Buried penis is not uncommon and can severely affect a person’s emotional and physical well-being. Dr. Gary Alter performs a corrective surgery to remedy this issue. This blog discusses the causes and symptoms of buried penis, the corrective procedure steps, and what patients can expect from recovery after surgery.
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What Is a Buried Penis?
A buried penis is characterized by a penis that is only partially visible or is not visible at all when the male is standing, sitting, or bending over. It occurs in both adults and children. Buried penis (sometimes called hidden penis) is not a rare condition but is underdiagnosed and often untreated. It often causes severe psychological and physical distress.
Buried penis may be caused by obesity, weight loss, or congenital deformities. Excess fat and/or pubic skin covers the penis. In addition, it can be caused by an overly aggressive circumcision in which too much shaft skin is removed. This very distressing condition can cause both physical and psychological challenges, including severe embarrassment with low self-esteem, difficulty urinating without a spraying stream, sexual dysfunction including difficulty with penetration, and chronic irritation of the penile skin with pain and skin destruction.
Luckily, Dr. Gary Alter is an experienced genital reconstructive and plastic surgeon and is one of the few surgeons who perform buried penis correction surgery. He has extensively published and lectured on buried penis and has innovated new and improved procedures to correct it. Almost all patients with a buried penis who see a urologist or plastic surgeon are told that they need to lose weight or that there is nothing that can be done to help them. Weight loss rarely improves the situation adequately. These doctors are usually uninformed or untrained to surgically correct the problem.
Buried Penis Corrective Surgery
The goal of buried penis corrective surgery is to attach adequate penile skin to the erection chambers of the penis. Since the causes and anatomy of the buried penis varies, the specific approach to the surgical correction is customized for each patient. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia for optimum comfort.
Dr. Alter may use one or more of the following techniques:
- Liposuction to remove excess fat from the pubic area
- Remove excess pubic or groin skin
- Stabilize the pubic skin to the abdominal muscles
- Stabilize the skin between the penis and the scrotum to the erectile bodies of the penis
- Correct a penoscrotal web or turkey neck at the junction of the penis to the scrotum
Dr. Alter will utilize his unique techniques to restore functionality and normal aesthetics to the penis. In rare cases, Dr. Alter may need to rearrange the scrotal or penile skin or use a skin graft to cover necessary portions of the penis if there is not sufficient skin.
What Can I Expect From Buried Penis Surgery Recovery?
As with all plastic surgery procedures, each patient recovers at their own pace, but most men who undergo buried penis surgery will need to take up to two weeks off work, although some can return to work in one week.
Expect some swelling, bruising, and discomfort during the recovery period. However, the surgical pain is surprisingly mild to moderate. The surgical area may have some redness, numbness, and sensitive skin, but these side effects are normal and will subside with time.
In most cases, the surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home or to a hotel with an attendant after surgery. The rare exception is if a skin graft is used. You can usually walk and take care of yourself one to two days after surgery.
Any surgical procedure, including plastic surgery, has an impact on the body. As you heal, you need to reserve your strength to allow your body to heal. This means limiting physical activity as much as possible, eating healthy foods, and drinking water. It’s recommended that you begin with slow walks around your house to allow more blood flow and induce healing, while also reducing the risk of blood clots.
Most patients are able to return to their regular daily activities within one to two weeks post-op. However, you must refrain from strenuous activities for a month and sexual intercourse for about six weeks. You will be prescribed antibiotics and pain-management medication, but the discomfort usually resolves shortly..
After this short period of discomfort, you can enjoy a functioning penis with an aesthetic appearance that boosts your confidence—a worthwhile experience!
Want to Learn More About Buried Penis Corrective Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA?
See how expert genital reconstructive and plastic surgeon, Dr. Gary Alter, can restore normal function and appearance to your buried penis. Call Dr. Alter at (310) 275-5566 or fill out the contact form to schedule a confidential consultation today.