Phalloplasty is the name of a procedure designed to construct or reconstruct a penis; It was originally used by surgeons to correct a damaged penis, but its purpose has extended to the much common goal of penile size augmentation.
Phalloplasty is also used for gender reassignment and for penile reconstruction after trauma or congenital defects.
From the medical point of view, there are two main ways to enlarge the penis:
- Girth enhancement to increase its thickness
- Penile lengthening to make it longer
Penile lengthening is a purely surgical procedure, and I will leave this topic to a surgeon with experience in the matter; let’s discuss Girth Enhancement, my expertise for the last 12 years in several thousands of patients.
Penile girth enhancement is performed through two completely different approaches:
- Surgical
- Nonsurgical
Surgical phalloplasty came first. It was popular in the beginning, but most techniques have been discontinued due to unappealing pathological consequences resulting from the surgical procedure in a delicate organ like the penis.
Surgical phalloplasty requires of:
- Hospitalization
- Twilight or general anesthesia
- Surgical cuts, drains, stitches
- Scars
- Prolonged downtime
Surgical phalloplasty procedure examples are FFT (free fat transfer), DFT (dermal fat transfer), silicone implants, and organic scaffoldings.
- FFT and DFT require of double surgical procedure: the first one to obtain fat tissue through liposuction, and the second one to obtain a block of skin and fat that is transferred to the penis.
- DFT, silicone implants and scaffoldings require an aggressive penile degloving: cutting the skin at the neck of the penis and sliding it towards the base to implant the foreign material.
- Other silicone implants are pushed under the skin through a large incision at the base, towards the neck of the penis, and then stitched to both ends.
Outpatient, minimally aggressive phalloplasty is the new trend that started around 2005 with the use of injectable soft tissue fillers (foreign materials that increase volume in the areas of injection, and that are accepted by the human body).
Nonsurgical phalloplasty is an outpatient procedure that takes no more than a couple of hours and the patient is free to go home after that; it is very popular because it doesn’t involve any of the following:
- Hospital or Surgical room
- General anesthesia
- Surgical cuts, drains, stitches, stitch removal
Also, nonsurgical phalloplasty is known for its minimal downtime, no residual surgical scars, prompt recovery and quick return to normal life, including sex.
Several soft tissue fillers are commonly used for nonsurgical phalloplasty, and their results can be temporary, long-lasting, or permanent.
It is very important to understand the subtle -but important- differences between the soft tissue fillers to make your best decision; discuss this with your physician and be careful on your choice, especially if you decide to go for permanent body modification.
A word of advice to new explorers of phalloplasty:
Please keep in mind that there are unethical practices and quacks that offer dangerous silicone oil under the false name of ethical soft tissue fillers, or procedures that are known for their agressiveness or lack of results. Look for recognized and well-established physicians, avoid brokers or shady practices, and play safe. You are not alone in this journey; join this forum and talk to physicians, patients, and members that are highly experienced in phalloplasty.
Dr. Luis Casavantes
Category: General Phalloplasty Discussion