A new technique for augmentation phalloplasty: albugineal surgery with bilateral saphenous grafts--three years of experience

Techniques for Penile Augmentation Surgery: A Systematic Review of Surgical Outcomes, Complications, and Quality of Life

The increase in practices related to enhancing penile size can be attributed to the belief that an improved genital appearance contributes to a man's virility, coupled with an altered self-perception of his body. It is crucial to tailor interventions to meet the genuine needs of patients by thoroughly assessing their history, psychological state, and potential surgical benefits, all while considering the associated risks of complications. This systematic review aims to summarize the available evidence on outcomes, complications, and quality of life after penile augmentation surgery, examining both minimally invasive and more radical techniques. A search of the PubMed and Scopus databases, focusing on English-language papers published in the last 15 years, was performed in December 2023. Papers discussing surgery in animal models and case reports were excluded from the present study unless further evaluated in a follow-up case series. The primary outcomes were changes in penile dimensions, specifically in terms of length and girth, as well as the incidence of surgical complications and the impact on quality of life. A total of 1670 articles were retrieved from the search and 46 were included for analysis. Procedures for penile length perceived enhancements include lipoplasty, skin reconstruction plasty, V-Y and Z plasty, flap reconstruction, scrotoplasty, ventral phalloplasty, and suspensory ligament release; techniques for increasing corporal penile length include penile disassembly, total phalloplasty, and sliding elongation. Finally, penile girth enhancement may be performed using soft tissue fillers, grafting procedures, biodegradable scaffolds, and Penuma®. In conclusion, while penile augmentation surgeries offer potential solutions for individuals concerned about genital size, the risks and complexities need to be accounted for.

Morphometric Predictors of Penile Length Increase After Division of its Suspensory Ligament

INTRODUCTION

Division of the suspensory ligament of the penis has emerged as a popular surgical approach for penile lengthening, but accurate preoperative predictions of lengthening outcomes remain elusive. This study aimed to identify readily measurable anatomical parameters associated with post-ligamentolysis penile length gain, facilitating more reliable preoperative estimations.

METHODS

An experimental cross-sectional study was performed on 16 adult cadavers. Data collected before dissection included: age at death, ethnicity, height, length of the penis before dissection and width of the suspensory ligament of penis. Following the complete dissection of the suspensory ligament of penis, the depth of the pubic symphysis and the penile length after the procedure were measured. The absolute and relative length differences pre- and post-ligamentolysis were calculated. Correlation coefficients were used to study relations between these variables.

RESULTS

Penile length increased uniformly after complete division of the suspensory ligament (average gain: 26.38 mm, SD = 14.83 mm; range 4-60 mm). Pearson correlation revealed a significant negative correlation between pre-ligamentolysis penile length and post-ligamentolysis increase (r = - 0.601; p = 0.014), suggesting greater gains in individuals with shorter pre-ligamentolysis lengths. Age, ligament width, and pubic arch depth showed no significant correlations. Ethnicity did not impact post-ligamentolysis length increase (t = - 0.135; p = 0.894).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the potential to predict penile length gain post-ligamentolysis through measurable anatomical parameters. The ability to anticipate the outcome of this procedure could empower surgeons to provide informed counseling, potentially elevating patient satisfaction. An experimental cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the outcomes of penile lengthening surgery Penile lengthening was achieved in all subjects via complete dissection of the suspensory ligament of the penis Penile length increase may be predicted preoperatively using easily measurable anatomical parameters NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Anatomical Study of the Penile Suspensory System: A Surgical Application to Micropenis

Penile enlargement surgery is the second most desired cosmetic procedure in men worldwide. The mainstay of penile lengthening procedures is a partial release of the penile suspensory ligament system. Concerns regarding erect penis stability after this procedure have been raised by the surgical community. This study describes the anatomical features of the penile suspensory ligament system and explores the stability mechanisms of the penis.

Methods

This study is subdivided in two parts: an anatomical analysis and a clinical analysis. The anatomical part consists of a dissection of eight male cadavers to describe the anatomy and test the stability after sectioning successively the suspensory ligaments. The clinical part consists of an analysis of 30 patients with micropenis operated on for penile lengthening by a penile suspensory ligament release and lipofilling.

Results

The suspensory apparatus consists of four distinct ligamentous structures: fundiform, suspensory, dense vertical, and arcuate ligaments. These different structures are lax superficially but become firm and tense posteriorly. The section of the fundiform and suspensory ligaments did not destabilize the penis.

Conclusion

Penile lengthening by way of cautious suspensory ligament release can be performed without erection instability.

The International Penile Prosthesis Implant Consensus Forum: clinical recommendations and surgical principles on the inflatable 3-piece penile prosthesis implant

Despite significant scientific advances in the modern three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis implant surgery, it is not without surgical risks and can carry additional cosmetic and psychosocial consequences in poorly selected and consented individuals. To address this problem, an international group of key opinion leaders and high-volume prosthetic surgeons reviewed the current guidelines and clinical evidence, discussed their experiences, and formed a consensus regarding inflatable penile prosthesis surgery. The findings of this consensus panel were presented at the 17th biennial Asia Pacific Society of Sexual Medicine scientific meeting. The experts concluded that proper patient selection, informed consent and strict adherence to safe surgical principles are important to optimize clinical outcomes. Furthermore, most intraoperative complications, if recognized, can be addressed intraoperatively to enable placement of the device at the time of initial surgery. Men with significant corporal fibrosis due to Peyronie's disease, prior prosthesis explantation and priapism, and men who have undergone construction of a neophallus, as well as men who receive concurrent continence surgery, are complex cases requiring additional care and advanced techniques to obtain optimal surgical outcomes. Variability in patient care - in terms of postoperative antibiotic use, pain management, scrotal care, and cycling of the penile prosthesis implant - must be reduced to enable optimization and assessment of outcomes across patient groups.

Multidisciplinary approach and management of patients who seek medical advice for penile size concerns: a narrative review

We aimed to provide an overview of the strategies available to manage patients concerned about their penile size and to provide useful surgical hints regarding the most common penile enlargement approaches, based on our surgical expertise in this field. A comprehensive research was carried out on MEDLINE/PubMed database to identify pertinent studies concerning penile enlargement issues. The search strategy included a range of keywords; e.g. penis, penile, enlargement, augmentation, lengthening, girth. Management of penile size-related concerns represents a real challenge for the urologist, especially when dealing with patients suffering from penile dysmorphophobic disorder (PDD). A multidisciplinary preoperative assessment, including a psychiatric/psychological evaluation, may help in discerning those patients who would benefit the most from counselling/conservative management from those who would benefit from surgery instead. Conservative approaches include the use of vacuum-based and penile-stretching devices, which have shown encouraging levels of efficacy and safety. Over the last decades, different surgical strategies have been developed, aimed at either increasing flaccid penile length or improving penile girth. Penile lengthening procedures are more established, and satisfactory results can be achieved by experienced, large referrals' volume, surgeons. To date, there is lack of consensus regarding the penile girth enhancing techniques, and therefore these should be regarded as experimental. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to identify patients with PDD, who should not be offered surgical intervention and should be referred for psychiatric/psychological counselling instead. The surgical approach should be tailored to the subject's unique anatomy and underlying conditions.

History and future perspectives of male aesthetic genital surgery

Since ancient times, men have tried to change the size and shape of their genitals. Bites from insects or poisonous snakes and weights were among the first methods used for this purpose. In the first half of the 1900s, the scientific push regarding male genital aesthetic surgery began. Scrotoplasty, penile suspensory ligament release, injection of hyaluronic acid as filler, use of several types of grafts, lipofilling, and liposuction are techniques currently used. The Penuma® implant has recently been described with promising results. We are living in the era of tailored surgery and regenerative medicine. Shortly the surgeons will have to know several surgical techniques and adapt them to the patient. New fillers with ideal characteristics, innovative prosthetic devices, and stem cells will probably be the protagonists of future aesthetic surgery. The main effort of the scientific community should be directed towards the design of new randomized controlled trials to increase the evidence on the efficacy and safety of the topic, with the ultimate aim of allowing clear recommendations from scientific societies.

Male esthetic genital surgery: recommendations and gaps to be filled

The reason behind the spread of penis enlargement practices over time is rooted in the virility that the appearance of the genitals can give a man, as well as an altered perception of his own body. The approach should be to modulate the interventions on the real needs of patients, carefully evaluating the history, the psychological picture, and possible surgical advantages. The aim of this study was to shed light on cosmetic surgery of male genitalia through minimally invasive and more radical techniques, with the purpose of laying the foundation for possible indications and recommendations for the future. A non-systematic literature review using the PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted to retrieve papers written in English on cosmetic surgery of the penis published over the past 15 years. Papers discussing cosmetic surgery in patients with concomitant pathologies associated with sexual dysfunction were excluded. The main outcomes recorded were change in penile dimensions in term of length and girth and surgical complications.

Penile shortening complaints in males with erectile dysfunction: a narrative review on penile lengthening procedures during penile prosthesis surgery

Patients complaining of short penile length pose a challenge in urology practice. Those men who present seeking penile lengthening surgery usually overestimate 'normal' penile length, and may in often cases relate their penile length with the degree of masculinity and self-esteem. Penile prosthetic devices are the gold standard treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) after failure of conservative options. Penile shortening is the most prevalent long-term complaint after successful inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement. This has a significant impact on patient’s overall satisfaction and quality of life. Using PubMed, we performed a thorough literature review of the current procedures of preservation or enhancement of penile length as well as reported perioperative protocols in patients undergoing penile prosthesis (PP) insertion. Keywords used were “penile lengthening”, “penile enhancement”, “penile girth”, “inflatable penile prosthesis” and “glans augmentation”. Several surgical techniques can be offered in the setting of penile shortening concurrently with PP insertion, e.g., sub-coronal approach of PP placement, sliding technique, modified sliding technique (MoST), multiple-slide technique (MuST), and tunica mesh expansion procedure (TMEP). Adjuvant techniques can also improve subjective penile length include, ventral phalloplasty, suprapubic lipectomy, suspensory ligament release and use of expanding penile implants. Preoperative protocols including use of a vacuum erectile device, traction therapy also seem to improve postoperative outcomes, minimizing postoperative pain, and encouraging the early device use. Currently, there is no consensus among experts on a particular lengthening procedure or when they can be performed to optimize outcomes. Furthermore, it is imperative to set proper expectations before surgery, with extensive patient and partner counseling. When used in the properly selected patient, penile lengthening procedures show promising results with minimal complication rates.

Cosmetic penile enhancement surgery: a 3-year single-centre retrospective clinical evaluation of 355 cases

Men's satisfaction and sexual function is influenced by discomfort over genital size which leads to seek surgical and non-surgical solutions for penis alteration. In this article we report the results of a retrospective study of 355 cases of cosmetic elongation, enlargement and combined elongation and enlargement phalloplasty. We found a significant improvement in length at rest, stretched length and circumference at rest at 2, 6 and 12 months post-surgical procedure (all p < 0.0001). 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was also increased at 12 months post-surgery compared to baseline (p < 0.0001). This was consistent with an IIEF-5 improvement of 6.74% compared to baseline. This study is clinically relevant due to the large cohort of patients included and because it is the first study to use an inverse periosteal-fascial suture not described previously as part of the surgical methodology.

Penile Girth Enlargement Strategies: What's the Evidence?

INTRODUCTION

Most men seeking penile girth augmentation have physiologically normal penises but may suffer from severe preoccupation with penis size known as penile dysmorphophobic disorder.

AIM

To describe the medical, procedural, and reconstructive techniques available for penile girth enhancement and to review the success and complications of each modality.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed publications on the topic was performed through a PubMed search. Key search terms included penis, enhancement, enlargement, phalloplasty, reconstruction, girth, and augmentation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

We wanted to summarize the motivations behind penile girth enhancement and review the outcomes for girth augmentation treatments.

RESULTS

Various medical, traction, injection, prosthetic, and reconstructive modalities have been studied for penile girth enhancement, with increases in girth ranging from 0-4.9 cm. Complications were reported in a minority of patients, but they may be devastating and include penile fibrosis, sexual dysfunction, device infection, and death.

CONCLUSION

A variety of penile girth augmentation techniques have been studied. Clinical guidelines are lacking, and complications of penile girth enhancement are likely underreported. Until more rigorous investigation with accurate reporting of complications is achieved, penile girth augmentation procedures should be considered experimental. Hehemann MC, Towe M, Huynh LM, et al. Penile Girth Enlargement Strategies: What's the Evidence? Sex Med 2019;7:535-547.

Paraffinoma, siliconoma and Co: Disastrous consequences of failed penile augmentation-A single-centre successful surgical management of a challenging entity

The purpose of this study was to present our series of patients with disastrous consequences of failed penile self-augmentation and suggested surgical reconstruction. Ten patients with median age of 23 years and a variety of penile and scrotal deformities due to injections of several substances had undergone successful surgical reconstruction of external genitalia. The injections were self-performed in nine cases and the patients reported from 4 to 20 substance injections throughout the penile shaft. Three patients presented with fibrotic scirrhous masses in their scrotum, although they did not report any injections in scrotal area. All patients underwent extended penile-shaft skin excision, while all palpable scrotal lesions were removed in one-by-one fashion, as an attempt to destroy the less possible scrotal tissue. All patients were discharged on first post-operative day and reassessed at 2 months post-operatively. As a result, penile self-augmentation with injected substances may cause severe complications. Our proposed single-staged procedure seems safe and effective.

Minimal surgical management of penile paraffinoma after subcutaneous penile paraffin injection

Objectives

To describe our reconstructive technique, without flap or graft use, after penile self-augmentation with injected substances, such as paraffin, which are still performed with unfortunate consequences.

Patient and methods

Successful single-stage minimal surgical management of an already twice unsuccessfully managed ulcerative penile paraffinoma in a 38-year-old Greek man.

Results

The patient was discharged with no postoperative complications, with a five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function score of 23/25 (i.e. normal erectile function) and flaccid penile length of 5 cm.

Conclusions

Penile paraffinoma is a serious complication that can be successfully managed with a single-stage minimal surgical procedure, with normal aesthetic and functional results.

Mystery and realities of phalloplasty: a systematic review

The neophallus creation is still a mystery and it remains challenging even today. In this article, we performed a comprehensive review of the literature regarding phalloplasty and penile reconstructive surgery between January 2008 and May 2016. In this review, we have included 15 research articles and the results of 276 patients were examined. Studies revealed several indications and when indications were reviewed, 191 patients were female-to-male transgender, 9 patients had disorder of sex development/micropenis, 16 had penile amputation/trauma, 9 had ambiguus genitalia, 40 had exstrophy and/or epispadias, 11 had other problems. As a result of this review, phalloplasty is a reliable and useful operation with good functional and aesthetical results.

Penile Lengthening, Girth, and Size Preservation at the Time of Penile Prosthesis Insertion

INTRODUCTION

Penile prosthetic devices are the gold standard treatment of medication-refractory erectile dysfunction. Inflatable penile prosthetic (IPP) devices have been available and used for more than four decades. Oftentimes, medical conditions causing erectile dysfunction also cause penile shortening, causing decreased patient quality of life.

AIM

To identify and review all available penile lengthening procedures that can be performed at time of IPP insertion.

METHODS

An extensive, systematic literature review was performed using PubMed searching for key terms penile lengthening, inflatable penile prosthesis, penile girth, corporoplasty, glans augmentation, and penile enhancement; all articles with subjective and/or objective penile length outcomes were reviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

A review of various techniques for penile length and girth preservation and enhancement during penile prosthesis insertion.

RESULTS

Several advanced and novel techniques were found for penile length preservation and enhancement at time of IPP insertion, including the sub-coronal IPP insertion technique, and adjuvant maneuvers during insertion, such as the sliding technique, modified sliding technique, multiple slice technique, and circumferential incision and grafting. Other adjuvant techniques that can enhance perception of increased length include ventral phalloplasty, suprapubic lipectomy, and suspensory ligament release. Further enhancement can be obtained using augmentation corporoplasty and glans augmentation with hyaluronic acid and other fillers. The different techniques vary in complexity and could require specialized training and experience. Maximum length gain appears to be limited by the length of the neurovascular bundles.

CONCLUSION

Overall, surgical penile lengthening procedures at time of IPP insertion appear safe and effective for treatment of patients with penile shortening and severe erectile dysfunction. These therapies can significantly improve patient self-esteem and quality of life in properly selected patients. Tran H, Goldfarb R, Ackerman A, Valenxuela RJ. Penile Lengthening, Girth and Size Preservation at the Time of Penile Prosthesis Insertion. Sex Med Rev 2017;5:403-412.

Autologous dermal graft combined with a modified degloving procedure for penile augmentation in young adults: a preliminary study

In order to evaluate the effect of penile enhancement, we retrospectively reviewed the data of the patients operated with autologous dermal graft implantation combined with a modified penile degloving procedure. The patients with the complaints of small penis, asking for penile augmentation, and normal erectile function were psychologically screened and enrolled. Data of follow-up visit including patient demographics, medical history, surgical procedure, patient-reported outcomes were analysed. In all, 30 eligible persons were operated. After degloving of the penis, the suspensory ligament was incised and the tunica albuginea was fixed to the proximal tunica dartos at the penile base. Then, the dermis graft was implanted on the dorsal surface of the tunica albuginea. The file of follow-up visit was available in 17 (57%) patients. The mean age was 23.7 years (19-35 years) and the mean follow-up was 13 months (range, 4-24 months). During the follow-up period, the average gain in the penis length was 2.7 cm in flaccid and 0.8 cm in erection, respectively. And the average gain in the penis circumference was 1.5 cm in flaccid and 1.2 cm in erection, respectively. Also, psychosexual sexual self-esteem and confidence of the patients were significantly improved (p < 0.001). Overall, 13 (76%) patients reported satisfaction with the penile appearance. We believe that the surgery is both safe and effective in the enhancement of the penis, however, further clinical studies with a larger patient population are necessary.

Strategies for maintaining penile size following penile implant

INTRODUCTION

Loss of penile size is a common complaint that can negatively affect patient satisfaction rates following successful penile prosthetic implant surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to describe the various strategies that have been used to maintain penile length or girth after the insertion of a penile prosthetic implant.

METHODS

An extensive systematic literature review was performed, based on a search of the PUBMED database for articles published between 2002 to 2012. The following key words were used: penile prosthesis, implant, penile length, size, penis, enhancement, enlargement, phalloplasty, girth, lengthening, and augmentation. Only English-language articles that were related to penile prosthetic surgery and penile size were sought.

DISCUSSION

Based on the results of our search, strategies were classified into 3 groups based on the timepoint in relation to the primary penile prosthetic insertion surgery, which included pre-insertion, intraoperative and post-insertion.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies to preserve and potentially increase penile size are of great importance to all implanters. Besides traction therapies and surgeries to enhance perceived penile size, refinements in the surgical approach are simple ways to optimize penile length. A direct comparison of treatment outcomes evaluating the various approaches is not currently possible, owing to divergent study techniques. The implanting surgeon can best serve his patient by adopting a combination of different strategies that are individualized and specific to the patient's needs.

Penile enhancement with rectus muscle fascia and testicular tunica vaginalis grafts: an experimental animal study

PURPOSE

To enhance rat penises experimentally with rectus muscle fascia (RMF) and testicular tunica vaginalis grafts (TVG).

METHODS

Twelve Wistar albino rats were distributed into two equal Groups, A and B. There were six rats in each group. RMF and TVG were used to enhance rat penises in Groups A and B, respectively. Circumferences of the penises were measured preoperatively and at three different times after the operation. Two, two and eight rats were killed 10 days, 1 month and 2 months after the operation, respectively, for histopathological examinations.

RESULTS

When we compared the measurements of preoperative and immediately postoperative circumferences, the mean increase was 23.4 ± 2.9 % in Group A and 19.9 ± 1.7 % in Group B. According to paired t test, the difference was significant (p < 0001), but the comparison between preoperative and postoperative first-month measurements was not found to be significant (p > 0.05). Histological examinations revealed an intensive inflammatory process at 10 days after the operation. Grafts were found to be totally absorbed in the first- and second-month examinations.

CONCLUSION

In our study, implanted TVG and RMF could not survive because of insufficient vascularization and failure to maintain satisfactory surgical success. More studies are needed to increase the effectiveness of surgical techniques.

Consultation for Small-Sized Penis in the Egyptian Males

This study aimed to report penile dimensions in adult Egyptian males consulting for small-sized penis (SSP) and describe their demographics and andrological profile. A case control study was designed through retrospective data analysis of patients ( n = 239) seeking advice for SSP and a control group ( n = 59). This included sociodemographics, other andrological complaints, and penile dimensions (pendulous length [PL], penopubic or total length [TL], and circumference [CF]) at flaccid and erect states and the size of the prepubic fatty pad. The results reported that most patients were single, students, and smokers and had not completed a university education. Several patients reported falsely premature ejaculation (PE), penile curvature (PC), and small-sized testes. Most penile dimensions of the patients (mean, cm) were significantly lower than those of the controls, whether in flaccid (PL: 7.4 vs. 8.05, p = .008; CF: 8.7 vs. 8.98, p = .026) or erect state (PL: 11.8 vs. 13, p = .000; TL: 14.2 vs. 15, p = .000; CF: 11.3 vs. 11.8, p = .003). However, no patient presented with a pendulous penile length <4 cm in flaccid or <7 cm in erect state. In conclusion, Egyptian men consulting for SSP did not have true small organs, but their penile dimensions were slightly smaller than those of men without such complaint. The proper sexual education program is highly advisable in these situations to avoid the myths and misconceptions about sexuality.

Penile subcutaneous fibrolipoma postaugmentative phalloplasty

Fibrolipomas are a rare subtype of lipomas. We describe a case of a man suffering from subcutaneous penile fibrolipoma, who three months earlier has been submitted to an augmentative phalloplasty due to aesthetic dysmorphophobia. After six months from the excision of the mass, the penile elongation and penile enlargement were stable, and the patient was satisfied with his sexual intercourse and sexual life. To our knowledge, this is the first reported penile subcutaneous fibrolipoma case in the literature. The diagnostics and surgical features of this case are discussed.

Is V-Y plasty necessary for penile lengthening? Girth enhancement and increased length solely through circumcision: description of a novel technique

Our objective is to describe a novel ligamentolysis approach using a subcoronal incision technique and to determine its safety and efficacy. During the last 7 years, 82 consecutive patients had penile augmentation surgery. Ligamentolysis, through a lower abdominal incision (V-Y plasty) in the first 35 males, was performed (Group A), followed by circumcision ligamentolysis in the next 47 males (Group B). The operation time, complications, and the preoperative and postoperative values of penile length and girth along with the self-esteem and relations questionnaire score as well as satisfaction score was calculated before and after the surgery, and a comparison was conducted between the groups. The mean age at presentation was 32 years (range: 18-56 years). Seventy-nine patients suffered from penile dysmorphophobia, and three patients had micropenises (length <7.5 cm). The mean surgical times were 150.7 and 125.2 min for Groups A and B, respectively (P=0.005). Postoperatively, four Group A patients and three Group B patients (11% versus 6%, respectively) experienced penile retraction (P=0.453). Hypertrophic scars were observed in 18 men (51%) in the former [corrected] group. In the circumcision group, no major wound complications were recorded. The length and girth improvements between the groups were similar. In terms of satisfaction and SEAR improvement, the resulting difference for both variables favored the circumcision group (P=0.007 and <0.001, respectively). With strict selection criteria, the circumcision ligamentolysis procedure compared to the V-Y plasty demonstrated improved results in terms of safety, operation time, retraction rate and cosmetic appearance without any compromise in the gained penile size.

The use of an acellular collagen matrix in penile augmentation: A pilot study in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES

To assess the use of an acellular collagen matrix (Pelvicol, Bard Medical, Covington, GA, USA), a successful agent for reconstructive surgery, for enhancing penile girth.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between June and December 2011, 18 patients (mean age 24 years, range 19-38) had their penis augmented with Pelvicol; the mean (range) penile circumference was 9.2 (7-13) cm before treatment. They were divided into two groups; the first (10 patients) had a Pelvicol sheet of 8 × 12 cm inserted through a V-Y suprapubic incision and wrapped around the shaft in a bilayer under the dartos fascia, but not covering the urethra, with division of the suspensory ligament. The second group of eight patients had the Pelvicol inserted through a subcoronal degloving incision and placed in one layer. The penile circumference was measured at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Patient satisfaction at 1 year after surgery was assessed as 'poor', 'unsatisfied', 'moderately satisfied', 'highly satisfied', or 'excellent'.

RESULTS

The mean (range) increase in girth (circumference) was 2.8 (2-3.2) cm in group 1 and 1.7 (1.2-2) cm in group 2. In group 1, two patients were highly satisfied, four moderately satisfied and four unsatisfied; in group 2, three were moderately satisfied and five unsatisfied. Complications were common in both groups, with five patients in group 1 and three in group 2 developing severe penile oedema and ischaemic shaft ulcers. Removal of the graft was required in two patients in each group.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study shows that Pelvicol is not an ideal option for enhancing penile girth, and the method of placement did not apparently influence the result.

Aesthetic surgery of the male genitalia

Appearance of the male genitalia is linked with self-esteem and sexual identity. Aesthetic surgery of the male genitalia serves to correct perceived deficiencies as well as physical deformities, which may cause psychological distress. Attention to patient motivation for surgery and to surgical technique is key to achieving optimal results. In this review, the authors describe aesthetic surgical techniques for treatment of penile and scrotal deficiencies. They also discuss techniques for revision in patients with previous surgery.

Efficacy and safety of penile girth enhancement by autologous fat injection for patients with thin penises

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of autologous fat injection (AFI) for penile girth enhancement (PGE) in patients with thin penises.

METHODS

This study investigated 52 patients with a small penile circumference who underwent AFI for PGE and were followed up for more than 6 months. The patients whose proximal one third (G1) and distal one third of their penis (G2) had a mean thickness of 7.4 cm or less were selected as subjects. After fat suction using a liposuction device, fat was evenly injected into the superficial, middle, and deep layers of the Colles' fascia. Patient age and operative time were analyzed. The G1, G2, flaccid (L1), stretched length (L2), and five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) before and 6 months after the surgery were compared. Postoperative complications were surveyed.

RESULTS

The patient mean age was 42.15 years (range, 22-56) years, and the operative time was 44.44 min (range, 37-49 min). The injected fat volume was 38.54 ml (range, 25-49 ml). Preoperatively, G1 was 7.01±0.39 cm, and G2 was 7.06±0.37 cm. Postoperatively, G1 was 9.29±0.82 cm (P<0.001), and G2 was 9.34±0.86 (P<0.001) cm 6 months after the surgery. The difference between L1 and L2 before and after the surgery was not significant. The IIEF-5 was 19.10±3.22 before the surgery and 19.90±3.05 after the surgery (P=0.001). The only complication was nodular fat observed in one case (1.92%).

CONCLUSION

The use of AFI for PGE in men with thin penises was effective and safe without major complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors at www.springer.com/00266.

Penile enhancement procedures with simultaneous penile prosthesis placement

Here we present an overview of various techniques performed concomitantly during penile prosthesis surgery to enhance penile length and girth. We report on the technique of ventral phalloplasty and its outcomes along with augmentation corporoplasty, suprapubic lipectomy, suspensory ligament release, and girth enhancement procedures. For the serious implanter, outcomes can be improved by combining the use of techniques for each scar incision. These adjuvant procedures are a key addition in the armamentarium for the serious implant surgeon.

Original technique for penile girth augmentation through porcine dermal acellular grafts: results in a 69-patient series

INTRODUCTION

Although different techniques for augmentation phalloplasty have been reported in the medical literature, this issue is still highly controversial, and none of the proposed procedures has been unanimously approved.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to describe an innovative surgical technique for penile girth augmentation with porcine dermal acellular grafts, through a small transverse incision at the penile base, along the penopubic junction.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2009, 104 patients were referred to our institution for penile enhancement. After a preoperative psychosexual consultation and a general medical assessment, 69 patients were deemed suitable good candidates for surgery. The average penis circumference was measured at the mid-length of the penis and was 8.1 cm (5.4-10.7 cm) and 10.8 cm (6.5-15.8 cm) during flaccidity and erection, respectively. All patients received penile augmentation with porcine dermal acellular grafts.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Results evaluation of an innovative technique for penile girth augmentation through exogenous porcine grafts and small penobubic incision.

RESULTS

Postoperative measurements were performed at 6 and 12 months. At the 1-year follow-up, the average penis circumference was 11.3 cm (8.2-13.2 cm, 3.1 cm mean increase) during flaccidity and 13.2 cm (8.8-14.5 cm, 2.4 cm mean increase) during erection. No major complications occurred in the series. Minor complications were resolved with conservative treatment within 3 weeks. Sexual activity was resumed from 1 to 2 months after surgery. The psychosexual impact of the operation was beneficial in the majority of cases.

CONCLUSION

Penile girth enlargement with acellular dermal matrix grafts has several advantages over augmentation with autogenous dermis-fat grafts: the elimination of donor site morbidity and a significantly shorter operation time. With this approach, through a short dorsal incision at the base of the penis, the scar is concealed in a crease covered by pubic hair and thus hardly visible.

Establishing a reference range for penile length in Caucasian British men: a prospective study of 609 men

OBJECTIVES

• To establish a reference range for adult male genital size in the UK using penile length measurements. • To compare the reference ranges for normal penile length reported from several different countries and the anthropometric differences noted between different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

• Over 20 months, genital measurements were taken from all men undergoing routine examination in clinics (n= 499) and in operating theatres during examination under anaesthetic (n= 110). • Using a rigid metric ruler three penile measurements were taken: flaccid pendulous penile length, flaccid penopubic penile length (to the pubic arch) and stretched flaccid penopubic length. In addition, testicular size was measured using an orchidometer. • The patient's age and the reason for referral were recorded. • Statistical analysis was carried out using Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS

• Measurements from 610 patients aged 16-90 years were available for analysis. • The mean penile lengths were: pendulous length 8.7 cm (sd 1.6 cm), penopubic length 10.2 cm (sd 1.4 cm) and stretched length 14.3 cm (sd 1.7 cm). The mean testicular volume was 19.8 mL (sd 5.4 mL) for both left and right testicles. • Men with penile disease (including phimosis and Peyronie's disease) had slightly reduced penile length (pendulous -3.3 mm, P= 0.014; penopubic -2.3 mm, P= 0.029; stretched -5.1 mm, P < 0.001) compared with other referral groups (erectile dysfunction, testicular disease, prostate and bladder disease). • There was no significant correlation between penile length and age or testicular size

CONCLUSION

• These data establish a reference range for adult male genital size in the UK, which should be helpful for urologists when counselling patients.

Phalloplasty and penile implant surgery

Impotence is often accompanied by loss of phallic length. To enhance penile prosthesis surgery, it is possible to perform simple adjuvant procedures that will increase perceived or true length. This article presents an overview of these techniques, which may be categorized as involving removal or fixation of tissue above or below the shaft of the penis; division of the suspensory ligament; and augmentation of the corpora cavernosa through stretch or grafting. We believe that the use of these techniques will become increasingly commonplace as patient satisfaction is reported.

A comparative study on two kinds of surgical procedures of penile corpora cavernosa augmentation

OBJECTIVE

Penile augmentation surgery is still a controversial issue because of the uncertain indication, the possibility of severe complications and a variety of surgical techniques. The purpose of this study is to provide two surgical procedures of penile corpora cavernosa augmentation and to investigate its effect by implanting autogenous saphenous vein grafts or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vessel patches.

METHODS

Between January 2001 and December 2005, 20 patients underwent surgeries in which bilateral longitudinal incisions were placed on the tunica albuginea and the penile corpora cavernosa were extended by means of implantation of saphenous grafts or PTFE artificial vessel patches. The patients included in this study presented either with congenital idiopathic micropenis or normal penile length and perimeter (dysmorphophobia). Before the operation, the penile length and perimeter in the flaccid and erectile states were as follows: flaccid length 2.5-7.5 cm and flaccid perimeter 3.0-7.5 cm; erectile length 4.9-10.5 cm and erectile perimeter 4.5-10.0 cm.

RESULTS

Immediately after surgery, the penile corpus circumferential measurements (on table), showed remarkable increases which were 1.0-2.3 cm and 1.5-3.0 cm in the flaccid and erectile states, respectively; then, at 12 months to 5 years' follow-up, these girth gains had reduced by 0.5-1 cm in some cases. All cases in the two groups obtained satisfactory surgical results with satisfactory erection and no serious complications, such as infection and fistula. In 20 cases, 17 married cases resumed regular and satisfactory sexual activities 1 month after the operation without any functional limitation.

CONCLUSION

The two kinds of surgical procedures for augmenting penile corpora cavernosa were proved to be effective and reliable, with few complications. Both saphenous grafts and ePTFE artificial vessel patches are excellent materials for reconstructing the tunica albuginea. These augmenting phalloplasties can not only be used for patients with micropenis, but also applied to satisfy the cosmetic and functional requests of patients with normal penile length and perimeter. However, the long-term outcomes of these surgical procedures need a further, detailed follow-up study.

Penile size and penile enlargement surgery: a review

Penile size is a considerable concern for men of all ages. Herein, we review the data on penile size and conditions that will result in penile shortening. Penile augmentation procedures are discussed, including indications, procedures and complications of penile lengthening procedures, penile girth enhancement procedures and penile skin reconstruction.

Structured Management and Counseling for Patients with a Complaint of a Small Penis

INTRODUCTION

Penile augmentation surgery has become increasingly common though there is no consensus about the management strategy for men with a complaint of small penis.

AIM

To introduce and evaluate the outcome of a structured management and counseling protocol for patients with a complaint of a small-sized penis.

METHODS

A structured protocol for consultation and management of (physically normal) patients with a complaint of a small penis through a descriptive study comprised of a series of 250 patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Percentage of patients who elect to undergo penile augmentation surgery.

RESULTS

Only nine patients (3.6%) chose to seek further surgical intervention. Two had a buried penis, two had true micropenis and five had normal penile size.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a structured management and counseling protocol, most men chose not to undergo penile augmentation surgery, even when offered for free.

Augmentation Phalloplasty Patient Selection and Satisfaction Inventory: A Novel Questionnaire to Evaluate Patients Considered for Augmentation Phalloplasty Surgery Because of Penile Dysmorphophobia

OBJECTIVES

To introduce a novel questionnaire by which we attempted to identify the most suitable candidates for augmentation phalloplasty surgery for penile dysmorphophobia and to objectively estimate the outcome.

METHODS

A total of 45 physically normal young adult men who presented with complaints of a "small penis" and were seeking surgical correction were included in the study. In addition to the ordinary evaluation, all completed the questionnaire devised by our department, the Augmentation Phalloplasty Patient Selection and Satisfaction Inventory (APPSSI). The APPSSI aims to quantitatively assess the severity of the condition and the degree of the patient's willingness to undergo penile augmentation and to numerically measure the postoperative result. The APPSSI consists of four questions, with each having five possible answers (scale 0 to 4). Questions 1 through 3 were asked preoperatively (suitability assessment) and questions 1, 2, and 4 postoperatively (outcome evaluation). The eligibility threshold for surgery was a preoperative score of 6 or less. The preoperative scores ranged from 0 (surgery justified) to 12 (surgery not justified), and the postoperative scores ranged from 0 (disappointed) to 12 (excited). The Student t test was used for statistical analysis, and P <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS

Of the 45 patients, 13 (28.8%) with an APPSSI score of 6 or less (mean 3.18) underwent penile lengthening (n = 7), lengthening-enlargement (n = 4), or celioplasty-penile lengthening (n = 2). Postoperatively, the score increased by 4.36 (mean 7.54, P <0.001), and the condition improved by 25% to 50% in 11 patients, 66.6% in 1, and remained unchanged (0%) in 1 patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The APPSSI questionnaire properly identified patients who significantly benefited from augmentation phalloplasty. Nevertheless, because of the small sample size and nonrandomized study, the questionnaire's validation requires a larger number of patients tested in a randomized manner by more researchers to become a valuable clinical instrument and patient eligibility criterion for this type of surgery.

Penile size and the 'small penis syndrome'

The male is often troubled by concerns that his penis is not large enough to satisfy his partner or himself. He is ashamed to have others view his penis, especially in the flaccid state. Such concerns might be unfounded in reality and might be a presentation of social anxiety or some other clinical problem, such as erectile dysfunction. Concern over the size of the penis, when such concern becomes excessive, might present as the 'small penis syndrome', an obsessive rumination with compulsive checking rituals, body dysmorphic disorder, or as part of a psychosis. However, it is often a worry that can be described as within the normal experience of many men. Various potential causal factors are considered. A thorough assessment, normalizing the worry and then exploring the treatment options in detail with the man, is essential to allow the matter to be consolidated satisfactorily within the male ego.