Phimosis is a problem that only affects men and is caused by a narrow opening of the foreskin, which cannot be pulled back partially or totally past the glans. Although it is not popularly believed to be a serious condition, great care should be taken with it, since if it goes untreated and proper hygiene measures are not applied it could even lead to penile cancer. Phimosis can involve symptoms such as:

• Problems with urinating.
• Painful sexual intercourse.
• Infections such as balanitis (glans infection).
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Urinary retention.
• The appearance of paraphimosis.

There are two types of phimosis:

• Congenital phimosis is the most frequent cause of phimosis and occurs mainly in small children, although it can also appear in adults at the beginning of sexual activity, for example. It can be solved naturally with the growth of the child.
• Acquired phimosis occurs mainly in adults and the main cause is a recurring infection of the genital area. It is normally caused by balanoposthitis (infection of the glans and foreskin). It normally requires surgery.

The treatment of phimosis with CO₂ laser is performed when the phimosis does not remit alone and if deemed convenient by the specialist physician.

Phimosis with CO₂ laser is a completely painless outpatient operation performed under local anaesthesia and consists of removing the excess skin from the foreskin so that the penis can emerge.

CO₂ laser has heralded a major technological breakthrough in the treatment of phimosis since it allows the condition to be treated very precisely, with few risks and with a short recovery time. CO₂ laser performs very precise incisions and cauterises the dissected tissue, thus reducing the risk of bleeding, bruising and inflammation. Since the tissues are cauterised, healing is much faster and less troublesome than conventional surgery. It also delivers a more aesthetic finish to the area thanks to the high-precision cutting.

The treatment is provided on an outpatient basis and is totally painless, since it is performed under local anaesthesia or conscious sedation, meaning that the patient will feel no pain whatsoever during the operation.