A meatotomy is a form of penile modification in which the underside of the glans is split. The procedure may be performed by a doctor to alleviate meatal stenosis or urethral stricture, or by a body modification practitioner for the purpose of sexual pleasure or aesthetics.

Aside from the exposure of previously internal tissues, the newly enlarged urethral opening may hinder the ability to control the direction and shape of one's urine stream. This may result in messy urination and require that the meatotomized individual sit while urinating, however this is not universally true. The larger urethral opening may also reduce the velocity of ejaculate, thereby reducing distance of ejaculation.

The procedure may be performed by a doctor to alleviate meatal stenosis, urethral stricture, or by a body modification practitioner for the purpose of sexual pleasure or aesthetics. A meatotomy can also result from a Prince Albert piercing being torn out. Some penises have a naturally split underside of the glans as a result of hypospadias. For some men, a greater sensation may be achieved with exposure of and access to the urethra due to the abundance of nerves.

The procedure may be performed by a doctor to alleviate meatal stenosis, urethral stricture, or by a body modification practitioner for the purpose of sexual pleasure or aesthetics. A meatotomy can also result from a Prince Albert piercing being torn out. Some penises have a naturally split underside of the glans as a result of hypospadias. For some men, a greater sensation may be achieved with exposure of and access to the urethra due to the abundance of nerves.

A variety of techniques may be used to make the cut, but a doctor will generally crush the vernal meatus, urethra, and upper frenulum for 60 seconds with a straight mosquito hemostat and then divide crush line with fine-tipped scissors. Other techniques include cauterisation, cutting with a scalpel (sometimes aided by clamps) or by using existing fistulas from piercings to tie-off the area to be cut. Depending on the anatomy of the individual and the extent of the split, meatotomy performed with a scalpel may involve heavy bleeding, while crush and cauterisation methods are relatively bloodless. Regardless of the procedure used, meatotomies, like other genital modificiations and genital piercings, heal quickly. Unlike other genital modifications, the glans tissue does not have a tendency to re-adhere to itself or heal closed.

After meatotomy, instruct caregivers to dress the child in loose underwear for 24 hours. Restrict activities, such as contact sports, bicycle rides, and playground activities, for 3-4 days.

Following meatotomy, caregivers should separate the edges of the meatus and apply antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly 2 times a day for 2 weeks and then 1 time a day for 2 more weeks.

Complications include bleeding during or after meatotomy, infection, and recurrence. All of these complications are quite rare and respond readily to appropriate management.

Meatotomy is kind of like the beginner version of subincision (although that is an unfair simplification). When the subincision is only underneath the glans it is known as a meatotomy (or, if naturally occurring, a hypospadia). A meatotomy sometimes occurs when a PA is torn out accidentally, but is usually done voluntarily as a clamp and cut procedure in order to open the urethra, often for sounding play.

A meatotomy is a simple surgical procedure for relieving a urethral obstruction to urine or semen flow caused by scar tissue at the tip of the penile urethra. This narrowing is called meatal stenosis. Symptoms associated with meatal stenosis could include a curved thin stream, penile pain with urination or can be asymptotic. Scar tissue inside the urethra is called a urethral stricture and can have the same symptoms.

Repair of a meatotomy can be painful and difficult, and is similar to hypospadias repair.

Meatotomies usually heal in not much more than a week and tend to be far less difficult to heal than a piercing.

Meatotomies usually damage the ability to urinate normally because they disrupt the urine spray (that is, you'll pee on your pants, your foot, or the guy next to you), although this is definitely not universally true.