Penile Girth enhancement procedures involve the placement of a bulking substance under the skin of the shaft of the penis. This can include commercially available tissues such as Allograft Dermal Matrix Grafts, silicone implants, fat, and dermis (tissue between skin and fat) harvested from another part of the body. Unfortunately, the placement of these substances in the penis can lead to an abnormal reaction leading to dense scarring, nodularity, and massive disabling lumps.
We perform surgery to remove these masses and to revise scars. However, there are certain risks to this surgery, and patients are very thoroughly counseled prior to surgery so their expectations will be realistic. When the mass of abnormal tissue is removed, this can cause a damaged urethra and other deep penile issues. We have never had the complication of urethral or penile injury.
Dr. Gelman’s major concern is the skin. The penile surgery is performed with great care under optical magnification. The objective is to remove the abnormal tissue while preserving the blood supply to the skin. The problem is that if you are too close to the skin, there can be ischemic damage to the skin with subsequent skin loss, and if the dissection is far away from the skin, a significant amount of abnormal tissue remains. In addition to blood supply issues, the surgery can be associated with swelling of the skin after surgery due to a compromise of lymphatic drainage. The Center for Reconstructive Urology employs excellent surgical techniques to decrease the chance of complications during and after penile surgery.
