The cosmetic results and the morbidity of Mathieu and Barcat techniques are presented and compared in a series of 52 children aged between five months to 19 years during January 1991 to May 2001. All patients treated with the Mathieu procedure had negligible glandular hypospadias at some level. The neomeatus was slit-like or elliptic in majority of the cases. The horizontal bucket handle deformity was eliminated which remains as a meatal problem of the original Mathieu procedure. Four patients had fistula, which was closed by surgery whereas another three had mild stricture formation. Cosmetic and functional results were excellent with the Barcat balanic groove technique. There was no fistula formation, only two had meatal stricture which responded to dilatations. The Barcat technique allows anatomically superior glans reconstruction resulting in a vertical and slit like neomeatus in distal hypospadias repair with a low complication rate.