the subspecialty area of male reconstructive urology surgery.
Causes of Phimosis
Sometimes phimosis may arise during childhood development because of adhesions between the foreskin and the glans (the head of the penis). This is called physiologic phimosis. This is not uncommon in children, and often resolves by itself over time.
Phimosis caused by trauma or disease is known as pathologic phimosis. Some of the causes of pathologic phimosis include:
Lichen sclerosus - Thought to be the most common cause of phimosis, lichen sclerosus is a dermatological condition manifesting as white patches on the foreskin and glans; often a hard, white ring of tissue develops, which may prevent retraction. What causes lichen sclerosus is not certain, although theories range from bacterial or viral infection (especially with HPV – human papilloma virus) to autoimmune diseases. Lichen sclerosus is also called balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO).
Balanitis - Balanitis is an infection, usually bacterial, affecting the glans penis. Symptoms of balanitis include redness and rashes on the glans, the penis itself, and the foreskin. There may be pain and discharge. Balanoposthitis is a term referring to an infection of both the glans and the prepuce (foreskin).
Symptoms of Phimosis
The classic, defining symptom of phimosis is being unable to retract the foreskin. Other commonly-seen symptoms include:
- Difficulty urinating
- Pain during urination
- Pain on erection or intercourse