The Transgender Dictionary
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Phalloplasty

(also: bottom surgery, lower surgery, penis enlargement, phallo)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Having a penis is something that is traditionally associated with being a man. That being said, not being born with a penis causes many transgender men to experience gender dysphoria. For this reason, many transgender men seek out surgeries such as metoidioplasty and phalloplasty in an effort to obtain gender euphoria. Some transgender men pack prior to having surgery in an effort to see if they would like to have surgery in the future. T

The first phalloplasty procedure for a transgender man was performed in 1946 by Sir Harold Gillies on Michael Dillon. Phalloplasty is sometimes performed for cisgender men with micropenises, or cisgender men who have suffered from damage or loss of the penis; but it is typically associated with transgender men.

General Information

This surgery is used for the creation of a penis using a skin graft. A skin graft is a procedure in which the skin and nerves from one part of the body are removed, and used for another purpose. In this case, the purpose is to create a penis. This surgery can take place before or without another surgery known as meta.

Glanplasty (formation of glands at the tip of the phallus) is often performed alongside the rest of the surgery.

Medical tattooing is often performed after healing from surgery, to make results look more natural.

This surgery is performed by a urologist while the patient is under general anesthesia.

Variables Which Can Affect Results

Types of Phalloplasty

Abdominal Phalloplasty/Supra-Public Phalloplasty

The donor site is the abdominal area. Abdominal Phalloplasty has less scarring than other procedures.

Anterolateral Thigh/ALT

ALT is a form of phalloplasty which uses the thigh as a donor site. The donor site may require additional procedures to be aesthetically pleasing after this surgery.

Musculocutaneous Latissimus Dorsi/MLD

MLD Flap Phalloplasty uses the back as a donor site.

Radial Forearm Flap/RFF

RFF is a form of phalloplasty which uses the arm as a donor site. RFF is the most common form of phalloplasty. Due to the nature of the forearm (general lack of hair), it is easier for this donor site to be worked with.

Single Scar Phalloplasty/SSP

SSP is a variation of ALT with less scarring.