Creativity in hypospadias surgery
How Is Hypospadias Surgery Performed?
Hypospadias is a severe birth defect (congenital structural disorder) of the penis and urethra. After birth, it is observed that the boy’s urethra does not open at the tip of the penis, and the baby urinates from a point on the underside of the penis or from between the scrotal sacs. The foreskin (prepuce) is missing on the underside and bulky on the top, and the penis may curve downward resulting in abnormal penile appearance (ventral curvature/chordee). Hypospadias is popularly known as being “born half circumcised”. It is one of the most common congenital anomalies in boys. There is also a deficiency of the anatomical structures that support the urethra, such as the “corpus spongiosum”, “septum glandis”, “fossa navicularis” and “frenulum”.
Hypospadias surgery should be performed in a single session and without complications, in accordance with the functional anatomy of the penis and urethra.
It occurs in about 1 in 200 boys.
Commonly known as “born half-circumcised”.
The treatment is surgical. The goal is a single-stage, anatomical reconstruction.
The "SEPTUM GLANDIS" and the Glanular-Frenular Collar (GFC) Technique
Due to centuries-old misconceptions in the reconstruction of male urethra, hypospadias surgery has become a complex surgical procedure that is difficult to achieve satisfactory results even in the hands of experienced surgeons.
The anatomical differences between the glanular and penile urethra, the structures such as the septum glandis and the fossa navicularis are new definitions that have led to a paradigm shift in hypospadias. The finding that the wings of the glans are not fused together ventrally but are separated by the septum glandis represents a new insight and clarifies the causes of the complications that frequently occur in hypospadias, such as meatal stenosis, fistula and the so-called glans-dehiscence.
The GFC technique involves reconstruction of the septum glandis, which has been overlooked in the history of hypospadias, and formation of the frenulum, creating the ventral wall of the glanular urethra without dissecting the glans, leaving room for the formation of the navicular fossa. The GFC technique aims to restore the functional anatomy of the glans, replicating the embryologic development of the glanular urethra.
The GFC technique reduces the risk of meatal stenosis, fistula and glans dehiscence, and aims for a normal, wave-like urinary stream in every patient.
Why should the GFC technique be preferred?
With this technique, the glans is not cut and fused, which is the main cause of complications after hypospadias surgery. You can find informative videos about urethral anatomy and the GFC surgical technique on our YouTube channel.
Low complication rate
Avoiding glans fusion, which is the main cause of complications, reduces the complication rate.
Anatomical reconstruction
Septum glandis, frenulum and fossa navicularis are reconstructed.
Normal (physiological) urinary flow
The goal is to restore natural (physiological) urine flow.
Who Is Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Özbey?
Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Özbey completed his medical education at Istanbul Medical Faculty and continued his academic career at the same institution, gaining more than 30 years of experience in pediatric surgery and pediatric urology. Between 1997- 1998 and 2001-2002 he worked with Prof. Michael Höllwarth at the Medical Faculty in Graz, Austria. Between 2017 and 2020 he chaired the Division of Pediatric Urology at Istanbul Medical Faculty, and served as a faculty member in Graz (Austria) and Moscow (Russia). He continues to work privately in Istanbul.
Hypospadias surgery: He is the first surgeon to describe the “septum glandis” and the functional anatomy of the glanular urethra, overlooked throughout the history of hypospadias surgery. He developed the GFC technique, which achieves anatomical repair while preserving the integrity of the glans.
For 15 years, he has been presenting his regularly archived and tracked patient results as data with high clinical success at international congresses for pediatric surgery and pediatric urology.
He was awarded this prestigious title in recognition of his successful work in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery at the Medical University of Graz, Austria.
He developed this groundbreaking surgical method – which aims to preserve the natural anatomy without requiring extensive glans dissection – and introduced it into international literature and practice.
Scientific Publications
Explore Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Özbey’s academic work published in international peer-reviewed journals.
In my latest article I summarize why the “Tubularized Incised Plate / TIPU / Snodgrass” technique — unfortunately widely used worldwide and in our country for about 30 years — is wrong and leads to complications.
Özbey H. Traditional misconceptions in hypospadias surgery. J Pediatr Surg 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2026.162944
Meetings & Congresses
Through live surgery workshops and congress lectures, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Özbey teaches his colleagues the GFC technique and the anatomy of hypospadias, thus promoting international knowledge exchange to spread the correct anatomical correction.
Get in Touch
Conditions in children that require surgical or urological intervention are sensitive processes for parents. During this period, the most accurate diagnostic and treatment steps are taken with the diligence that expertise in pediatric surgery and pediatric urology provides. You can review the informative content on our site about your child’s health, symptoms and treatment methods, and send us any questions on your mind as well as your appointment requests directly.