Phalloplasty (penile enlargement surgery)
Cosmetic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Aesthetic Medicine - Reconstructive Surgery
Phalloplasty or penile enlargement is an intimate aesthetic surgery
that increases the length and volume of the penis. An underdeveloped
penis may give rise to complexes in men: an association is often made
between virility and penis size. But be aware that this is a procedure
that does not improve sexual function in any way.
Penile enlargement is an intervention within the scope of aesthetic
surgery itself, that is to say, it deals with patients who are going to
change healthy parts of their bodies.
These patients consider some parts of their anatomy to be very
unpleasant and have a need to modify their bodies for strictly personal
reasons. In this case, we must not neglect the social pressure
involved in this desire to change the body to appear more consistent
with the canons of beauty that appear in contemporary society through
the media, fashion and advertising . Aesthetic surgery is an effort by
the patient to match him/herself more closely to the image he/she wants
to present to others.
Penile aesthetic surgery, which is not dictated by any medical justification, is not covered by Social Security
Before a phalloplasty takes place, dialogue, between surgeon and
patient is fundamental so as to try to identify the genuine desire of
the patient and his fundamental wish to match the image of his body
with what he feels deeply. Caution is always advised before any
transformative surgery to the penis.
Key questions to ask include: Does the deformity exist? Does the
deformity affect the patient's psychology or not? Is there a safe and
effective surgical method of correcting this deformity? After
correcting this deformity, will the patient experience a psychological
benefit? The purpose of all these questions is to give the patient full
information so that he can think about the strategy, risks and
outcomes that are proposed and then take the decision whether or not to
undergo surgery freely.
In phalloplasty two types of techniques are involved:
-penis enlargement is obtained by cutting the suspensory ligament of
the penis between the pubis and the corpora cavernosa (these lie under
the skin over the glans penis, they ensure an erection by swelling
with blood). Depending on circumstances, a horizontal incision in the
shape of an inverted Y or Z will be made.
-thickening of the penis by autografting adipose tissue taken from the abdomen or thighs.
The results of a phalloplasty are difficult to predict before surgery.
It depends on anatomical conditions observed during the surgery. It
would be reasonable to expect a lengthening of the penis in the resting
state (the flaccid penis) of 2 to 3 cm at most, bearing in mind that
this lengthening is not apparent during an erection. The expected
circumference gain would be about 1 to 2 cm.
Penis enlargement or phalloplasty is a procedure performed alone or in
combination with liposuction of the abdomen or love handles.
Penis enlargement or phalloplasty must be performed by a qualified
plastic surgeon, and it is, like any surgical procedure, performed
after preoperative assessment and consultation with an
anaesthesiologist. Penis enlargement or phalloplasty is done under
classic general anaesthesia. The period of hospitalization following a
penis enlargement or phalloplasty is as an outpatient or a short
hospital stay of 24 hours.
Penis enlargement or phalloplasty is a procedure the duration of which
depends on the surgical work to be done by the plastic surgeon. Each
surgeon uses his/her own technique which he/she adjusts to each patient
so as to get the best result.
Following a penis enlargement or phalloplasty you must have a rest and
abstain from sexual activity for 1 month after surgery, since, whilst
if there is no real pain, you may experience some discomfort coupled
with a feeling of tension.
The postoperative consequences of penis enlargement or phalloplasty
vary in duration and magnitude depending on the patient. A period of 3
months is needed to allow time for healing (scars are inevitable,
permanent, indelible and unpredictable) and recovery of flexibility in
the tissues. One of the specific complications of penis enlargement or
phalloplasty is instability associated with the erection, linked to the
cutting of the suspensory ligament of the penis, with loss of erectile
verticality. This complication is inevitable and irreversible.
Penis enlargement surgery or phalloplasty is delicate, requiring a lot
of rigour and carries all the risks associated with any medical
procedure (anaesthesia and surgery) even when carried out under the
most favourable conditions, that is to say by a qualified plastic
surgeon. Without overstating the risk, a proportion of risk exists.
Turning to a qualified plastic surgeon can prevent complications or
help to treat them effectively.