Who performs hypospadias surgery matters. Repairs are delicate, and experience with the specific type of problem—a first repair in a child, a straightforward fistula, or a complex adult revision after several previous operations—can make a real difference. Yet many people have no idea how to find the right person, what to ask, or how to tell a good fit from a poor one.

This guide is for adults seeking care for themselves and for parents choosing a surgeon for a child. It does not recommend specific surgeons or institutions; instead, it gives you a way to evaluate your options. Nothing here is medical advice.

Understanding the Types of Specialists

• Pediatric urologists treat children and perform most first-time hypospadias repairs. If you are a parent, this is usually who you will see.
• General urologists treat a wide range of urinary and male reproductive conditions. Many can evaluate adult hypospadias concerns and refer on when needed.
• Reconstructive urologists (sometimes described as specialising in urethral reconstruction, genitourinary reconstruction, or "GURS") focus on rebuilding the urethra and genitals—strictures, fistulas, and complex revisions. For adults needing revision, this is often the most relevant expertise.
• Plastic surgeons are sometimes involved, depending on local practice and the type of reconstruction.
• Andrologists or male-fertility urologists focus on sexual and reproductive function and may be helpful if fertility is a concern—see our fertility guide.

Adults and Children Need Different Expertise

A surgeon who is excellent at first repairs in toddlers may not routinely handle adult revisions, and vice versa. Adult tissue, scar from previous surgery, erections during healing, and sexual function goals all change the picture. When you contact a practice, it is reasonable to ask directly: "Do you regularly treat adults with hypospadias, including previous repairs?"

Parents: ask about the surgeon's experience with your child's specific type—distal, midshaft, or proximal. Distal repairs generally have high success rates, while proximal cases may need more than one operation and benefit especially from a surgeon who does many of them. See For Parents and Parents Deciding.

Where to Start Looking

• Ask for a referral. Your primary care provider or current urologist can often point you to someone with relevant experience. You can ask specifically: "Who would you send a family member to for this?"
• Academic medical centres and children's hospitals often have specialists who see higher volumes of complex cases.
• Professional society directories. Urology and reconstructive urology professional societies in many countries maintain "find a urologist" directories. Use these to confirm credentials, not as an endorsement.
• Surgeon profiles. Hospital and practice websites often list areas of focus, such as "urethral reconstruction" or "hypospadias."
• Insurance and logistics. Check whether the surgeon is in network, and whether travel to a specialist centre is feasible. For complex revisions, some people find travelling worthwhile.

Be cautious with online reviews: they can tell you about communication and office experience, but rarely tell you about surgical outcomes for cases like yours.

Checking Credentials

Reasonable checks include:

• Board certification (or your country's equivalent) in urology, and any additional fellowship training in reconstructive or pediatric urology.
• Licence status, which you can usually verify through your state or national medical board.
• Hospital privileges at an accredited facility.

Questions to Ask at a Consultation

About experience

• How often do you treat hypospadias in adults (or children of my child's age)?
• How many cases like mine—for example, a revision after previous repairs—do you do in a typical year?
• What is your training in this area?

About the plan

• What do you think is going on, and how did you reach that conclusion?
• What are all the options, including watching and waiting?
• Would you do this in one stage or more? Why?
• What tests do you need before deciding?

About outcomes and risks

• What results do you see in cases like mine, and how do you define success?
• What are the most common complications, and how do you handle them?
• How might this affect urination, sensation, erections, ejaculation, and appearance?
• If something goes wrong, will you be the one managing it?

About practicalities

• How long is recovery? How long with a catheter?
• Who do I call after hours if I have a problem?
• What follow-up do you recommend, and for how long?

Green Flags

• They listen to your goals and ask what matters to you.
• They explain things in plain language and check that you understand.
• They discuss all options, including non-surgical ones and doing nothing.
• They are honest about risks and the possibility of further surgery.
• They are comfortable with you seeking a second opinion.
• They treat your body and your feelings with respect—no jokes at your expense, no shaming.
• They explain exams before doing them and respect requests for a pause or chaperone.
• They have a clear plan for follow-up and after-hours support.

Red Flags

• Guarantees. No honest surgeon can promise a perfect result.
• Pressure. Pushing you to book quickly, especially for a non-urgent or cosmetic concern.
• Vague answers about experience, or reluctance to say how often they do this.
• Dismissing your concerns—telling you symptoms are "in your head" without proper evaluation, or minimising cosmetic or sexual goals.
• Skipping evaluation—recommending a major procedure without examining you or ordering appropriate tests.
• Discouraging second opinions.
• Shaming or insensitive comments about your body, sexuality, or past surgeries.
• Unclear costs or reluctance to discuss them up front.

Second Opinions

Getting a second opinion is a normal part of medicine, not an insult to your first doctor. It is especially worthwhile for complex revisions, when you have been told you need multiple stages, when different options are on the table, or when something just does not feel right. Ask your first surgeon's office for copies of imaging, test results, and notes to bring along.

Gathering Your Records

For adults with childhood surgery, records can be hard to find. Try contacting the hospital where you were treated, asking parents or relatives what they remember, and noting any scars or symptoms you have noticed over the years. Even partial information helps. If records are lost, a good surgeon will work with what they find on examination.

Feeling Comfortable Matters

You will be discussing intimate details and possibly being examined in vulnerable ways. Feeling safe with your surgeon is not a luxury; it affects whether you will speak up about symptoms and follow up properly. If past medical experiences make this hard, you are not alone—see our mental health guide.

A Quick Surgeon-Selection Checklist

• The surgeon has relevant experience for my age group and type of problem.
• I have checked credentials.
• I asked about experience, options, outcomes, risks, and follow-up.
• I felt listened to and respected.
• I know I can get a second opinion.

Next, read Adult Revision Surgery or Recovery After Repair to prepare for what comes after you choose.

Preparing for Your Consultation

A little preparation makes a consultation far more useful:

• Write a short summary of your history: what surgeries you know of, roughly when, and any complications.
• List your current symptoms—urination, ejaculation, erections, pain, infections—and when they started or changed.
• Name your goals. Is it mainly function, comfort during sex, appearance, or peace of mind? Our Adult Revision guide can help you think this through.
• Note practical constraints, such as time off work, travel, or caregiving responsibilities.
• Decide whether to bring someone for support or note-taking.

Cost, Insurance, and Travel

Costs and coverage vary enormously. Ask the practice for an estimate, and check with your insurer about coverage for consultations, tests, surgery, and follow-up. Functional repairs are often treated differently from purely cosmetic procedures, so ask how your situation is classified. If you are travelling to a specialist, plan for follow-up visits too—or ask whether some follow-up can happen closer to home, coordinated with a local urologist.

A Note for Parents

Choosing a surgeon for your child can feel enormous. It is fine to ask the same direct questions an adult patient would—about experience, options, risks, and follow-up—and to ask how the team supports children and families emotionally before and after surgery. See Parents Deciding for a broader decision toolkit.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified clinician. We do not endorse specific surgeons or institutions.