Plastic surgery has come a long way, and with it, procedures like
phalloplasty have also evolved. Today, a lot of men who are not
satisfied with the size of their penis are turning towards phalloplasty
to surgically enhance its size. The procedure, which once used to be
complicated and risky, is now increasingly in demand. If you do not like
the size of your penis, you too can opt for this surgery. However,
before you opt for this procedure, familiarize yourself with all the
various aspect of phalloplasty so that you can make an informed choice.
For men, who believe that a longer penis would help them improve their self esteem and confidence, making them more popular with the ladies, there are several other safer options to consider. However, for men who have damaged, disfigured or extremely small penis, this is an ideal surgical technique. This surgery is aimed at increasing the flaccid length of the penis. This would also affect the length of the erect penis to a large extent. Through this surgery, men can add 0.5 to 1.5 inches to their penis length. For this surgery, the penis is separated from the pubic bone and a suprapubic liposuction is performed to add fat and tissue to it. In cases, where more length is desired, the scrotal fold in the pubic region is repositioned, moving it closer to the pubic area.
In the more advanced form of the surgery, a graft is stitched to the fascia of the penis in a flat position so that the appearance is uniform, and bumps can be avoided. This kind of surgery may also increase the length of the penis, but circumference of the penis usually increases from 10% to 30%. The extent of the widening usually depends on the size of the grafts. These grafts may be obtained from different parts of the body – usually the forearm.
What is Phalloplasty?
Phalloplasty is a medical term for a procedure used to reconstruct the penis. It is also often known as penile enlargement surgery or a penis reconstruction surgery. This surgery is performed to artificially modify the penis, however, most often it is done for cosmetic purposes. The surgery may also be used for sexual reassignment, where the penis is constructed using tissues from other parts of the body.Who is Eligible for Phalloplasty?
Anyone can get phalloplasty performed on themselves. However, this surgery is usually recommended for patients who have congenital anomalies. This could include a very small or micropenis and other conditions such as epispadias and hypospadias. Epispadias is a rare congenital defect located on the opening of the urethra. This condition does not allow the urethra to develop fully, therefore forcing the urine to exit from the wrong place in the body. Hypospadias is a similar birth defect in which the urethra opens on the underside of the penis. This procedure is also ideal for males who need penis reconstruction because of a complete or partial loss of the organ in an accident or a mishap. Phalloplasty is becoming increasingly popular with transsexual patients who want to change their female anatomy to male. In essence, it can be performed on anyone who wants to reconstruct or enhance the appearance of the penis.Penile Lengthening Phalloplasty
Of the several types of phalloplasty surgeries available, penile lengthening is perhaps the most popular. This is a highly coveted procedure, usually sought after by men who are not happy with the length of their penis. Ideal for men who suffer from having a micropenis, this procedure is relatively new and still improving. The first penile lengthening surgery was performed by Dr. Long Daochau, in 1984. The surgery was performed in China and was mildly successful. However, this was the first time, the male organ was surgically enhanced, and ever since a lot of improvements have been made to the procedure, to make it more safe and have less side effects and risks.For men, who believe that a longer penis would help them improve their self esteem and confidence, making them more popular with the ladies, there are several other safer options to consider. However, for men who have damaged, disfigured or extremely small penis, this is an ideal surgical technique. This surgery is aimed at increasing the flaccid length of the penis. This would also affect the length of the erect penis to a large extent. Through this surgery, men can add 0.5 to 1.5 inches to their penis length. For this surgery, the penis is separated from the pubic bone and a suprapubic liposuction is performed to add fat and tissue to it. In cases, where more length is desired, the scrotal fold in the pubic region is repositioned, moving it closer to the pubic area.
Penile Girth Enhancement Phalloplasty
The circumference or the girth of the penis is often an important factor in how men view or regard their penis. Girth enhancement phalloplasty is another popular procedure, in which the circumference of the penis is increased. To achieve this result, free fat from the body is transferred to the penis. This is a much safer procedure than the lengthening surgery. However, this procedure has its disadvantages too. Girth enhancement surgeries have often failed because it may not be able to achieve uniform girth enhancement throughout the length of the penis. Uneven fat absorption may further depreciate the appearance of the penis. Often, the fat may disappear over time or the fat graft may get displaced during vigorous sexual activity. Lumps and bumps on the shaft of the organ, are some of the other problems that this kind of surgery may cause.In the more advanced form of the surgery, a graft is stitched to the fascia of the penis in a flat position so that the appearance is uniform, and bumps can be avoided. This kind of surgery may also increase the length of the penis, but circumference of the penis usually increases from 10% to 30%. The extent of the widening usually depends on the size of the grafts. These grafts may be obtained from different parts of the body – usually the forearm.
Common Complications
While the procedure of phalloplasty has improved over the years, with improvement in both technology and medical understanding of the penis, the procedure still has several risks and complications. A large majority of men require revision surgeries to maintain the added length and girth, while several experience incorrect healing of grafts, causing mutilation and shrinking of the penis. A post operative study on men reported that more than 25% of patients who received phalloplasty had several serious complications due to the surgery. Some of the most common complications men may experience after this procedure include:- Loss of the penis because of disease or damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to it.
- Blood clots in the penis or the pubic region
- Shortage of blood supply in the groin
- Mild to severe infection
- Death or decay of parts of the penis (limited necrosis)
- Bruises that may not heal
- Scarring
- Urinary fistula that may require revision surgeries
- Prosthesis change because of complications