>
Penis-lengthening surgery questioned
In a new study of men who got penis-lengthening surgery most
patients weren’t satisfied with the results.
The surgery added half an inch, on average, to penis length.
That’s based on the length of the flaccid, stretched penis.
Overall, only 35% of the patients were satisfied with the out come
of the surgery says the urologist researchers. They studied 42 men
who got penis-lengthening surgery from September 1998 to January
2005.
The surgical technique used was division of the penile suspensory
ligament. This is the most common penis-lengthening surgery and
allows the penis to hang lower.
Three patients also had excess fat removed from the pubic area.
The use of the spacer seemed to bring the best results, but didn’t
change the findings, the researchers note.
Most of the men who were studied actually had normal sized penises
and were preoccupied with the idea that their penises should be
longer, the researchers note. This reoccupation with an imagined
problem in penile appearance is called penile dysmorphic disorder.
The most common scenario in patients with penile dysmorphic
disorder consisted of anxiety and embarrassment arising from
changing in front of others, that is. The locker room syndrome,
the researchers say.
Men with penile dysmorphic disorder were particularly likely to be
dissatisfied with the surgery’s results. The study shows that only
27% of those men reported being content with the surgery’s
outcome.
Men with penile dysmorphic disorder often have unrealistic
expectations regarding the outcome of surgical intervention and
should be encourage to seek pyschological help primarily, with
surgery reserved as the last resort, writes the researchers.
They add that before penis-lengthening surgery, all patients
should have a psychiatric assessment and a clear understanding of
the procedure’s limits.
A journal editorial praises the study, calling penile enlargement
a very controversial procedure, that needs more scientific study.
The size of the male genitalia has been a source of anxiety among
men throughout history. Men often fell a need to enlarge their
penis in order to improve their self-esteem or to satisfy and
impress their partners, the researchers write. Men who are
dissatisfied with the appearance of their genital organ should
think very carefully before requesting these procedures, they
advised.
A better option may be to seek the counsel of psychologists; often
men simply need to be reassured that they are normal or need
advice on how to better satisfy their partner without resorting to
cosmetic surgery. Unfortunately, there will always be people
willing to undergo beautifying surgical procedures in an attempt
to feel better... self confidence and beauty come from the inside
and no surgery is deep enough to change that, they write.
