Sydney plastic surgeon Dr Laith Barnouti explains penile lengthening and thickening surgery.
This type of surgery includes procedures to alter and improve the appearance of the male genitalia. Many patients feel inhibited in their sexual relations and are also troubled by situations linked to swimming or sports.
Two kinds of genital surgery for men can be offered: a penis enlargement for men who feel their penis is too short; and a thickening procedure for those who feel their penis is too thin. No foreign body or implants are inserted during these procedures.
The length of the penis can vary from a few centimetres up to 15cm while at rest. In a recent study where penile length and dimensions were measured at flaccid and erect status in 80 physically normal men before and after pharmacological erection, it has been found that the mean flaccid length was 8.8cm, stretched length 12.4cm and erect length 12.9cm. Neither patient age nor size of the flaccid penis accurately predicted erectile length. Stretched length most closely correlated with erect length. The reason most patients seek a penis enlargement is not that they feel their penis is too small when erect but that it is too short while at rest.
Phalloplasty or penile lengthening
This is a penile shaft enhancement procedure designed to increase the length of the penile shaft. No foreign material or implant is used. This procedure does not interfere with sensation or function and is performed on an outpatient basis. Healing is usually rapid and most patients are up and about the next day and back to work in around a few days.
The lengthening procedure involves the release of the suspensory ligaments that attach the penis to the under surface of the pubic bone. This creates a gap between the root of the penis and the pubic bone. This space will be filled by the patient’s own fatty tissue flaps (interpositional fat flaps) and act as a spacer, advancing the penis forward and exposing greater length.
The increase in length varies, depending on a patient’s anatomy. However, results generally range from an increase of 1 to 2.5cm. The limiting factor is the patient’s own anatomy. There is no way to predict what the length gain will be prior to surgery. The patient will be encouraged to perform post-operative stretching techniques.
Penile enlargement/thickening
The thickening procedure is a minimally invasive procedure and is performed as outpatient surgery. Recovery is usually one day and the patient can typically resume office work the next day. It has high satisfaction rates and normally produces negligible scarring.
The procedure involves a transfer and injection of the patient’s own fat cells from the pubic area to the penile shaft and crown. The patient’s fat cells are used for augmentation because they do not run the risk of rejection by the body. The fat is harvested from the pubic area, purified and injected deep to the superficial fascia of the penis. This can increase the circumference of the penis by around 20 to 40 percent.
The penile shaft is narrower than the maximum diameter of the penile head, so the shaft is injected slightly beyond the head’s maximum diameter to maintain proper proportion.
